Teotitlán del Valle is a Zapotec weaving village where wool rugs are still made on traditional looms using natural dyes like cochineal (a red dye from insects raised on cactus pads) and indigo, and many family workshops let you watch the process and buy directly from the weavers. Tlacolula's market only reaches full scale on Sundays, when it becomes one of the largest regional tianguis in the valley, drawing vendors from surrounding villages for produce, prepared food, and a livestock section on the edge of town. Because the market is Sunday-only, this combination only works on that specific day of the week.
| Distance | 30-35 km / 45-60 min from Oaxaca city |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 45-60 minutes one way |
| Getting there | Mode: Colectivo along Highway 190; Notes: The Tlacolula market operates on Sundays only; pair it with a morning stop in Teotitlán for weaving workshops |
| Address | Mercado de Tlacolula, Tlacolula de Matamoros, 70400 Oaxaca, Mexico |
How to get there
- Colectivo toward Tlacolula from Calle Bustamante
- Rental car
- Guided market tour
Location
Mercado de Tlacolula, Tlacolula de Matamoros, 70400 Oaxaca, Mexico
16.9531, -96.4778 View on map
Highlights
- A family weaving workshop in Teotitlán - watching wool being carded, spun, and dyed before it goes on the loom
- The Tlacolula Sunday tianguis - the market's food section for tlayudas and barbacoa cooked over open fire
- Tlacolula's animal market area at the edge of the main market, active only on Sunday mornings
- The Templo de la Virgen de la Natividad in Tlacolula, whose gilded side chapel is worth the short stop while at the market