What to do and see in Oaxaca, Oaxaca: The Best Private Tours

October 16, 2021 Marianna Hollaway

Easygoing and vibrant, Oaxaca offers the best of southern Mexican charm, pairing lively festivals and entertainment with fantastic cuisine and unique cultural attractions. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oaxaca is home to the spectacular Macedonio Alcala Theater and a short drive from the inspiring rock formations at Hierve el Aqua.
Restaurants in Oaxaca

1. Oaxaca Private City Art Tour

Templo de Santo Domingo, Calle Macedonio Alcalá s/n, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico City Art Tours Mexico
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Highlights: • Walk down the well-known historic center and hear the history of the city • See stunning architecture of the buildings • View a variety of street art spread throughout the city • Enjoy a fully guided tour from beginning to end, concluding just minutes walk from the city center What to expect: The two-hour tour takes you from the centre of Oaxaca to the neighborhood's booming urban places. Showing you the local side of the city, you'll see the best hot spots in the city; learn the history of Oaxaca, the gastronomical traditions of mezcal, chocolate, hear about the urban art movements, local and international street artists. During the tour, we will stop at the most interesting places to see the beautiful art pieces and hear the story of behind them. As the benefit of walking around the city center, we will talk about the best local art studios, urban restaurants, bars, and nightlife spots so you can enjoy your stay in Oaxaca.

Inclusions: Bilingual guide, Private group

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By Srroman791

This was an absolutely must-do in Cancun, really authentic delicious tacos I wouldn’t have tried without this tour. Luis was an awesome guide and I’d highly recommend! Also a great deal for the money!! I was stuffed by the end of the day evening, even went back to one place the next day. Highly recommend!!

2. Private Day Tour including Artisan Villages of Alebrijes and Black Pottery

Circuitos por Mexico - Oaxaca
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This is a Private Tour ideal for family or friends; a certified guide and a driver will pick you up at your hotel to visit the most emblematic artisan villages in Oaxaca. At every location we will visit one of the most famous artisan’s houses, where artisans will demonstrate what is the process to create amazing ceramic, belts, textiles, wood figures and other handicraft famous in Oaxaca. Visiting follow villages: - San Bartolo Coyotepec visiting Doña Rosa studio where artisans create beautiful black pottery figures - San Martín Tilcajete visiting Jacobo Angeles house, one of the most international famous Alebrije’s artisan - Santo Tomás Jalietza visiting local market in nice and quiet village where will find artisans who create amazing and colorful woven cotton goods made on back-strap looms - Ocotlán de Morelos, famous by is Friday’s indigenous market, as well as its amazing church and museum showing artworks from artist Rodolfo Morales (principal precursor of Church restoration)

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Private transportation, Comfortable vehicle according the number of passengers, Pickup and drop off at your hotel, Bottled water

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3. Private Oaxaca Street Food Tour by locals

Zócalo Oaxaca, Portal del Palacio, OAX_RE_BENITO JUAREZ, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico Oaxacan Experiences
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Try and taste the true traditional food of Oaxaca, not in restaurants! The food of Oaxaca is recognized nationally and internationally. The markets of Oaxaca are the most popular places to taste traditional Oaxacan cuisine. Explore the flavors and smells of Oaxacan cuisine from the most traditional places.

Inclusions: Local guide

Exclusions: Alcoholic Beverages

Reviewed By amellalyp

The tour was informative and the places were amazing. Just take note that when you are on a tour like this you are on limited time, we wanted to stay @ Hierve el Agua longer ): also it will take all day so take a few snacks/water.

4. Oaxaca Zapoteca Route Private

Amazing Huatulco, Oaxaca
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

Enjoy an Amazing tour from Huatulco to Oaxaca for 3 days, you will discover the magic of ancient cultures, also you will visit the mezcal palenques, the city of the dead "MITLA", the Archaeological Zone. The adventure continues making the following scale to the Zapotec indigenous people of weavers "Teotitlan del valle", a place full of colors. Continue the journey where you will appreciate the famous and most notable "Tree of El Tule", And to finish this first day of adventure we arrived at the Oaxacan capital, where they will appreciate the former church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. The second day you will enjoy this great journey where we will know Monte Alban archaeological site which is the ancient capital of the Zapotecos and one of the first cities in Mesoamerica. we willvisit a small town of adobe houses "San Bartolo Coyotepec" famous for its black pottery. you will have the opportunity to visit Artisan Villages where you will admire the wood carving artisans.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Guía Local Zapoteco certificado

Exclusions: Entradas a las zonas arqueológicas y atracciones, Comida y bebidas, Hospedaje

Reviewed By tristad2014

Tomas was easily one of the best tour guides I've ever had. Incredibly knowledgeable, and super friendly he did everything to make the tour perfect. And the work being done at La Escobilla is so important, it's a great opportunity to support a wonderful cause. And of course the baby turtles are absolutely adorable!! I couldn't recommend it more!

5. Enjoy a full day in my zapotec village

Catedral de Oaxaca nuestra señora de la asunción, Calle Macedonio Alcalá 501, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Centro, Oax., Mexico Ladxa tours
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

It is a very different tour than usual, it is an authentic and original tour of a town in Oaxaca, a tour with a Zapotec guide

Inclusions: Private transportation, Water, snack, explanations in english and spanish, Bread with chocolate, Quesadillas, eggs to the comal

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Reviewed By OlivierK-Belgium

Cesar is a lovely individual, always smiling and polite, with a lot good knowledge of his village, its customs, its langage (Zapoteco), the enternaining placs to go to and a lot of stories to tell. I felt that he was more of a friend than a local guide. I really enjoyed the tour I did with him and local friends of mine. We went first to the Ranch of Flowers in the mountains with a mototaxi of his friend; a really pleaceful place with 10 inhabitants at most (some of them a from his family). We enjoyed the view and went on a 2 hours walk in the mountains. It's was so nice and so diferent from what the Oaxaca tours can offer you. Then on the way back, we visit a Mezcal Factory, with all the explanation that could go with and a small degustation. Back on the village of San Dionisio, we went to his welcoming mother in her small house and she cooked us lunch, Mexican food of course. It was really nice to get involved in the life of a local. After a long talk we went to the hot springs, a beautiful place (a bit like Hierve el Agua without all the people and the cliffs) but I did not felt the desire to go in (we were in winter after all and it was a bit cold) even if I could. I recommend 100% taking a tour with Cesar and spending the half day/day in his lovely place. It is a unique opportunity! ;)

6. Private VIP Tour Oaxaca

Av. de la Independencia 100, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico Free Tour Oaxaca
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

The VIP tour in Oaxaca aims to make you'r experience the most likeable possible in your city, our job is to introduce you to the city with our history, traditions, and local folklore that you can only experience with us. Our guides will always try the best to put a smile on your face and at the same time teach you about this wonderful city in Mexico! The best way to get to know the best of Oaxaca with a local and in a private way and focusing only on you and your requests!

Inclusions: Professional Tour Guide , Private Vehicle (if requested)

Exclusions: Entrances , Food and Drinks

Reviewed By JoanneG548

Great! Very interesting with Raoul as our guide - he was fantastic! He gave a wonderful introduction not only to Oaxaca but also overall Mexican National history and the culture, cuisine, and anything we asked about! Super helpful and insightful !!!

7. Private Tour: World Heritage Sites, UNESCO Monte Alban & City of Oaxaca

Guide Oaxaca
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This is a private tour only for those who book with us. We are in no rush and you decide how long you stay in the archaeological area. We are qualified guides with in-depth knowledge of our region. Whether they are French or English speaking, our guides have passed the guide diploma and know the region inside out, not only the tourist sites, but also the local culture and history. If you need a wheelchair, baby chair or stroller, please let us know in advance. No additional charge.

Inclusions: English or French speaking guide, Air-conditioned vehicle, Professional driver, Bottled water, In addition, we offer audio guides, they are technological, with disposable headphones so that you can listen to your guide without needing to be close at all times., Entrance tickets to all visiting sites, Travel insurance in the vehicle

Exclusions: No tips, Lunch

Reviewed By Marielle0306

I would definitely recommend this if you want to check off a bunch of boxes in one day. This tour includes: Tule Tree, Mezcaleria, Teotitlan weaver's, Mitla ruins, and Hierve El Agua. They are relatively quick stops (except for Teotitlan and Hierve El Agua) but each had sufficient time to see what was there. The guide gave us information at each place, except for Hierve El Agua, which I would have liked to know more about, so I guess I'll just read about it online. Lunch was good and the driver was very good.

8. Oaxaca Conmigo Tours

Oaxaca Conmigo Tours
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5.0 based on 13 reviews

We are a group of certified guides by SECTUR and INAH working to show you Oaxaca the best way, customazing your Tour according to your preferences with confortable cars, knowledge, friendly service but at the same time we try to support the local economy visiting workshops of hardworkig people with high quality handicrafts.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Parking Fees, Fuel surcharge, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Lunch, Alcoholic Beverages, Breakfast

9. Bike Tour and Speleology in Cueva Chevé

Av. Independencia Ote. 127, Centro de la Ciudad, 75700 Tehuacán, Pue., Mexico Rotamundos Experiencias
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Rotamundos Experiencias takes you on a mountain bike tour through the lush and beautiful forest enjoying the landscapes that the nature of the place offers us, then we will arrive at the Cheve Cave, one of the deepest cavities in the world. On this tour we will enter approximately 350 meters, where we will enjoy the different formations that the cave has acquired over thousands of years, we will also know the flora and fauna that we can find within it and all its natural wonders. Once the tour is finished inside the cave, a meditation activity is carried out in nature surrounded by an environment of peace and tranquility. This activity is carried out in the Coniferous Forest of Concepción Pápalo, a place full of great energy and remarkable harmony.

Inclusions: Equipment for activity, Entrance to the Cave

Exclusions: Does not include any type of food and / or drink, Private transportation

10. Mezcal Tours Oaxaca: A Day in the Life

Mezcal Educational Tours
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4.9 based on 38 reviews

The only way to truly learn about mezcal production, is to participate in all or as many states of production as practicable, alongside the palenqueros (distillers) and their family members. In this way one best begins to appreciate the hard work which goes into making a bottle of mezcal. Of course in the day we have breaks, and lunch (optional and extra) at a local rural eatery serving traditional Oaxacan fare, and there will be opportunities to sample upwards of 30 mezcals, which can be purchased at a fraction of retail, from some of the same producers which sell to bars, restaurants and mezcalerias in Oaxaca and elsewhere throughout Mexico. Cut agave in the field, fill the oven, empty the oven, prepare the sweet baked agave for crushing, crush by hand or with the horse and tahona, fill and empty the fermentation vats, then distill. You do it all (as much as we can reasonably arrange), working alongside indigenous Zapotec producers, and their families.

Inclusions: All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Lunch

Reviewed By skipaway

I was not a particular fan of mezcal but of all tours available in Oaxaca I chose this one because I have friends who rave about mezcal, the cultural aspect was appealing, and the tour leader is clearly expert in his field. Good choice, to say the least. It's hard to describe the impact of this experience, but I feel I had a deep dive into the heart of this aspect of Oaxacan culture that would be impossible to replicate. Alvin knows all the people you'll meet and is clearly respected. I made it back to the US with two treasured liters of mezcal and an even more valuable appreciation for and understanding of Oaxaca.

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