I have organised a private guide for the 5 of us and have suggested the following itinerary for him....what do you think ?
Monday 9am departure for Tule, Teotitlan, Yagul, Mitla and Mezcal factory. Lunch at mezcal factory or El Patio??
Wednesday 9am Tour to Monte Alban, Atzoompa for ceramics, Cuilapan for the open air church.
Thursday 9 am Trip to Ocotlan, Jalietza, San Matin and San Bartolo Coyotepec

I can't remember how much time you're spending in Oaxaca. To me, it seems a little busy, but that's just me - I'm not such an organized person! But you'll certainly see a lot. You've got Monday, Wednesday and Thursday accounted for - what are you doing Tuesday? There's a lot to see in Oaxaca itself.

Tuesday is taken up with a tour with Mary Randall in Oaxaca, on friday the girls are having a cooking lesson and son and I are trying to work out something to do (we might get laundrey duty ! )

Its certainly not undoable. The first time we went to Oaxaca years ago we hired a taxi and did something similar and had a good time and learned a lot. This itinerary will, I think, be a good introduction to the Oaxaca valley. It is certainly a whirlwind tour- how much time do you have total?

I'm sure you and your son can find something to do! Oaxaca is a great city just to 'hang out'. On more than one occasion, we stopped to have a beer at one of the places around the zocalo - part of the appeal is the spicy peanuts served with the beer!

Arrive on a sunday depart the following saturday ! 3 days outside of town 2 days in town !

For that short a trip, your plan sounds good to me. I was going to suggest the Sunday market at Tlatcolula, but it appears that won't work. Besides the market in Ocotlan, go see Rudolfo Morales house. You are going to be super busy and most likely will want to go back. Hope you have a great trip.

tuesday and friday afternoons are set down as "take a map and wander " time !! Life is too short to siesta !

I would switch the Wednesday program for that on Thursday. There is the Thursday market in Zaachila and since you are going to be in the area, you could visit the market as well as Cuilapan.

What does the Zaachila market feature ?

You need to check market days, but I think market day in Ocotlan is Thursday. If so, and you switched days, you would be missing the Ocotlan market which I prefer over Zachilla. Likewise Cuilapan is not far from Oaxaca or Atzompa- you could even add in Arrazola. I would not change your plan.

Thanks dude ! (god, that sounds like a line from a cheech and chong movie !!)

Marco, Hope you don't mind me jumping on the bandwagon here. My husband and I have a super short trip planned to Oaxaca. Arrive Sun 12/25 4pm, depart Thurs 12/29 7pm. I'd love to to everything (markets, hikes, museums, cooking class, etc) but due to limited time, it's prob smart to have a set itinerary. I'd appreciate anyone's suggestions on how to BEST spend our time there.

mtz1222:
My Husband and I just returned last week from a week in Oaxaca. I suggest taking a cooking class one day, one day at Monte Alban and a couple of villages including a market day, one and a half days in Oaxaca City at the museums, galleries, markets and artisan shops. Sunday afternoon in the Zocolo with the locals is fun.

We took a lovely cooking class at Casa Sagrada- www.casasagrada.com. You can book at the gallery La Mano Magica on Alcala, where they pick you up at 8:30AM to drive you to Teotitlan to the morning market and then up to Casa Segrada for the class and beautiful views of the southern Sierra Mountains. Teotitlan is known for its families of weavers of handmade rugs.

Try to stop by Maria Bonita off Alcala for stuffed zucchini blossoms. YUM!

You will have great time doing this trip. While in Cuilapam on Wednesday you need to have lunch, no? Have your guide take you to La Capilla. It is a fun local place for Oaxacans to enjoy a meal; "al aire libre" Plan to spend a relaxing time post meal in one of their many hammocks.

I love a full belly and a hammock...gets will probably bget irate though.

If you're looking just for a relaxing couple of hours somewhere one day, either make the climb up Cerro del Fortin (the big hill where La Guelaguetza is held each summer) and enjoy the view; head east, just a little way past the 1st-class bus station, to Ciudad de las Canteras, a city park that was built out of a rock quarry; or take a breather in Parque El Juarez (El Llano), in the northeast part of the city. (El Llano is a popular place for morning jogs/walks, too.) I recommend Ciudad de las Canteras, personally. Not too many foreigners seem to know about it, and it's absolutely gorgeous and, depending on the time of day, very tranquil. It's probably a 20-min walk outside the city, but it's well worth it.

Thank you, I love details !!

Just how many restaurant El Patios are there in the Valley ???? Also what is the name of the Mezcal factory with a small Zoo attached ??

last topper !