Recently ranked the #1 city in the world by Travel + Leisure Magazine

During Summer 2019, I spent four weeks traveling throughout Oaxaca, México practicing Spanish and touring the state’s wondrous sites with the Universidad Del Mar (UMAR)’s, Tourism Training Center (CECAT). Every weekend, we adventured out on different excursions. I lived with a wonderful host family and several other students from the U.S. We ate completely vegetarian/vegan breakfasts and lunches at home during the week. On weekends, and every day for dinner, we ate at local restaurants. The month was jam-packed with fun and unforgettable memories!

Enjoy these captured moments!

Student Meet & Greet + Icebreakers

Host Family & Housemates

Food // Alimento

Life in Oaxaca

Nature Hike en Santa Catarina

Piedra de Agua Health Spa — Tamazulápam Del Progreso

Hierve el Agua — Natural Fresh-Water Spring

Overlooking the Oaxaca Valley, these small bodies of water are very high in calcium carbonate, and the minerals have formed these natural pools and cool waterfall-like rock formations.

Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua, Villa de Tututepec de Melchor Ocampo

(Historically Black/Afro-Mexican Town a.k.a. Pueblo Negro)

Monte Albán — Ruins of the Ancient Zapotec Civilization

Mesoamerican Archaeological Site

Teotitlan del Valle — Zapotec Weaving Village

Here, descendants of indigenous Oaxacans ,who still speak their native tongue, showed us how they weave these beautiful creations you see in the photos below. The weaving materials are dyed using an array of natural resources such as plants and insects.

Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán — A Municipality Famous for Manufacturing Alebrijes and Quaint Black Pottery

These carved wooden crafts are painted with bright, vibrant colors. They most often represent an imaginary animal composed of physiognomical elements of several different animals. The black pots you see are made by hand with a special clay that darkens to a shiny black color as it oxidizes over time.