Parks and the outdoors in Oaxaca

8 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Oaxaca.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Arbol del Tule
This tree has the largest base of any tree in the world. Legend has it that it is over 1400 years old. It is just outside of a church with a lovely garden around it.
M$20 entrance fee; colectivo transport M$25 one way
Do
Benito Juarez National Park
Large natural park with hiking trails, zip lines, and great opportunities for bird watchers.
M$20
Do
Hierve el Agua
The Water Boils
Natural mineral springs that flow into several open pools located at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. Despite the name, the water is not actually boiling; it's actually a comfortable temperature. Nearby is a massive "petrified waterfall", which is not actually petrified; it is the result of mineral deposits from dripping mineral spring water over many, many years. From the plateau, you have a breathtaking view over the mountain ranges. Bring a swim suit. Changing areas and restrooms are available. Also bring a few coins to buy a cup of fresh, sliced fruit, the tastiest you will find! Allow an hour.
$50 plus $20 for the road fee
See
Jardín Etnobotánico
Oaxaca Botanical Garden
A former army base, converted to a large botanical garden in 1993. The garden, designed by Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo who led the project to create it, has the largest collection of living cacti and agave plants in Oaxaca. Paths take visitors though the constantly growing collections that show the rich biodiversity of Oaxacan plant life. Entrance to the garden is through guided tours only, limited to 30 people, and no reservations are accepted. Spanish tours are one hour long, and English tours are two hours.
English tours: Mon-Sat 11:00; Spanish tours: Mon-Sat 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, Mon-Fri also at 17:00Spanish tours $50, English tours $100
See
La Casa de la Ciudad
City Museum
Features exhibitions devoted to architectural styles, historical photographs and urban art. Two aerial photographs taken of Oaxaca in 1990 and 2006 are embedded in an underlit floor so that visitors can walk over them and explore the changes in the city that occurred during those 16 years.
Daily 09:00-20:00Free
Do
Llano Grande
One of eight mountain villages in the Sierra Norte. Besides a small wood industry, they provide so-called ecotourism. Tours to phantastic scenic points are bookable at the Zócalo and range from M$400-1000 for a one day tour depending on the number of guests. Trips over several days are available, providing accommodation at the village (elevation: approx. 3,000 m). The altitude makes hiking exhausting but not impossible even for unpracticed participants. Hints: Speak Spanish and try to tramp back down instead of waiting several hours for the bus.
Buy
Mercado at El Llano Park
An active market on the sidewalks surrounding the park. This market has been driven out by the authorities and relocated to just north of the Pantion.
Every Fri
See
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
Centro Cultural Santo Domingo, Ex Convento de Santo Domingo
This is a museum of regional history and culture, with exhibits on Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec civilizations, as well as colonial and revolutionary era history. The highlight is the collection of treasure excavated from Tomb 7 at Monte Albán by archaeologist Alfonso Caso in the 1930s. The Museo occupies most rooms of the Convent of Santo Domingo, so it is huge and impressive: you will need a few hours to visit it! It also offers nice views over the plaza and the botanical garden.
Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00M$210 (M$105 Mexican residents, Free for Mexicans under 13 and seniors); M$63 video and tripod permit

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Oaxaca (CC BY-SA 4.0).