If you have been dreaming of doing a road trip through Oaxaca, use this 11 days itinerary and get to know the most beautiful parts of the city and the beaches.
Oaxaca is one of the most impressive States in Mexico, because it has so much to offer, like national parks, art, pyramids, amazing beaches and gastronomy like no other. So it’s worth taking 11 days to get to know the city and the beaches. This itinerary has been made inspired on a road trip that I did with my friends on a Jeep Wrangler. But you can adapt it to a family or a couple’s plan, and you don’t necessarily need a 4×4 vehicle.
Day 1
Mexico City – Chacahua 720 km
The road trip must begin between 6:00 and 7:00 am. I recommend leaving Mexico City as early as possible, so you arrive in Chacahua by day. We stopped at Cuatro Vientos, a famous restaurant between Cuernavaca and Acapulco for breakfast, it’s delicious!
To get to Chacahua, you must leave your car on a parking lot and ask the locals to take you on their small boats to the other side of the lagoon where all the cabins for the tourists are located.
Crossing the Chacahua Lagoon is one of the best parts of this entire road trip, it is beautiful! This national park, was the first tropical protected area in Mexico. For more information regarding this park click here.
We chose Cabañas el Piojo for our stay, they are in front of the sea. There is no way of making a reservation online for this cabins, it’s an old school, get there and book. If there is no room at Cabañas el Piojo, there is no need to worry! there are plenty of small cabin type hostels where you can rent a small room, a camping spot or even a hammock for the night.
Our first night in paradise, we decided to make a wood fire on the beach, so we could relax from the long journey.
Day 2
Day in Chacahua
This day, you can use it to enjoy the beach, do some surfing (great surfing spot) or walk through the village. We decided to go to the Cocodrilario (a crocodile zoo). The visit was great since you get to see from up close these huge animals.
After the crocs, we were invited by the locals to release baby turtles to the sea. If you want to participate in this amazing activity (that you will never forget) you have to arrive at the indicated beach 2 hours before sunset.
Once you are there, you will wait for the egg caregivers instructions. When the right moment comes, they will give you baby turtles and you will release them as close as you can to the edge of the sea, so they walk on their own, strait towards the water. The idea is that they don’t get picked up by birds and become their dinner. You say goodbye and wish them good luck!
Day 3
Chacahua – Roca Blanca 60 km
On the morning of the third day, we decided to go fishing to say goodbye to this wild National Park. Any local can take you fishing on their small boats. It’s saltwater fishing, we got a pompano. We were not so lucky on this activity, even though we woke up at 5 am for it.
After fishing, we went back to our cabins to pick up our luggage and cross the lagoon back to the parking lot. Packed everything on the Jeep and headed to our next destination, Roca Blanca.
We arrived at Roca Blanca, a quiet beach. Its translation to English is white rock, the name is due to a small island in front of the beach that looks like a white rock in the middle of the ocean.
Here we camped for one night at Maestra Lulú cabins. There is no way you miss these cabins, just look for a big sign with the name. This is the best camping spot, its super safe and the food they cook there is amazing, order the catch of the day.
Hopefully, you get the same luck as ours and witness an amazing moon. You will have miles and miles of beach for your self, except for a few small houses and cabins.
Day 4
Roca Blanca – Casa Wabi – Puerto Escondido 44 km
The next day, we picked up camp and drove towards Puerto Escondido. We made a stop in between, Casa Wabi. Casa Wabi is a foundation created by the Mexican artist Bosco Sodi. Its purpose is to promote the exchange of ideas between artists of different disciplines and local communities.
The place was designed by Pritzker Prize winner, Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. You must make a reservation at their website before your visit, or else you won’t be able to enter. The tour is well worth your while, the contrast of the modern architecture in front of the Pacific Ocean is to die for.
Plan your visit to Casa Wabi, here.
After an amazing art stop, we continued our itinerary and arrived at Puerto Escondido, just in time for dinner and dancing. I have no specific recommendations for dinner at Zicatela (the main avenue of Puerto Escondido). We went on a high season, so we just took a table wherever there was room, but any place in Zicatela will be good.
Day 5
Day at Puerto Escondido
This is an important day to rest, you are halfway through your 11 days road trip itinerary through Oaxaca, and there is still lots to come. You can enjoy the day at the beach, parachute jump or surf. Puerto Escondido is a worldwide famous surf spot.
My favorite part of Puerto Escondido is Punta Zicatela, which is more hippie and laid back than Zicatela. There is a great Thai food restaurant called Lychee at Punta Zicatela small village. You can eat there, then enjoy the sunset, and head back to Zicatela for a more upbeat nightlife.
Day 6
Puerto Escondido – Zipolite 73 km
This day on the itinerary, we drove to Zipolite. There, we stayed at El Alquimista Hotel. I could not recommend a better hotel, it has its private beach, the rooms are lovely, the food is great plus it has a pool and a spa. The beaches at Zipolite are nudist, don’t worry, you can keep your bathing suit on!
To book at El Alquimista Hotel.
Day 7
Zipolite – Mazunte – Zipolite 6.9 km
The beauty of doing a road trip through Oaxaca is that you have a car to visit beaches that are close by, this is the case with Zipolite and Mazunte. We spent the whole day at El Alquimista and drove to see the sunset at Punta Cometa in Mazunte.
To get to Punta Cometa, you must leave the car and make a little hike. I do recommend taking tennis shoes because the hike can get a bit slippery if using flip flops. Punta Cometa is worldwide famous for sunset watching, you will enjoy this activity for sure!
On our way back, we stopped at La Mezacaleria bar in Mazunte. This is an open bar with live music, but the best part of it, is the huge Mezcal bar that it has. You will be able to taste any type of mezcal while enjoying some good dancing.
Day 8
Zipolite – Oaxaca City 258 km
The road from Zipolite to Oaxaca City is pretty tiring, it’s long, full of curves and you will arrive tired. Even though this is the toughest day of the itinerary, I highly recommend you to go out for dinner once you arrive at Oaxaca City. Oaxacan Cuisine is one of the most diverse and delicious in the world. Oaxaca City has some of the best restaurants in the country. We had dinner at Pitiona, it has signature cuisine and an epic view of the Santo Domingo Temple.
I am a huge Oaxacan Cuisine fan, so I wrote an article called “9 places for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in Oaxaca City.” You can use it to plan your own gastro tour during these days in the City.
For a reservation in Pitiona.
Day 9
Day at Oaxaca City
We assigned this day to visit the Ethnobotanic Garden and the Museum of the Santo Domingo Temple. For me, this is the most beautiful museum in the city. Afterward, we had lunch at Criollo Restaurant by Mexican Chef, Enrique Olvera. I prefer this place for lunch than dinner, you can appreciate better the architecture. The entrance to the restaurant is through the kitchen and all the tables are in an open yard. There is always a pre-set menu, so you can’t order anything you want, but it will have an Olvera guarantee.
At night we walked around downtown, there are many little spots to buy artisanal souvenirs. Then we had dinner at Casa Oaxaca, a beautiful boutique hotel that has a rooftop restaurant terrace. I recommend you order the “Sopa de Piedra” (stone soup) which is a classic Oaxacan dish.
Book your table at Criollo
Book your table at Casa Oaxaca
Day 10
Day in Oaxaca City
We had breakfast at San Pablo restaurant and then headed to Monte Alban. Monte Alban is one of the most important archeological sites in Mexico, and it is only 8km from downtown Oaxaca City, so it is worth visiting.
Generally, the weather is hot, but we got a very rainy and windy day. I would recommend you check the weather. Also, take comfortable tennis shoes because there is a lot of walking and you can hike to the top of the pyramids.
For more information on Monte Alban.
Day 11
Oaxaca City – Mexico City 462 km
On the last day of the road trip, we headed back to Mexico City. Tired, but more than happy with an epic 11 days itinerary road trip through Oaxaca, where we got to see some art, pyramids, national parks, amazing beaches and had the best food ever!
I hope you can make this same road trip itinerary and you get to know one of the most beautiful regions in Mexico, Oaxaca. If you want further information, please contact me!
