The State of Oaxaca, Mexico

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The name "Oaxaca" stems from the náhuatl word Huaxyacac, meaning "on the nose of the gourds". The state, founded on February 3, 1824, lies along the southeast region of the Mexican Pacific, bordering the states of Puebla and Veracruz to the north, Chiapas to the east and Guerrero to the west. It is the 5th largest state of the Mexican Republic.

Oaxaca is divided into 570 municipalities, with a total population of some 3.3 million inhabitants, of which over two million are of indigenous groups. It is a ruggedly mountainous state whose isolated valleys were settled by diverse tribes which have over the years preserved an astounding degree of their individual cultures and languages. 16 distinct ethnolinguistic groups are represented by the population: the Amuzgo, Chatino, Chinanteco, Chocho, Chontal, Cuicateco, Huave, Ixcateco, Mazateco, Mixe, Mixteco, Náhuatl, Triqui, Zapoteco, Zoque and the Popoloca.

The Central Valley in the interior of the state offers the visitor numerous small villages whose inhabitants specialize in regional arts and crafts such as hand-woven rugs, black pottery, colorful, carved wooden figurines, shawls and other textiles. Here also is a wealth of precolumbian archaeological sites and ceremonial centers such as Monte Alban and Mitla.

Places, Activities and other items of Interest

Azompa - A village of expert potters located a short distance from Oaxaca City. Glazed green and unglazed beige and red clay pottery is made by hand by the majority of the villagers. One of the typical forms the unglazed pottery figures take is that of animals such as deer and sheep. The bodies are hollow and the exterior of the animal is textured. Water is placed in the hollow interior and chia seeds are sprinkled onto the textured "hide". Within a couple of days, these seeds will sprout, fed by the moisture that seeps through the clay from the water inside. You soon end up with a wonderfully fuzzy green-coated animal!

Huatulco - a new ecological resort area consisting of a series of gorgeous bays on the Pacific Coast.

Mezcal Factory - A visit to a Oaxacan Mezcal factory near Mitla

Mazunte - a small beachside community, home to the Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga (Mexican Turtle Center) and a natural cosmetics factory.

Mitla - Mitla's quaint, narrow and colorful streets are home textile merchants as well as to a great number of Mezcal producers and vendors. Visit the church and neighboring archaeological site.

Monte Alban - Five miles to the west of Oaxaca City lie the spectacular Monte Alban ruins, perched on a mountaintop high above the surrounding valleys.

Oaxaca City - Capital of the State of Oaxaca, Oaxaca city is rich in colonial architecture as well as native crafts and culture.

Ocotlan - Located a short jaunt outside of Oaxaca City along the Pochutla Highway, Ocotlan offers a Friday market where one can buy petates (woven straw mats), embroidered dresses from San Antonino, regional pottery and a miscellany of household goods and food products.

Puerto Angel and Zipolite - A quaint and quiet fishing village on the Pacific Coast, with Zipolite beach nearby.

Puerto Escondido - A surfer's paradise, Puerto Escondido's Zicatela beach is known as the "Mexican Pipeline". Surfing in Oaxaca

San Bartolo Coyotepec - located 15 km south of Oaxaca City, San Bartolo Coyotepec is known for its production of black clay pottery. The technique involves the smoking and careful stone polishing the pots and the firing of them at a relatively low temperature, producing pottery with a rich, black sheen.

Santa Maria del Tule - Along Highway 190 on the way to Mitla, located next to this small town's church, is an enormous Ahuehuete tree (Mexican Baldcypress). The Tule tree's height and girth are both over 130 each, and it is calculated to be over 2,000 years old. An incredible specimen.

Tehuantepec - Tehuantepec, on the Isthmus of the same name, is a town of beautiful, stately and strong, local women (Tehuanas) of Zapotec extraction, and is known for its elaborate hand-embroidered traditional dresses, ceramics, gold jewelry...

Teotitlan del Valle - A small village in the hills known for its production of fine, hand-woven, woolen rugs. Visit the local museum, Balaa Xtee Guedchi Gulal

Oaxaca Weather - Climate and weather conditions in Oaxaca