Magical Towns near Oaxaca
5 Magical Towns are less than 150 km from Oaxaca, close enough for a day trip, and 13 more are within 292 km for a weekend getaway. The closest is Capulálpam de Méndez, Oaxaca, about 40 km away. Distances are in a straight line; by road, expect roughly 20–40% more.
Day trips (under 150 km)
≈ 40 kmOaxacaCapulálpam de Méndez
Community tourism in Oaxaca's Sierra Norte: the state's first Magical Town, traditional medicine, pine forests and a 2024 Best Tourism Village.
≈ 42 kmOaxacaSan Pablo Villa de Mitla
The Zapotec “place of the dead”: stone fretwork unique in Mesoamerica, Yagul, valley mezcal, and close to Hierve el Agua and the Tule Tree.
≈ 94 kmOaxacaSan Pedro y San Pablo Teposcolula
A jewel of Oaxaca's Mixteca: the largest open chapel in Latin America, a 16th-century Dominican convent and the Casa de la Cacica.
≈ 111 kmOaxacaSanta Catarina Juquila
One of Oaxaca's great sanctuaries: thousands of pilgrims visit the Virgin of Juquila every year, in Chatino land of cross-stitch embroidery.
≈ 118 kmOaxacaHuautla de Jiménez
A Mazatec mountain town in Oaxaca: the legacy of María Sabina, the San Agustín caves, waterfalls and a spirituality that calls for respect.
Weekend getaways
≈ 157 kmOaxacaMazunte
Beaches, sea turtles and sunsets on the Oaxaca coast: the Mexican Turtle Center, Punta Cometa and La Ventanilla lagoon.
≈ 202 kmVeracruzOrizaba
A mountain city at the foot of Pico de Orizaba: cable car, riverside walk, the iron Palacio de Hierro, museums and monumental architecture.
≈ 204 kmVeracruzCórdoba
Where the Treaties of Córdoba were signed: the Portal de Zevallos, cathedral, Coffee Museum, former sugar haciendas and lively arcades.
≈ 225 kmVeracruzCoscomatepec de Bravo
Gateway to the Pico de Orizaba in Veracruz: Independence history, leatherwork, the San Diego Chapel and views of Mexico's highest volcano.
≈ 263 kmVeracruzXico
Coffee, mole and waterfalls on the slopes of the Cofre de Perote: Texolo waterfall, colonial houses, arcades and the feast of Mary Magdalene.
≈ 266 kmVeracruzCoatepec
Veracruz's coffee capital: coffee haciendas, orchids, old mansions, misty mountain weather, an ice cream fair and an orchid festival.
≈ 272 kmTlaxcalaIxtenco
Tlaxcala's last Otomí stronghold: colorful native corn, sour purple-corn atole, pepenado embroidery, language and traditional festivals.
≈ 273 kmPueblaAtlixco
The city of flowers at the foot of Popocatépetl: plant nurseries, convents, the San Miguel hill viewpoint and year-round festivals.
≈ 276 kmPueblaSan Andrés Cholula
The Great Pyramid of Cholula topped by the Remedios sanctuary, one of the oldest living cities in the Americas, talavera pottery and student life.
≈ 277 kmPueblaSan Pedro Cholula
The San Gabriel convent and its 49-dome Royal Chapel, a main square with one of Mexico's longest arcades and the Great Pyramid a few blocks away.
≈ 279 kmTlaxcalaHuamantla
Festive Tlaxcala: the sawdust carpets of “The Night Nobody Sleeps,” the National Puppet Museum, pulque haciendas and La Malinche volcano.
≈ 288 kmVeracruzNaolinco de Victoria
Handmade shoes and leather, mist and viewpoints in Veracruz: sausages, mole, wood-fired bread, white clay pottery and Day of the Dead traditions.
≈ 292 kmPueblaHuejotzingo
A 16th-century Franciscan convent, the famous Huejotzingo Carnival, cider and chiles en nogada, just outside the city of Puebla.