Question 1

How do I get to Oaxaca?

Accepted Answer

Xoxocotlán Airport lies about 8 kilometers southwest of the city and is served several times daily from Mexico City with a flight time of just one hour. Alternatively, comfortable night buses run from the capital in about six hours.

Question 2

Why is the old town of Oaxaca a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Accepted Answer

The old town, built from greenish cantera stone around the lively Zócalo, combines magnificent colonial churches such as Santo Domingo with pastel-colored facades, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 together with Monte Albán for its exceptional architecture.

Question 3

What makes Monte Albán historically significant?

Accepted Answer

The ruined city, located on an artificially flattened mountaintop, was the political center of Zapotec culture for over 1,000 years and impresses with monumental pyramids, a ballcourt and a spectacular panoramic view over the entire Oaxaca Valley.

Question 4

What makes Oaxaca's mezcal tradition special?

Accepted Answer

As the birthplace of mezcal, numerous small family distilleries, known as palenques, around Oaxaca produce the smoky agave spirit using centuries-old methods, and visitors can experience the traditional production process firsthand on guided tours, from harvest to distillation.

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