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MICROPHILANTHROPY
Working with local food and craft producers, we are developing
the Oaxaca
Market Project to provide internet training to locals and tipsheets
and guides for visitors.
For those who wish to support this work, we are collecting funds
for the workshops and to buy select goods direct from the artisans
that will then be auctioned to raise additional funds for Planeta.com.
Purchases are made at local markets, holiday fairs and from the
homes of artisans. Donations are received via Chipin. |
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YOU ARE HERE
The city is located in the Central Valley of the Sierra
Madre del Sur Mountains, at 17°05'N 96°45"W, elevation:
1,550 meters or 5,000 feet. |
OVERVIEW
A living cultural center, Oaxaca City (elevation: 1,550 meters
or 5,085 feet) is an open air museum and the capital of the state
of Oaxaca. Oaxacan City markets
are world famous. Churches
dot the city. And everyone loves the Zócalo.
NATURAL WORLD
Two branches of the Sierra Madre Occidental converge in the center
of the state of Oaxaca, creating this fertile valley, which produces
a variety of crops including corn, alfalfa and the maguey used to
make mezcal.
Oaxaca's pleasant subtropical climate drew nomadic families to
Mitla and nearby caves 10,000 years ago. Farming communities evolved
in Abasolo, Tomaltepec, and El Mogote. The Zapotec
kingdom Monte
Albán emerged in 500 B.C.
Oaxaca is one the most exceptional regions of the world. Its cultural
and environmental diversity, its role in art
and artesania
make the state an exceptional place to spend quality time.
CULTURAL WORLD
UNESCO
declared the city a World Heritage Site.
BENITO JUAREZ TOUR
For those interested in the Benito
Juárez tour, visit the following
Juarez Museum (childhood home)
San Felipe Neri Church (where he married Margarita
Maza)
Independencia and Tinoco y Palacios
Seminario (where he studied as an adolescent)
Parque Alameda de Leon (where he planted two laurel
trees)
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SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS
In terms of festivities, Oaxaca is a great place
for celebration.
SPRING
Holy Week (Semana
Santa) is treated with great reverence.
SUMMER
A great time to visit Oaxaca City is during the summer
rainy season, when the surrounding cornfields are green. Bring an
umbrella! The Guelaguetza
dance is performed and the baseball
season is in full stride.
AUTUMN
Day
of the Dead is one of the biggest holidays of the year.
WINTER
Christmas season is a joy. On the night of December
23, a long line of visitors spirals around the Zócalo
to witness the Radish
Night (Noche de Rábanos). People come from near and far
to admire the fantastic carvings.
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FOOD
Try the local comida,
which includes chocolate, corn and grasshoppers. |
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WEATHER
Oaxaca City enjoys a pleasant climate year-round, though the hottest
months are April and May. Expect a chance of rain between May and
October. The rainiest months are June and July. Forecast |
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Many travelers arrive who are interested in sustainable tourism
and responsible travel. Those interested in the ethics of tourism
are invited to attend Oaxaca
Options co-sponsored by Planeta and Instituto Amigos del Sol. |
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COLONIAL HISTORY
Oaxaca's name comes from a mangled version of the
Aztec settlement Huaxyacac ("place of gourds"). Occupying
the area as early as 1521, the Spanish established their new settlement
in 1529.
Oaxaca was first called Antequera after a city
in Spain, and this early name is given to numerous businesses. Antequera
was re-christened Oaxaca in 1532, and the city quickly became one
of the most important agricultural and trading centers in the region.
It is formally known as Oaxaca de Juárez. The city is affectionately
known as La Verde Antequera.
POINTS OF INTEREST
Find the Arquitos.
ENTERTAINMENT
There are plenty of entertainment options, including live
music. For those with a thirst for music or simply a thirst,
consult our list of pubs
and cantinas.
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SPORTS
The best-developed sport in town is not futbol but baseball,
estilo Mexicano. The local baseball club plays home games
between March and August. Smaller leagues play the rest of the year.
There are a number of city parks that offer travelers the opportunity
to play pick-up basketball, soccer and rugby.
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| ACCOMODATION -- Where
to stay in Oaxaca City, including vacation
homes
TRANSPORTATION -- Whether you arriving by plane,
train or automobile, consult our transportation
guide.
INFORMATION -- If you need tips on
tourism offices, book stores, libraries, banks and post offices,
consult our information
guide.
TIP -- Bring your umbrella (brolly) during
the summer rainy season (May-September). |
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