Sunday, June 10, 2007

 

Oaxaca, Mexico, Lodging

The city of Oaxaca, Oaxaca (formally: Oaxaca de Juárez, in honor of 19th-century president and national hero Benito Juárez, who was born nearby) is the capital and main city of the Mexican state of the same name. It is located in the Oaxaca Valley in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, at 17°07?N 96°72?W and an altitude of about 1550 m (5000 feet). The important Monte Albán archaeological site is close to the city. In 2003 the estimated population was 259,600 people.

There have been Zapotec and Mixtec settlements in the general area of the modern city of Oaxaca for thousands of years, in connection with the important ancient centres of Monte Albán and Mitla. The colonial city, however, dates from 1532, when Spanish settlers who had followed Hernán Cortés` conquistadores successfully petitioned the Queen of Spain for a grant of land. They had already founded a city in the neighbourhood, under the name of Antequera, on the basis of a charter from King Carlos V of Spain, but Cortés had successfully sought to have the entire Valle de Oaxaca declared as part of his personal marquisate, and to have the settlers removed. The queen`s charter however secured the townspeople`s rights, and the modern city grew up within and around the one-league square that they were granted.

The historic centre of the city is laid out in typical Spanish colonial style, with a rectangular grid of streets surrounding a central square, the zócalo. Most of the important buildings are within this central area.

Oaxaca is far more than a tourist destination, and tourism does not dominate the city`s life. Nonetheless, it does have a significant tourist trade, based on its numerous baroque churches and religious buildings (many of which have recently been restored), its proximity to Monte Albán, the ready availability of attractive local craft products in its markets and in nearby villages, and on a reputation for a relaxed style of life and friendly and courteous local population. It has a very wide range of cafés and restaurants, many of them specializing in the distinctive regional cuisine with some claiming to be among the best in Mexico. Mole Negro, Rojo and Coloradito are cocoa-based sauces, with over fifty additional ingredients, that are among the main claims to culinary fame.

Oaxaca-Xoxocotlan airport (IATA code OAX) is approximately 10 km south of the city centre. Most flights are to Mexico City for onward connection, but there are also flights to Huatulco, Cancún, Cancún, Tuxtla Gutierrez and Tijuana. Continental flights between Oaxaca and Houston have also been initiated.

The city has separate first class and second class bus stations, offering services to most places within the state of Oaxaca, including the coastal resorts of Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Puerto Ángel and Pinotepa Nacional, and also long-distance services to Puebla and Mexico City and other Mexican locations such as Veracruz.


Oaxaca, Mexico, Lodging Accommodations:

Oaxaca is located in Mexico. Search, find, choose and compare our list of luxury five star Oaxaca, Mexico, resorts, comfortable four star Oaxaca, Mexico, hotels, clean three star Oaxaca, Mexico, lodges, convenient two star Oaxaca, Mexico, inns, and budget one star Oaxaca, Mexico, motels to find rooms available for lodging accommodations in Oaxaca, Mexico. Book a Mexican hotel room and make reservations in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Don't forget to consider what options you will have for shopping in Oaxaca, Mexico. Local activities may include scuba diving, fishing, hiking, and mountain climbing near Oaxaca, Mexico.


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