Current Time in Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca, formally known as Oaxaca de Juárez, is the capital of the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, situated in a highland valley at an elevation of approximately 1,550 meters above sea level at the confluence of three valleys. With a population of approximately 272,000 in the city and over 600,000 in the metropolitan area, it is one of Mexico's most celebrated destinations — a city of exceptional archaeological heritage, living indigenous cultures, extraordinary cuisine, vibrant arts, and a beautifully preserved colonial city center inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Oaxaca is also internationally famous for its Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, among the most elaborate and moving in all of Mexico.

The Oaxaca Valley has been inhabited for over ten thousand years, and two of ancient Mesoamerica's greatest civilizations flourished in the region. The Zapotec civilization, centered on the hilltop city of Monte Albán overlooking the valley, developed one of the earliest writing systems in the Americas, a sophisticated calendar, and an urban civilization of considerable power and sophistication from approximately 500 BC to 700 AD. Monte Albán, with its magnificent ceremonial platforms, temples, ball court, and astronomical observatory, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico, easily accessible as a short drive from Oaxaca city. The Mixtec civilization subsequently occupied much of the region, producing extraordinary featherwork, goldsmith work, and illuminated codices that are among the finest pre-Columbian artistic achievements.

The Spanish founded the colonial city of Antequera (later renamed Oaxaca) in 1529, and the city developed as the administrative center of the region under the colonial system. The historic center is organized around the Zócalo (main plaza) and several adjacent plazas, with the Cathedral of Oaxaca — begun in 1535 and completed over the following two centuries — anchoring the northwest corner of the main square. The Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, completed in the late seventeenth century, is one of the most elaborately decorated Baroque churches in Mexico, its interior a continuous explosion of gilded stucco ornamentation covering walls, ceilings, and pillars. Adjacent to the church, the converted monastery complex houses the extraordinary Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, which displays a remarkable collection of Zapotec and Mixtec gold, jade, and obsidian objects including the treasures from Tomb 7 at Monte Albán — among the finest pre-Columbian gold artifacts in existence.

Oaxacan cuisine is renowned throughout Mexico and increasingly famous internationally as one of the richest and most complex regional food traditions in the country. Oaxaca is known as the land of seven moles — the complex, slow-cooked sauces of chili peppers, chocolate, nuts, seeds, and spices that characterize Mexican haute cuisine. The mole negro, deep black and intensely flavored, is the most famous. Tlayudas — large tortillas topped with bean paste, cheese, and various meats and vegetables — are a Oaxacan street food staple. Quesillo, the Oaxacan string cheese sold in balls from market stalls, mezcal (the artisanal agave spirit of which Oaxaca is the world capital), and the distinctive chocolate of the region round out a food identity of extraordinary richness.

The Día de los Muertos in Oaxaca, celebrated from October 31st through November 2nd, is one of the most visually spectacular and emotionally profound ritual celebrations in Mexico. The combination of Aztec and Catholic traditions produces days of elaborate altars (ofrendas) laden with marigolds, photographs, and favorite foods of the deceased, candlelit processions through the cemeteries, and a spirit of joyful remembrance that has attracted worldwide attention and inspired its portrayal in animated films and documentaries. The city's many indigenous communities — speaking Zapotec, Mixtec, and other languages — maintain their own distinct versions of the celebration, adding layers of depth and variety.

The University of Oaxaca and the Instituto de Artes de Oaxaca support a significant artistic community that produces textiles, black clay pottery, woodcarving (alebrijes), and graphic art of exceptional quality. Oaxaca International Airport connects the city to Mexico City and several other destinations. The city's combination of pre-Columbian heritage, colonial beauty, culinary excellence, living indigenous traditions, and festive spirit make it one of the essential destinations in Mexico and one of the great cultural cities of the Americas.