Oaxaca is one of Mexico's most culturally rich states, home to 16 recognized indigenous groups, the archaeological capitals of Monte Albán and Mitla, and a coastline stretching from the surf town of Puerto Escondido to the calm resort bays of Huatulco. Oaxaca de Juárez, the colonial capital, is celebrated for mole, mezcal, and some of the finest regional cooking in the country.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca Guided Tour
A guided walk through the botanical garden built on the grounds of the former Santo Domingo convent, where kids can see towering cacti, cacao trees, and the agave plants used to make mezcal. Guides tailor the pace and detail for younger visitors, and the shaded paths make it comfortable even at midday.
Duration: 1.5-2 hours
Monte Albán Family Visit
The wide, gently sloped plazas of this Zapotec hilltop capital give kids room to run between pyramids and ball courts while adults take in the Central Valleys views. Bring hats, water, and sunscreen, as the site has little shade, and plan a morning visit to avoid the strongest sun.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Alebrijes Painting Workshop, San Martín Tilcajete
Kids watch artisans carve and paint the fantastical wooden creatures known as alebrijes, then paint their own pre-carved figure using natural pigments under an artisan's guidance. The workshop gives an approachable, hands-on introduction to one of Oaxaca's best-known folk art traditions.
Duration: 2-3 hours including round-trip transport from Oaxaca de Juárez
Chocolate-Making Workshop (Mayordomo or Chocolate Que Chocolate)
A hands-on session grinding roasted cacao beans with cinnamon, sugar, and almonds on a traditional stone metate to make drinking chocolate, followed by a tasting. The physical, tactile process holds younger children's attention better than a standard factory tour.
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Hierve el Agua Natural Pools
Shallow, warm mineral pools sit at the edge of the petrified waterfall formations, calm enough for supervised children to wade and splash. Water shoes are strongly recommended since the mineral-coated rock is slick, and the site has no lifeguards, so direct adult supervision is essential.
Duration: Half day including travel from Oaxaca de Juárez
Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga (Mazunte)
This sea turtle museum and aquarium in Mazunte introduces children to the seven species of marine turtle found on the Oaxaca coast through tanks, a botanical garden, and conservation displays, and pairs naturally with a walk along Mazunte's protected nesting beach.
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Bahías de Huatulco Boat Tour
A boat trip through Huatulco's nine calm bays stopping for snorkeling at Bahía San Agustín's coral reef and a swim at a secluded beach reachable only by water. The bays' shelter from open-ocean swell makes this a notably calmer option than beach time on the exposed Pacific coast further north.
Duration: 4-5 hours
Mercado Benito Juárez Market Walk
A covered market a block from the Zócalo where kids can watch tortillas being pressed by hand, sample fresh fruit and quesillo (Oaxacan string cheese), and see the colorful stalls of chiles, mole pastes, and woven baskets up close.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Camino Real Zaashila Huatulco
A terraced beachfront resort on Tangolunda Bay with a supervised kids club, family-sized swim-up rooms, and calm resort-controlled swimming areas that suit families uneasy about open-ocean conditions elsewhere on the coast.
Family features: Kids club, swim-up rooms, multiple pools, tennis courts, on-site restaurants with kids menus
Hotel Santa Fe Zicatela
A garden-set hotel near Puerto Escondido's calmer Marinero beach with two pools, family suites, and easy walking access to beachfront restaurants, positioned away from Zicatela's stronger surf break.
Family features: Two pools, family suite option, garden grounds, on-site restaurant
Hotel Parador San Miguel
A straightforward mid-range hotel a short walk from the Zócalo, with a quiet interior courtyard where families can regroup between sightseeing outings in the historic center.
Family features: Central walkable location, courtyard, on-site parking for day trips to the Central Valleys
Hotel Casona Oaxaca
A colonial-style property near the Alameda offering simple, comfortable rooms and a restaurant on site, convenient for families wanting to walk to the Zócalo and nearby markets.
Family features: Central location, on-site restaurant, air-conditioned rooms
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
High chairs are common at sit-down restaurants in Oaxaca de Juárez but less consistent at small coastal comedores — ask when seated
Tlayudas and quesadillas are reliably mild and popular with kids; ask for salsa served on the side rather than mixed in
Fresh-squeezed agua de fruta (fruit water) in flavors like horchata, jamaica, and tamarindo is a good non-caffeinated option for children
Street food stalls around the Zócalo and inside covered markets are generally safe and popular with families, but choose stalls with high turnover and visibly fresh ingredients
Coastal towns keep later dinner hours than many visitors expect; restaurants in Mazunte and Huatulco often don't fill up until 8:00-9:00 PM
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Skip Zipolite for a family beach stay — the surf carries a well-documented, dangerous undertow and the town's open nudity and party atmosphere are not geared toward children
Huatulco's bays are the most reliably calm swimming water on the Oaxaca coast for young children, followed by Mazunte's more sheltered stretches near town
The drive between Oaxaca de Juárez and the coast takes 6-7 hours over winding mountain roads; a short domestic flight to Puerto Escondido or Huatulco is far easier on younger children prone to motion sickness
Oaxaca de Juárez sits at roughly 1,555 meters (5,100 feet), so budget a slower first day for children to adjust before a full day of walking
Private hospitals in Oaxaca de Juárez (Hospital Reforma) and Huatulco have more English-speaking staff than public IMSS facilities; travel insurance covering medical evacuation is worth arranging before the trip