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SCHOOLS Please See the "U" Page or Click
Here -- UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS
SEEDS
Please See the "G" Page or click here -- GARDENING
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SHIPPING
DHL,
Amado Nervo 104, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)515-5764
Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
Web
Site: http://www.dhl.com
This easy to use web site is an excellent way
to track your packages and confirm their safe arrival.
Estafeta
Fed
Ex
Mexicana
UPS
Please
also see the "P" Page PACKING SERVICES
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SHOPPING
Please Also See OAXACAN ARTS
Shopping
is one of Oaxaca's real delights. These days you'll find a few
more of the standard shops to be found in every city and
town in the world, but it is unusual these days to travel and find
a city filled with all sorts of shopping venues and with more novel
products than you have likely seen elsewhere in many years. Whether
you are spending US $1.00 for some little treasure you find at
a street stall or US $1000 in a gallery, the experience will be
memorable. More than likely what you take away with you will delight
and amuse you or charm and entrance you for years to come. From
street vendors, to markets, to small over filled shops to the chic
and elegant clothing and art galleries, there is something to please
everyone. And don't forget getting out to the villages to shop;
you will have a memory to cherish and maybe something terrific
to pack in your suitcase.
For
information on shopping opportunities outside of the city please
take a look below at Towns and Villages under
SITES AND SIGHTS.
Ámbar
Artesanías,
Garcia Vigil 413, Centro, Oaxaca
Angeles,
Jacobo Y Maria, Wood Carvings, Callejón del Olvido #9,
San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)524-9047
Artesanias
Gonzalez, Av. Juarez #53, Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
Tel/Fax: (951)524-4012
The
Blood of the Nopal Cactus, Calle Hidalgo 6, Teotitlan del Valle,
Oaxaca
Tel: (951)166-6282
Bulmaro
Pérez Weaver, Centenario 27, Teotitlán del Valle,
Oaxaca
Tel: (951)524-4011
La
Catrina Chimalli, Garcia Vigil 512, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel/Fax: (9510514-2101
Etnico,
Gurrión 104 and Allende 113A, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-0734
Galleria
Quetzalli,
Constitución104-1, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)514-2606 or 514-0030
Web Site: www.quetzalli.com
Indigo
Rugs, Camino Real 1, Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca
Tel/Fax: (951)166-6210
El
Nahual, 5 de Mayo 402A, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-4202
El
Pañuelito, Constitución 102, Centro, Oaxaca
Shkaála,
Cinco de Mayo 412-2, Centro, Oaxaca
Sierra
Morena, Plaza las Virgenes, Labastida 115, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-4265
Taller
del Orfebre, 206 Macedonio Alcalá, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)514-2386
Taly,
5 de Mayo 409, Centro, Oaxaca
Tienda
Q, M. Bravo, 109, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)514-8880
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SHOPPING
CENTERS
Plaza
Soriana
Soriana,
Fábrica de Francia, Cinépolis, Blockbuster
Plaza Del Valle
ChedraHuí, Multicinemas, MacDonalds, Pizza Hut,
Sears
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SIGHTS & SITES
TO VISIT IN THE CENTER OF OAXACA
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A Photographic Day in Oaxaca |
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Casa
de la Ciudad
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Cemeteries
and Graveyards
These
are places you may want to see before you come to Oaxaca again to
participate in the Day of the Dead celebrations. Before and after
experiences and photographs make wonderful contrasts.
San
Felipe del Agua Cemetery
Xochimilco
Cemetery
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Centro
Cultural Santo Domingo
This
center of Oaxacan culture includes the relatively new and very beautiful
Botanical Garden (Jardin Etnobotanico), the exquisite Sto.
Domingo church and the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca (Museo
de las Culturas de Oaxaca). You will find them on the wonderful
pedestrians only street leading north from the zócalo, Macedonio
Alcalá, after walking only about four or five blocks.
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Botanical
Garden Jardin Etnobotanico, Reforma s/n esquina de Constitución,
Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-7915
Hours: Open every day except Monday from
10:00 A.M. to 6:15 P.M.
Subdirector: Ing. César Chavez
- Rendon
The
entrance to
this
beautiful
new
addition
to
Oaxaca's
visual
treasures
lies
on
Calle Reforma. This used to be the entrance to what was a military base where
behind
the tall stone walls you could often hear marching drills and military music.
Now this complex of carefully restored colonial walls and buildings
surrounding more than an acre of open land has been reborn as a botanical
garden. Today
it features primarily those plants that grow in the State of Oaxaca's hot
dry areas.
Many of the plants are said to have been 'rescued' from large government
construction projects like roads, bridges, universities and more.
Plans are in place to
enhance the garden with representatives of Oaxaca's other climates and altitudes.
As
with everything that is alive and growing, this museum will offer us an ever
changing collection.
Please Click
Here or on the photo above to see more of the garden.
Please
also take a look at my gardening for life website. It is
based on my experiences gardening in Mexico, in the northeatern
and middle eastern US, on the small Caribbean island
of Montserrat and now in the tiny town of Panajachel on Lake
Atitlan in Guatemala.
There are lots of photographs and snippets of very useful
information.
Here is the link, GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com |
Churches
Please
See the "R" Page or click
here --
RELIGION -- for a photographic tour of some of Oaxaca's
churches
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Markets
Please See the "M" Page or Click
Here --
MARKETS
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Murals
Murals are a major part of 20th century Mexican Art
History. The one in the photograph to the right done by artist,
Arturo García Bustos, can be seen on the wall of the
staircase in the Museo de Palacio on the zócalo.
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Neighborhoods
Please See the "N" Page or Click Here -- NEIGHBORHOODS
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Observatorio Sky
Observatory |
Parks
Please See the "P" Page -- PARKS |
Planetario Planetarium
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Theater
Please See the "T" Page or Click
Here -- THEATER AND LIVE
PERFORMANCES |
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The
Walking Street
Calle
Macedonio Alcalá was transformed years ago to accommodate
pedestrians free of motor traffic.
It is delightful to walk this several block long street with other strollers
all of whom are taking in the exquisite shopping, the art galleries, the
bookstores, delightful cafes and welcoming restaurants with food
to enchant on their way
to the Santo Domingo complex with its museum, botanical garden and masterfully
restored church. |
Zócalo
or Town Square Please Please Click Here for
the "Z" Page
-- ZÓCALO
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SIGHTS & SITES – DAY TRIPS FROM OAXACA |
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Archaeological
sites -- Please See the "A" Page ARCHAEOLOGY
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Towns
and Villages
Arrazola
-- Please see San Antonio Arrazola below |
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Atzompa
-- Please see Santa María Atzompa |
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Cuajimoloyas
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Cuilapam
This
is an eerily beautiful and peaceful 16th century Dominican monastery
and church structure that was never finished. The setting is still
very beautiful once you are on the site looking toward the mountains
in the distance. It seems certain (though I haven't verified this)
that this was a site of significance before the arrival of the Spanish.
The site is now used for weddings, though only in dry season because
there is no roof on the church and there never was.
To
see more of Cuilapam click here or
on the photograph.
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Ejutla
-- If
having visited more renowned places, you are still in need of
visiting a small town nearby to Oaxaca, put this on your list. |
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Etla
Etla
is the name for a large area of land about one half hour's drive
to the north of Oaxaca city. It is known for its abundant water
and for its natural beauty. Etla is also the source of much of
Oaxaca's quesillo cheese. For visitors to the Oaxaca city area
it is also known for its confusing plethora of Etla's as you
can see below. |
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San
Augustin Etla -- Wednesday is Market Day
This is the more well known tourist destination amongst the Etla's. |
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Santiaguito
Etla -- This Etla is the source of the wonderful quesillo
sold at the La Oaxaqueña cheese shop in the Benito Juárez
market. |
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Villa
de San Pedro y San Pablo Etla |
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Valle
de Etla -- Wednesday is Market Day
We've been told that Valle de Etla may be considered the capital of all of
the Etla's. It is there that you'll find the largest market and by far the
largest church. You will also see remains of an aqueduct system that may in
some way still be operational. It would be a very nice day to first visit Valle
de Etla and then travel on the way back towards Oaxaca to stop in and visit
San Augustin Etla which is more well known on the tourist route.
To
see photographs of the wonderful church please click here Templo
del Señor de las Peñas
To
see photographs of the lovely market please see the "M" Page
Markets -- Valle de Etla Market |
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Hierve
el Agua -- Please See the "A" Page ARCHAEOLOGY |
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Ixtlán
de Juárez -- Monday is Market Day |
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Lambityeco |
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Miahuatlán
"If
having visited more renowned places, you are still in need of visiting
a small town nearby to Oaxaca, put this on your list." I wrote
that comment before actually visiting Miahuatlán, but I had
a good reason for holding it in high regard. One day while visiting
Abraham Mateus a potter friend in San Bartalo Coyetepec, he received
a delivery of mescal. It came in a well worn hard plastic five gallon "jerry
jug." Abraham lifted the lid and the essence of mescal filled
the room in seconds. He quickly poured off a gallon for us in yet another
heavy plastic gas jug. We took it home to Taxco and savored it for
the next several months all that time believing Miahuatlán would
be a wonderful adventure when next we were in Oaxaca. It probably depends
on how you define adventure, but you will pass through this town if
you take the exquisite Rt. 175 to the coast. |
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Mitla
-- Please See the "A" Page ARCHAEOLOGY |
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Monte
Alban -- Please See the "A" Page ARCHAEOLOGY |
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Nochixtlán
-- Sunday is Market Day |
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Ocotlán
de Morelos -- Friday is Market Day
Artist,
Rodolfo Morales, was born and raised in this small city and he has
been recognized by many foreigners for his generosity to the town.
Ocotlán can be hot and dusty, but it has a certain charm.
On the road into town you'll find the Aguilar sisters all of whom
make wonderfully colored and imaginative clay figures. They alone
make the hour long trip worth the time, but the town is ever changing
so put it on your list of things to do and make sure it's market
day.
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San
Andrés Huayapam -- Sunday is Market Day
This small town to the north of the city near Etla has fewer than 5000 inhabitants
is known as an attractive getaway for Oaxaqueños because it has a dam.
It also has one of the Yuu hotels if you'd like to stay overnight.
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San
Antonino Castillo Velasco
My
first time in this little town was more than thirty years ago. At that
time I was beginning a very small import business from Mexico to the
mid-East Coast of the US. I lived and worked in Washington, D. C. and
my life was driven by a passion for travel. Having been in Mexico City
for a conference, I took some time off to visit the southern capital
of Oaxaca. Once there I was charmed by the crafts. I was also familiar
with the beautifully embroidered clothing produced in Oaxaca and I'd
researched the town where at the time most of it was made. I took a
taxi from Oaxaca, arriving in the village of San Antonino left off
in a hot and very dry dusty road. There were a few fellows standing
on a corner so I asked where I could buy dresses. They sent me up another
dusty dirt road a block or two and then yelled and waved that I was "there." I
knocked on a very old wooden gate door and soon two women, mother and
daughter, ushered me into their walled property. They led me back to
a terraced area and from a very well used cardboard box handed me a
few dozen of what were very dirty 18" by 18" beautifully
embroidered pieces of a high quality cotton cloth. We got on well despite
my lack of Spanish and soon arrived at a price for each dress and the
size of my order -- just twelve. They asked for and received a deposit
and soon I was on my way back to Oaxaca with a promise that they would
deliver the dresses the next day. And deliver they did! The dresses
were beautifully sewn incorporating what had been the twelve soiled
embroidered squares. All had been washed until they were bright white
and then ironed until they were exquisitely beautiful. |
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San
Antonio Arrazola
This
is another small town very close by, under a half hour away. By some
it is said to be the home of the now well known art of carved wooden
animals and fantastic figures. Certainly there are still families
there producing these figures for sale.
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San
Bartolo Coyotepec,
on highway 175
This is another small, but sprawling town toward
the south of Oaxaca city about a half hour away. If you have
to make choices in the places you want to visit, don't miss
this one. The town has a pride in itself and a genuine life
spirit that may not be said of all places here in the Oaxaca
valley. There is much creativity and not a little playfulness
in the clay figures that are produced here and many of the
larger decorative pieces are exquisite.
Restaurants
Restaurante Casa Coyetepec, Guerrero 14-B, San Bartolo Coyotepec, OAX
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San
José el Mogote |
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San
Martín Tilcajete
This
is a large spread out village/town on the way to Ocotlan. As with
San Antonio Arrazola it is known for wooden carvings. You'll probably
want to go there by collectivo or private taxi as the walk from the
highway into town is long and the town is spread out.
Restaurants
Restaurante Azucena Zapoteca at the entrance to the town
Restaurante los Agaves about 100 meters before the town entrance
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Santa
Anna del Valle
If
you get to the busy town of Tlacolula by bus you will be in the bus
terminal just a couple of a hundred feet from the main road which carries
on toward Mitla and beyond. Santa Anna is lovely. |
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Santa
María Atzompa -- Tuesday is Market Day
This
small town is just a short, under a half hour trip away from the
city center on the way to or from the internationally renowned
archaeological site of Monte Alban. Atzompa is well worth a visit
even if only on
the way to or from Monte Alban. It is here that
villagers
produce
most
of
the green glazed pottery that you
will
see
for sale in the city and
Atzompa is probably also the origin of the hugely popular "chia
pet"
which shows up for sale on late night American TV every few years
or so.
I sure hope the villager making the "pet" now gets a share
in the profits. The village/town has a few well-known potters, one
amongst the most colorful and creative is Doloras Porras. Inside
the town is a crafts market with an indigenous foods restaurant that
should also be on the list of places to visit in Atzompa. If you
have the time, get off the bus, park your car or leave the
taxi driver to sit while you explore what Atzompa has to offer. You
won't
be
disappointed
if you look past the pedestrian tourist offerings.
 
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Santa
Maria El Tule
Santo
Tomás Jalietza
This
is a small town a little over a half hour from Oaxaca city just
off the road toward Ocotlan. It has always been known for its cotton
weaving, mostly the well-known belts and place mats that you see
in Oaxaca's crafts stores. The village has a market on Friday.
Teotitlán
del Valle, on highway 190 heading southeast of the city
This
remarkably well known weaving town is just about a half hour drive
from the city. There you will find more hand woven rugs in all
sizes and colors and patterns and materials than you ever thought
possible. Do plan to bargain a bit and do pay attention to both
the quality of weaving and the materials used.
Tlacochahuaya
Tlacolula
de Matamoros -- Sunday is Market Day
Restaurant
El Patio Restaurante,
Km. 28 Carretera Oaxaca-Istmo, Machilxochilt, Tlacolula, OAX
La
Unión Tejalapam
Yanhuitlán
Zaachila
-- Thursday is Market Day
If you are driving or have hired a driver a very nice day may be had on Thursday,
Zaachila's market day. Start out early and visit the market and the partially
excavated ruins in Zaachila. Then work your way back, stopping at Cuilapam
de Guerrero (take a look above in the Archaeological Site section) perhaps
for lunch. After relaxing for a while, carry on your way back toward Oaxaca
city, but stop by the small town of San Antonio Arrazola and do some shopping
for those carved wooden animals and fantastic figures that you've seen for
sale in Oaxaca's crafts shops.
Restaurants
Reyna Siboney, Nieves Tipicos, Parque Municipal
de Zaachila, OAX
Zimatlán
-- Wednesday is Market Day
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SIGHTS & SITES – OVERNIGHT EXCURSIONS FROM OAXACA |
Coastal
Towns and Beach Resorts |
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Driving
from the capital city of Oaxaca south through the state to
the coast is well worth doing if you have time to spend a couple
of days. The drive we like best, on Route 175 heading out of
the city toward Ocotlán, takes you through sparsely
populated mountains with fabulous views and lush areas with
enough rainfall to support bananas and lovely varieties of
ferns. This is not the fastest route so you won't be competing
with busses and large transport trucks which is a plus in the
mountains. Depending on your driving style it will take about
7 or 8 hours to get you to Puerto Angel. If time is a factor
for you, consider flying down and driving back. We drove both
ways, but somehow the drive back seemed even more beautiful.
Note: There are good airports close
to Huatulco and to Puerto Escondido. |
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San
Jose Pacifico
About halfway through the trip you'll come to a town called
San Jose Pacifico. If you have time, stay overnight to enjoy
this fabulous and little known part
of Oaxaca. While there try the Italian food at the restaurant called El Rincon
de los Duendes (duendes are like Leprechauns, playful and a little tricky too).
If you like it there take a look at the Hotel Cabañas, "La Puesta
del Sol" for an overnight. Their web site is www.sanjosepacifico.com.
  
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If
you would like to see some of the plants we have found in this
area visit our tropical garden |
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San
Pedro Pachutla
This bustling town is memorable only as a crossroads. When you arrive here driving
south from Oaxaca, you take a left for Huatulco, a right for Puerto Escondido
and stay straight for Puerto Angel through to Mazunte. Folks in the area attend
the weekly market in Pachutla for the major part of their fresh fruit and vegetables. |
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Bahias
de Huatulco
Twenty
years ago when we lived in Oaxaca city, the Huatulco resort was
under construction, intended to be the ultimate in Mexico's beach
resorts. A little more than two decades later, my husband and I
rented a car and drove down the wonderful almost abandoned Route
175 diverging just past the town of Pachutla onto Route 200 to
take a look at Huatulco and all that had been done in the years
that we had been away living in another part of Mexico.
The answer has to be "a huge amount" and "not much." There
are a few all inclusive exclusive resorts and we hope they really
do provide everything. One of the very small bays, Santa Cruz,
is said to have the best beaches, but it is also home to docking
facilities for huge cruise ships along with a marina for fishing
boats and sport fishing motor yachts. We spent only one night there.
Before leaving the area we did a little exploring and found Tagolunda,
which we had heard was noted for its upscale resorts and there
are a couple. Chahué is a tiny bay between Tagolunda and
Santa Cruz. Nearby, about 15 or 20 minutes away from Santa Cruz,
you'll find Crucecita, the town where all of the areas workers
reside. There you'll find the vibrancy, nightlife and restaurants
you'll be looking for.
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Puerto
Angel
This
is a small fishing town much the same as it was two decades
ago. Now it has more buildings, more people and more fishing
boats on the beach but nothing much else has changed. The
people are accommodating in a very genuine way. They will do all
they
can to make sure you remember your visit to their town with
great fondness. The whole place is a little ramshackle, but
the beaches are very clean, even where the fishermen pull
in their boats and often clean their fish. It is a simple place
with great warmth, generosity and charm.
To
see more of Puerto Angel click
here! or
the photograph to the left.
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Zipolite
Traveling
past Puerto Angel you'll find many curiosities, Zipolite being
probably the best known. There you can wend your way in and about
a myriad
of tiny dirt roads passing peculiar accommodation opportunities,
healing centers, camping grounds, restaurants and, well, let
your imagination guide you. Zipolite has been like this for decades
and it will probably last into 2012 when folks there are assured
we'll experience the Mayan end of the world.
Augustinillo
This is yet one more very small town right on the beach. There
are a variety of small hotels and friendly restaurants to go
with the clean and beautiful beach.
Mazunte
Not to be intentionally repetitive, but this is another small town
on the coast with small hotels and restaurants. It relies,
though, on Augustinillo for access to the beach.
Hotel: Posada Las Maxuntinas, Palapa Mar
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (958)589-5845
Puerto
Escondido
This is a well known surfing area as the beach has very rough waves.
The town has grown over the years, but still maintains its small town
atmosphere. As yet there are no big hotel developments.
Other
Destinations
Tehuantepec
Although this is only three and a half hours from the city, it would
not be very comfortable to go there and back in one day. Plan on
an overnight.
Teposcolula
Only two hours from the city, this trip can be made in a long day,
but if you can stay overnight, why not? |
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SPAS
AND HEALING ARTS
Oaxaca
has day spas and residential spas where manicures, pedicures,
facials and massage are only the start of what can be a wonderfully
renewing process. Oaxaca
has also long been known for its healers locally called curanderos.
Aside from having an extensive knowledge of the applications
of herbal medicines there is also much to say about the personal
curative
powers
of some
of these healers. Use your common sense and your intuition
to guide you on your journey into this type of alternative
medicine.
Taking a traditional Oaxacan steam bath, a temazcal,
is another of the naturally healing experiences you may have
while
visiting the city.
Cleansing
stones
We've been told these white stones can be used in many ways for
physical and spiritual health. If you know more, please get in
touch by writing to us at [email protected]
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Namaste,
Constitución 100 int. 3, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-9645
Web Site: www.namasteoaxaca.com
Temazcal,
Reforma 402, Centro, Oaxaca
Tel: (951)516-1165
Web Site: www.lasbugambilias.com
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STATIONERY
STORES
Please See the "B" Page or Click Here -- BUSINESS
SERVICES AND SUPPLIES
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