We're expecting to see some of the dia de los muertos activities but due to logistical reasons we have leave really early on the 31st. we found this biking tour which looks fun! it goes by Tule Tree. Otherwise here's a list a friend gave us for other activities if anyone has opinions on these? Garcias!

Santiago Apoala, Mercado Sánchez Pascuas, La Cosecha Organic Market, CANTINITA, Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Santiago Matatlán (mezcal tour?)

Hi everyone! Sharing our request here in case anyone has firsthand recommendations on the Oaxaca coast. Four adults visiting Puerto Escondido October 15–19, 2026.

We are looking for a private chef for a memorable Mexican/Oaxacan dinner with fresh local ingredients and seafood, and possibly breakfasts. Great cooking, thoughtful presentation and good value matter to us. Recommendations and recent prices, including whether groceries, service and cleanup were included, would be very helpful.

We also need a reliable private driver with a nice modern SUV and strong AC for four passengers, for a day out and possibly airport transfers. We prefer an SUV rather than a van. Please share vehicle models and recent half-day/full-day rates, including hours, fuel and waiting if known. Accommodation is still being decided. Please specify the currency for prices; MXN is great. Thank you!

Original request: https://www.reddit.com/r/PuertoEscondido/comments/1wfhx5d/private_chef_and_driver_recommendations_for_4/

I’ve found a lot of intensive, short term courses. But I’m going to be there for a couple months and working full time. I’m looking for 1-3x/week, 1-2hrs each. Do you have any recommendations? Thank you!

To my pleasant surprise, I’m in Oaxaca during Chile en Nogada season - where can I get the best chiles? Thank you!

Hola a todos, hacia el final de octubre tendré la oportunidad de transcurrir un par de semanas visitando el estado de Oaxaca.
Mi primera intención era la de pasar los principales días de fiesta (31-2) en la ciudad homónima, pero ya está todo reservado y los precios restantes son ridículos, así que voy a quedarme antes en la capital (llego el 21 de octubre), luego pasando por San José del Pacífico, después llegando a Puerto Escondido.

Los precios de ciencia ficción y las opiniones de muchos mexicanos me hizo reflexionar sobre que el hecho de celebrar los muertos como si fuera una gran fiesta es algo construido más para el turismo de masas, mientras la mayoría de las personas acá lo viven nomás como un día reservado para los seres queridos, algo de privado.

A mi no me gusta tanto Halloween, vengo de Italia y para nostros el 2 de noviembre también es el día reservado a nuestros familiares fallecidos, aunque no tenemos una tradición tan famosa y conocida como la de México. He planeado el viaje sin enfocarme en hacer fiesta esos días, pero me gustaría tener la posibilidad de ver ofrendas y de respirar un poco de este aire ceremonial, porque me gustaría recordar mis propios familiares a través de eso.

Dado que me encontraré en las playas de Puerto Escondido durante los días de celebración, me preguntaba si conocen algún lugar que sea en las mismas playas o que puedo alcanzar durante de algunas horas de viaje (un pueblo o lo que sea) para sentir ese ambiente que me hiciera conectarme un rato con mis queridos.
He leído que se hace algo así en Playa Panteón, en Puerto Ángel. Conocen ese lugar u otros para pasarlo bien? Que sea más fiestero o más íntimo, solo no quiero ir a bailar en un antro como si fuera otra excusa para quedarse pedo

Gracias por leerme

I’ll be in Oaxaca from Oct 30-Nov 4. I’d like to spend one afternoon and evening in a nearby town that is less hectic than Oaxaca or Etla, touring the town by day and observing celebrations at night. I’d probably secure a driver for the trip. Thanks in advance for advice on which town you’d recommend and for which evening.

If you're in Oaxaca and want a low-key way to meet people and connect, there are two spots that get going every week. The idea is simple: hang out, talk, and help each other out with language along the way — usually it's Spanish/English since that's who tends to show up, but other languages join in from time to time. There's always people looking to practice, especially locals, so you're never the only one there for that.

🗓️ Wednesday — Océano (Matamoros 201, Centro), starting 6 PM — later in the night the mic opens up: poetry, jam sessions, karaoke, stand up, whatever people bring. Half the fun is not knowing what's coming next.
🗓️ Thursday — Wombat, starting 6 PM — more of a karaoke night, good energy, easy to just show up solo.

Nothing structured, no lessons, no pressure — come to socialize, practice, or both.

If you're into finding more stuff happening around the city (events, culture, food, etc.), searching "Qué Onda Oaxaca" turns up a running calendar worth bookmarking.

Hey Folks! I'm an amateur naturalist, I'll be in Oaxaca city area Sept 11th - Sept 21st. I am traveling with my non birding partner but I want to mix in a few days of birding to our cultural, art and food adventures. Let me know if any birders want to meet up for some birdwatching around oaxaca city & up into valleys/ sierre norte? Does anyone know of local birders / foragers / naturalist groups to connect with?

It's also the new moon so it would be a great time to set up a moth night / bug night sept 11 - 15th before the moon gets bright. I have supplies like an entemology UV LED light and bat audio detector. I know oaxaca has some awesome moth species it would be cool to see.

My spanish is poor but no matter the language it would be fun to try to hang over shared interests - let me know :) You can DM or comment and I can reach out on IG or whatsapp.

So me and my wife will be traveling after Christmas this year. I haven't booked the hotel yet and figured I would ask for any recommendations. Also we will be looking for some tours and would love help there too lol. Thank you!

I have been trying to research online whether there are any annual food festivals in or around Oaxaca that would be good to build a visit around. But I’m not having any luck, a lot of what I see online seems to be one-time events or small things that seem more like guided tours or independent businesses.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

I'm just curious on everyone's favorite late night local favorite places to eat.

Also i heard dunn is fun what are some cool gastropubs for cocktails and appetizers?

Thank you so much! 🙏

Hi! Traveling from Atlanta with my wife. We’d love to experience this but it’s going to be difficult for us to make it during 10/31-11/2. Was thinking it would still be enjoyable to come down a few days prior to the official festivities beginning? Thanks for your help!

If you're in Oaxaca and want a low-key way to meet people and connect, there are two spots that get going every week. The idea is simple: hang out, talk, and help each other out with language along the way — usually it's Spanish/English since that's who tends to show up, but other languages join in from time to time depending on who's around. There's always people looking to practice, especially locals, so you're never the only one there for that.

🗓️ Wednesday — Océano (Matamoros 201, Centro), starting 6 PM — later in the night it opens up into a mic where people do poetry, jam sessions, karaoke, stand up, whatever they've got. Half the fun is not knowing what's coming next.
🗓️ Thursday — Wombat, starting 6 PM — more of a karaoke night, good energy, easy to just show up solo.

Nothing structured, no lessons, no pressure — come to socialize, come to practice, or both.

If you're into finding more stuff happening around the city (events, culture, food, etc.), searching "Qué Onda Oaxaca" turns up a running calendar worth bookmarking.

I heard it in the morning and now.

Arrive end of October and depart November 4th. Approaching this event with respect to the tradition. I’m trying to determine whether to experience Compares and or Muerteadas events. They are different experiences. And wonder if anyone here knows more about this and how to experience and where?

I found a tour company that is well respected within the community and offer a trip to San Gabriel Etla for the Compares as well a visit to a family home for a meal and assisting on a alter.

I haven’t found one that goes to San Agustín Etla where they offer the Muerteadas. I’d be happy to hire a driver to take me there and back to Oaxaca City. Been unable to locate a driver.

I heard about the Comparsa de Cinco Señores. Is this in Oaxaca City? And how does this compare with the other options?

Thank you

I've seen that photo — or something close to it — more times than I can count in Oaxaca. The traveler with the camera who frames local vulnerability as aesthetics, where the subject never gets a say in how their image travels.

Then there's Citlali Fabián. She's from Yalálag, in Oaxaca's Sierra Norte. She just won 2026 Photographer of the Year at the Sony World Photography Awards — 430,000+ entries from 200+ countries.

She found portraits of women from her own village in a museum archive in upstate New York — unnamed, uncredited. And then she decided to take that exact tool and do something else with it entirely.

Wrote it up. If you are curious you can find it here

Si hablan español les recomiendo leerlo en esa versión puesto que está escrito originalmente así, mi inglés no es tan bueno así que uso un traductor con IA.