If you’re on the hunt for the perfect Oaxaca vacation rental that’s charming, locally owned, and incredibly well-located — Casa de los Milagros checks every box. This beautiful Oaxaca City Airbnb feels like a true home — warm, colorful, and full of soul. Whether you’re traveling with family or a small group of friends, or […]
Puerto Escondido is growing at lightning speeds, which means that the infrastructure is struggling to keep up with demand from Airbnbs, hotels and tourists flooding in. Amid this bustling tourist influx, Casa de la Tierra stands out as an eco-friendly Airbnb that not only reduces its impact on natural resources but also offers a luxurious
Though I’ve visited the Oaxaca coast countless times, it took me years to stay in Huatulco because I had trouble finding a Huatulco boutique hotel. There aren’t many, this area is mostly filled with very large all-inclusive resorts. That’s just not my preferred travel style. So when I found the charming Huatulco accommodation of Villas
What’s better than waking up on vacation and seeing the ocean’s waves outside your room window? Better yet, swimming in an infinity pool with a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean and a long beautiful beach below? If you’re looking for a Oaxaca beach hotel in Puerto Escondido, Blater Hotel is an affordable, comfortable stay
When I truly love a place, I take sooo many pictures. At my lovely 3 night stay at Casas Maria Matilda, I took 1500+ pictures and video 🙂 . This Punta Pajaros Airbnb quickly rose to the top of my ‘where to stay in Puerto Escondido’ list, hands-down. So why is it so special? Do
Bianni Beuú is hands down one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed, and it’s the best beach Airbnb in Oaxaca for groups of friends or families who want a gorgeous place to stay with lots of space and comfort. It’s the kind of place you never want to leave, as this Mexico vacation rental
I’ve stayed in many hotels and airbnbs in Puerto Escondido, La Punta, each with their distinct personality and pros and cons. The neighborhood of La Punta is growing extremely fast, and many new accommodation options are popping up, but I’m always searching for the perfect balance of design, location, value, and comfort. Casa Baba La
I’ve stayed in many hotels and lots of towns on the Oaxaca coast, but one of my favorite places to stay is the gorgeous Monte Uzulu hotel in San Agustinillo. This impeccably designed Oaxaca beach hotel is perched on a hill overlooking the San Agustinillo beaches. The lush leafy greens, artistic shadow and light play,
The line between typical mezcal and Mexican gin is hazy (but delicious), when it comes to agave gin. By definition, gin is a grain based alcohol that has been distilled with juniper and/or botanicals. Though mezcal is not grain-based (it’s made from agave), in Oaxaca, there has been a tradition of mezcal that is similar
It’s been a minute since I posted a recipe, but I know we are all still looking for new cocktails to devour. I’m so excited to share these below two cocktails from one of my favorite bartenders, Leslie Cobos. She put together a couple versions of classic mezcal cocktails including a mezcal collins recipe using
Many people only plan a long-weekend Oaxaca trip, and miss out on so much food, culture, and beauty in the city and pueblos. I can’t tell you how many times those visitors have started planning their next trip before their first is over. So we’re going on a 7-day itinerary in Oaxaca full of mezcal,
Travel Daydreaming is a virtual travel series, where I take you day-by-day through an itinerary in one of my favorite places. Today we will spend 1 week traveling to the best Oaxaca beaches, including Puerto Escondido, Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Zipolite and Punta Pajaros. I’ll take you to my favorite restaurants, wildlife tours, cocktail bars, day
What are the best mezcal brands in the USA (and beyond)? This is a question I often get. It’s actually a bit tricky because most of the mezcal brands sold in the USA or abroad, aren’t the bottles that we purchase locally in Oaxaca. So this will be a guide to how to buy mezcal
Mezcal makes everything better, doesn’t it? Including the classic moscow mule, transformed into a robust mezcal cocktail that’s still refreshing. This mezcal mule recipe walks you through making a fresh ginger concentrate for an authentic ginger flavor. This ginger concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator to add to other ginger cocktails like dark and
The goal of this post is to compile a bunch of options I’ve found to support local farms, small businesses and local designers during this time of COVID-19 in Oaxaca. I know some others have already made some great lists about restaurants offering delivery, so will link to those, but wanted to try to compile
It’s mango season in Oaxaca, that means I am trying to find more ways to incorporate them into my diet. 🙂 So a couple weeks ago I tried making a spicy mezcal cocktail with mango and habanero. It was so good that I’ve since tried a couple other versions. I love simple mezcal cocktails, so
Flavored waters, or aguas frescas/aguas de sabor are a very important part of Mexican cuisine. If you go to any almost any local restaurant, they’ll have at least one agua for the day. They can be flavored with fruits, herbs, vegetables, flowers, or a combination of things. One of my favorites is cucumber flavored water,
Post and recipe in collaboration with: Perrito de Mercado There is something so comforting (and juicy) about a homemade burger, so we decided to try out a Oaxaca style version and the result was so, so good. The main star in these homemade spicy burgers is the chile de arbol – one of my favorite
During this strange time, I’ve been cooking as my main form of connecting with my community, myself, and enjoying simple pleasures. It’s been a really fun way to play with Oaxacan ingredients and dishes, so I want to share some of these recipes with you. First up will be vegetarian-friendly jamaica tacos – or tacos
One thing I love about the Oaxaca coast is that there are so many different types of beaches and hotels, you can find something perfect for every type of traveler. Villasol is one of the overall best hotels in Puerto Escondido because it fits the needs of so many – families, groups, couples, and more.
The reason I started this blog years ago, is because I worked in a creative industry (fashion) but was burned out & craved inspiration (alongside my insatiable urge to travel). Learning from local artisans, seeing amazing architecture, and visiting museums would fill me with ideas and a renewed desire to create. That’s why I think
I studied fashion design, then proceeded to work in the seemingly glamorous business in New York for 5+ years. I hated it. Mostly because the industry is structured to cut corners and value the bottom line above all else. This almost always hurts those who work in their factories the most, not to mention the
There is very little that gets me more excited than learning from talented, master artisans in their homeland. In fact, the original reason I came to Oaxaca years ago was because of its reputation for gorgeous textiles and traditional artisan work. A couple years ago, I discovered Thread Caravan’s artisan Oaxaca tours (as well as
One of my most frequently asked questions is – where to stay in Oaxaca? So I put together a list of the best hotels in Oaxaca. I will only be including hotels that I have stayed at and loved or that I have very strong recommendations from trusted sources. There are hundreds of hotels in
My favorite way to spend time on the Oaxaca coast is to divide my time between the larger surf town of Puerto Escondido, and the laid back beach villages of Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Zipolite. My first time making the journey between Puerto Escondido and Mazunte, I scrapped together details from lots of forums and
This is my most asked question about the Oaxaca coast – how to get there?! That’s because this remote area is surrounded by rugged mountains and there just isn’t a lot of info online. So I want to share what I’ve learned over the last few years about all the ways you travel Oaxaca to
This is probably the #1 question I get about the Oaxaca coast – how do you get there? So I want to put together the best info I’ve gathered over many years about how to get to Puerto Escondido. This will mainly focus on the Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, but I’ll also mention how to get
The Oaxaca coast is full of different cove beaches and towns. The unique thing about this coastline is that every Oaxaca beach and town has a totally different vibe, so you can find a place for any type of traveler or travel style. So this Oaxaca coast guide is going to break down the best
I’ve been on a spree of writing blogs about the Oaxaca coast because it’s such a gorgeous area that few people know about. My new favorite part of the coast is the tiny, relaxing, off-the-beaten path town of San Agustinillo. Last trip we settled ourselves into Zazil Retreat, a beautiful San Agustinillo hotel that was
As a digital nomad and former full-time traveler, I can attest that I am (sometimes too) aware of international wifi roaming options. I’ve lived and worked in 17 countries, and spent lots of time being stressed out about having adequate wifi to meet deadlines and make meetings. Whether you are a digital nomad or a
The Oaxaca coast is still outside of the mainstream tourist itinerary, so you can escape the crowds here and be treated to some of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico. One of my favorite parts of this coast are the adjacent towns of San Agustinillo and Mazunte, Oaxaca. They are so close you can walk
I visit La Punta Zicatela, Puerto Escondido often from my home in Oaxaca. I’ve gotten a good handle on all the best things to do in and around Puerto Escondido – including releasing baby turtles, cliffside walks, and the best swimming beach in town – so I wanted to share them here, along with some
The time has come for me to put together a comprehensive Oaxaca food guide of all the best restaurants in Oaxaca, a place that has pulled me into its orbit again and again. After years in this city, I’ve been able to experience living in different neighborhoods as well as villages outside the city, eating
One of my favorite things to do in any Latin American city or town is visit the local markets to quickly get a feel for the local culture and taste the traditional food. I’ve been to the most famous Oaxaca Markets – Mercado Benito Juarez and 20 de Noviembre – dozens of times, but never
Oaxaca is such an amazing foodie city that I don’t want to make one “must eats” post – I don’t think that does the traditional food culture here justice. Instead I want to focus on certain important dishes (like tlayudas), markets, and food collections in separate posts. One of the most important culinary gems
It shocked me to find so little info online about what mezcal distilleries to visit on a Oaxaca mezcal tour. Sure there are lots of articles about the trendy spirit – but almost all focus on what mezcal is with a brief mention that Oaxaca is the place to find it. Then there are many
Tlayudas in Oaxaca are what street tacos are to Mexico City, or pizza is to New York City. They’re the quintessential meal/snack/post-bar grub/hangover food/etc.. Every restaurant has their own version, plus plenty of street food stands. At worst I’ve had a couple tlayudas that were “good.” But at best, they are ricisimo (delicious) ! So
After spending years in Oaxaca, I’ve made it my mission to visit just about every Oaxaca mezcaleria in the Centro. I’ve narrowed down my list of favorites, each with their own vibe, depending on your mood. I think mezcal is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted. (I love mezcal so much, I
The first time I ever came to Oaxaca was mainly due to the rich textile culture here. I’ve always been on the search for the best Oaxacan textiles: the most traditional techniques, high quality fibers, beautiful natural dyes and amazing huipiles. Guided Tour vs. Solo Exploring for the Best Oaxacan Textiles When you have a
It’s probably pretty obvious by now that Oaxaca is one of my favorite cities in the world. Few places have it beat for its high level of culture, complex food, delicious mezcal, colonial architecture, and surrounding natural beauty. So when I was planning my second trip to the city, I knew what I wanted in my
The first thing you must do in Oaxaca is eat. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eat second breakfast, mid-day snack, and late night treat. Eat! Between meals, you should fit in some of the other activities the city has to offer. The five things below may or may not be in the guidebooks, but if
Complex sauces made from 30+ ingredients, chile roasted grasshoppers, and soup made of squash flowers – what do these foods have in common? They are a few of the local dishes that make Oaxaca famous for their complex cuisine. How about some suckling pig, artisanal hot chocolate or small batch mezcal? Did you know
My husband and I rented a fantastic apartment in Oaxaca, Mexico for a week in April. The aptly named Casa de los Abuelos (House of the Grandparents) made us feel right at home during our stay. When thinking over the pros and cons for this list, I really struggled to come up with any cons. I think
We haphazardly threw together a vague day-trip plan the night before – get up early, rent a car, and knock out three adventures – a boat tour of Chacahua lagoon, then on to the turtle sanctuary in Mazunte, and finally drive up high into the inland mountains to explore the tiny, coffee-growing village of Pluma
I’m not sure exactly when I became fascinated with surfer culture, but I think it was around the time I first saw Endless Summer, the wonderfully cheesy 60’s documentary with a bangin’ soundtrack about a couple of dudes who travel the world chasing the perfect wave. I was ready to buy a VW van and
It’s rare to find a budget hotel with a great beach view directly from your room. So when booked a room at Hotel Buena Vista for $36/USD a night, I was thrilled. Our room was huge, with two beds, a kitchenette, private bathroom, and a huge balcony that overlooks Playa Zicatela below. I spent every
