Greetings. I'm looking for a beach destination before or after Oaxaca. I'd like to split our vacation between the city and the beach and be able to fly home (Portland, OR) without significant layovers and pricing. I love Oaxaca for it's food and handicrafts. If there aren't any feasible itineraries I'd appreciate suggestions and options for a similar trip.

I think Huatulco is the beach most often paired with Oaxaca.

You might get more information here:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForu...rn_Mexico.html

I'm not sure there's any easy way to get from PDX to either OAX or HUX. But if you can figure that out, Aerotucan and TAR both fly between Oaxaca and Huatulco, otherwise it's a really long drive.

Right. Thanks. I think I might have to keep searching for the perfect (and cheap) pairing. Sigh.

Sorry! Thank you all for the responses and information!

Would you consider Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta? Those are easy from Portland (I'm in Seattle) and give you a big city plus a beach. You can fly between them or the bus is about 5 hours only.

I'd check on the air quality in Guadalajara before making plans. I had a layover there recently and it was like smelly brown fog, pretty terrible. I'm sure it varies by season.

I've wanted to go to Guadalajara for decades. Thanks, Suze! I'll send out feelers to my friends and see if they are interested. I didn't fall in love with PV when I was there a couple years ago but I wouldn't mind going back. I might check out some other options. But I'd love to see Guadalajara. Thanks, great idea! And I will check on air quality, MmeP. I don't want to be inhaling diesel fumes all day and feeling sick from it. Makes my head hurt just thinking about bright sun and smog. Blech.

Did I help you with your PV trip?

I have been a number of times to Huatulco. There are several (8, as touted) bays with beaches and you can go by road, or plane, from Oaxaca. The drive is a convoluted one although it may be better than when I made those trips.

I do not return there mainly because the ocean has waves that make swimming in the sea more problematic at most of those beaches.. But Oaxaca pairs so well with Huatulco, as well as with P. Escondido. And the beaches near Pto Angel.

Worth a look at all three of those...

Toucan Airlines flies from Oaxaca to the Oaxacan coast at rather reasonable rates. A far different experience than more Northern destinations. Less than a hours flight. Very laid back surfers destination.
While I always enjoy Guadalajara (we honeymooned there in '98) for my first inland city I'd choose Mexico City, Guanajuato or Oaxaca before it.