We are flying into Mex. city and are thinking on going into the city for 3 days to see sights- then move on to Puebla as a base for 5-6 days to do day trips from there and not be in such a large city as Mex.
We think we want to end up in Puerto Escondido for some beach and relax time at the end of our month long trip. What we are not sure about is whether to include Oaxaca, which involves a fairly lengthy bus ride- or we can get a cheap flight to Puerto without doing the side trip to Oaxaca.

Are we going to be sorry for omitting Oaxaca?
What do you think about two weeks in Puerto Escondido- too much??
Thanks in advance for your always insightful responses fellow travelers!

YES, you will be sorry for omitting Oaxaca! Puebla is great, ditto DF, but Oaxaca is special for all the reasons you've read - plus it's smaller than the other 2 and hence easier to see and do alot just walking AND lots of interesting places to visit in the surrounding area (craft villages, mt hiking, etc) . . . .Can't speak to PE cause haven't been there. . but 2 weeks sounds like a lot to me.

Wow - a month - that's wonderful! I'm envious. I've been to Mexico City a few times, Puebla once, Oaxaca twice and Puerto Escondido 4 times. I like spending the end of a trip at the beach. If I had a month, I'd definitely plan to see all those areas. Usually we have 2 weeks - one week at the beach and one week elsewhere. One year, I think we landed in Mexico City and took the bus directly to Puebla for a few days. Then we went on to Cuernavaca for a few days, then back to Mexico City where we flew to Puerto Escondido. Two other times, we went to Oaxaca for a few days, then flew to Escondido. With a month, I'd definitely see all those places. You could easily spend a full week in Oaxaca.

Enjoy!

I sure wouldn't miss Oaxaca. Take a day time bus from Peubla, and once you clear the city it is quite a scenic 6 hour ride. You certainly want to spend a week in Oaxaca and environs. E.g. Santo Domingo and museum, downtown Oaxaca, Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul, Teotitlan de Valle, market days in various villages, etc. The area is certainly a cultural highlight of Mexico. If you want to go to PE you can fly from OAX or take a van down in about 5 hours.

However you can work it out, you should not miss Oaxaca city. Without a doubt, it is the best all-around destination in Mexico. Ruins, food, colonial architecture, museums, climate, music, galleries, cultural events, shopping, language & cooking schools, and arguably the best zocalo in all of Mexico. Especially on Sundays when either the state orchestra or marimba band plays. Easily walkable tourist andadores. Puebla is very nice, but Oaxaca is better. If it were me, (and it's not), I'd trade one day in Puebla for the trip to Oaxaca (quite scenic) and spend at least 1 week there instead of 2 in PE. Huatulco is nice as well, and they have an international airport. When are you going?

Oh gosh -- I don't come in here often enough!

lchamp, SIDE trip to Oaxaca?! You're thinking of missing one of the richest, most profound, most varied experiences a person can have in one relatively small area in order to go to a beach town?

Sorry, don't mean to sound judgmental, but wouldn't you rather hear that from me & others here now, rather than hearing it on your return from friends who know Oaxaca?

Go here: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...ad=3485&page=1 for a quickie overview with lots of pictures, but that still barely scratches the surface of what's available to see and do. If you're intrigued by how the city looks, check out any of these items to see what's around the city and easily accessible: http://anyportinastorm.proboards.com...i?board=mexico

Another thing in Oaxaca's favor is how walkable the city is -- you can get to everything you might want to see in town on foot, if you wish, thus more likely to come across interesting or fun surprises.

Totally agree DO not miss Oxaca such a wonderful place.

Might these pictures convince you to go to Oaxaca, if you have not done your trip yet?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7622882801271/