The only way to guarantee seeing your bag again? Learn to pack light.
Destination of the Day
Oaxaca, Mexico
Nestled in a picturesque valley some 5,000 feet above sea level, Oaxaca is located within the Sierra Madre mountain range in southern Mexico. Bursting with colorful art and architecture, vibrant cultural traditions, and amazing food, this city should be at the top of any Mexico itinerary.
Things to Do
It's easy to fill your days with exciting and fun activities in Oaxaca. Spend some time in the Zócalo, Oaxaca's main square and the heart of the city. Here, you'll see a multitude of vendors selling handcrafted items and musical performers entertaining passers-by. Taste memelas, tamales, and chapulines at the Mercado 20 de Noviembre, and visit the Oaxaca Museum of Cultures to see the amazing treasure of Tomb 7. Of course, no trip to Oaxaca is complete without a trip to the archaelogical site of Monte Albán, the capital of the Zapotec civilization from around 500 BC to 800 AD.
Where to Eat and Drink
Flavorful moles, fresh herbs, dried chiles, quesillo, and handmade corn tortillas are just a few of the elements that make Oaxacan food so special, and you can try some of the state's best-known dishes at any one of the city's top restaurants. Mezcal, a distillate made from agave, is the drink of choice in Oaxaca. It's traditionally served neat, but if that's not your style, you can try some inventive mezcal cocktails at spots like Sabina Sabe or Mezcalogia. To see how mezcal gets made, plan a visit to a palenque on the outskirts of Oaxaca City.
Day Trips From Oaxaca
While Oaxaca City has so much to offer, its surroundings also are worth exploring. There are a number of excellent day trips, but we recommend traveling to the town of Teotitlán del Valle, famous for its Zapotec wool rugs. Visit the home studio of a local family (we recommend Vida Nueva, an all-women's cooperative), to see how these works of art are made, from carding and dyeing the wool to weaving. Or head to Hierve el Agua, a calcified waterfall on the side of a mountain, with two natural infinity pools at the top. Hike part of the way down for great views of the "falls," set against a dramatic backdrop of mountains and sky.
Your Packing List
Oaxaca receives the vast majority of its rainfall during the months of June, July, August, and September. An umbrella can come in handy, but sometimes the rains are accompanied by strong winds that can make it ineffective; consider bringing a rain jacket or poncho if your trip is around this time.
Come fall, it's a good idea to dress in layers, so you can strip down to a T-shirt during the heat of the day, and have a sweater or fleece for the cool evenings.
Even when the weather is warm, people in Oaxaca City tend to dress quite modestly. Although norms are starting to change, it's still rare to see locals wearing shorts or tank tops. If you're traveling during the hot spring months, your best bet is to pack light pants, short-sleeved shirts, skirts, or sundresses. For outdoor activities, be sure to bring a hat with a wide brim to protect you from the sun, and sunscreen.
Architect Oscar Niemeyer's Museum of Contemporary Art looks exactly like a gigantic UFO, perched on a cliff overlooking Brazil's Guanabara Bay. Red ramps wrap around the flying saucer, while 360-degree horizontal windows deliver spectacular views of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. Inside, the museum's stark slanted walls and floors form the perfect setting to puzzle over avant-garde art.
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