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 OVERVIEW
Regarded by many as still a backwater of Mexico despite the gradual import
of modern stamps like jeans, McDonald's and cybercafes, Oaxaca's provincial
charm is indeed derived from its quaint, unpretentious attitude and more
profound authenticity of the native culture than you will find elsewhere.
As tourism does not penetrate the city's life, the congenial, family-operated
hotels and the unique indigenous fiestas will make visitors realize why they
wanted to come to Mexico in the first place. The charismatic capital of
the Oaxaca state is replete with some of the country's best museums and
captivating historic sites whereas the traditional cuisine is highly lauded for
its variety and sumptuous flavor. Oaxaca is certainly the place to be if
it's an authentic Mexican experience your heart is after.
HISTORY IN BRIEF
The area of present-day Oaxaca had long been inhabited by numerous
indigenous groups of different languages and cultural characteristics. Of
all these groups, the Zapotecs, the Mixtecs, and the Olmecs figured prominently
in the shaping of the culture and social development of Oaxaca. The
Spanish came in in the early part of 16th century and gave Oaxaca a charter in
1532. The city remained a Spanish colony until its independence in the
late 19th century.
GEOGRAPHY & CLIMATE
The city of Oaxaca covers a huge expanse of deep-set valley, 1600m above sea
level, some 500km southeast of Mexico City. It's bordered by Chiapas to
the east, Veracruz and Puebla to the north, and Guerrero to the west.
Because of its mountainous terrain, it is hot and dry along the Pacific Coast,
hot and humid in the lower levels of the western Sierra Madre range, quite cool
in places higher than 2000 meters above sea level, and temperate elsewhere.
The average temperature ranges between 30C and 13C.
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