Mexico Guide
Oaxaca
Getting Around
Walking is by far the best way to get around compact Oaxaca. The bus routes are Byzantine and even if you manage to hop on the right one, the traffic is so slow that you could have taken a pleasant stroll to your destination in half the time. Taxis are a better bet; stands can be found on Independencia at García Vígil and at the corner of Abasolo and 5 de Mayo near the cathedral, or flagged down anywhere. Cabs are not metered, so fix your price first. Expect to pay M$25–30 around town and M$40 out to the first-class bus terminal.
Getting out to the sites around the valley by public transport is a different matter. While taxis charge around M$35 to most of the surrounding villages and archeological sites, buses from the second-class bus station are frequent and cheap. There are also vast numbers of colectivos heading for destinations all over the state. These depart when full from various points around the city (ask the tourist office), mostly from Mercaderes behind the abastos market, and are only a little more expensive than buses. Car rental is as pricey here as anywhere in the country, but if you are planning extensive exploration of the valley may prove worthwhile, allowing you to trade a week of long waits for a couple of days of independence. Note that poor signposting in this area can be frustrating. Bike rental may also be an effective means of exploring the city and some of the outlying villages. Several tour companies offer day trips to Monte Albán and other places around the city, including bird-watching, hiking and mountaineering excursions.