• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Take a walk off the beaten track, away from the tourist crowds, and see the real side of Oaxaca. On this private tour, go beyond the classic route and explore Jalatlaco where you’ll experience a different Oaxaca, like a local with a local by your side!

Destination

Oaxaca, Mexico

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2.5 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to Attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 6 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at The main entranceo of the Jalatlaco Church - Oaxaca to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Off the Beaten Track

   Done with the main highlights of Oaxaca? Check out Jalatlaco. Explore a lesser-known part of the city that will give you a more authentic feel of Oaxaca. Check out Templo San Matias Jalatlaco, Cafeteria La Casa de las Calaveras and more!

4. The Real Deal

   Let a local expert in the area you’ll visit show you their Oaxaca from a different perspective - away from the tourist traps. See street art, cultural hot spots, local vendors, hangout spots, and historical gems, and embrace the vibe!

5. Personalized Recommendations

   Want to explore more of the area after the tour? Your host is happy to recommend their favorite eateries and where to take a break while wandering in this vibrant area

6. Unique Plan

   Depending on your host, this tour will be experienced based on their knowledge, passion, and expertise. Pick a host that matches your interests and see their city through their eyes!

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Olivier

(About local Tanivet)

28 January 2025

Tanivet was incredibly adaptable to our interests and her explanations were always interesting. Her good humour is a real pleasure. Thanks also to Daphné, our driver, for her communicative joy.Fabulous guide !!!

Leisha🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Tanivet)

15 January 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our walking tour of the Jalatlaco area in Oaxaca. We had been up really early to get to Oaxaca from Mexico City, but as soon as we met Tanivet, her energy and enthusiasm gave me a second wind! The booking process and communication was excellent, and it was an easy spot to meet. The content of the tour was excellent, Tanivet has a wealth of knowledge of the area and culture which she very clearly communicated to us as she told stories about Oaxaca's history right through to the more recent street art. I can highly recommend this tour and I'm really pleased we did it at the start of our time in Oaxaca as it gave us a really good grounding and background. Fabulous walk with Tanivet

Gail

(About local Tanivet)

1 September 2024

Tanivet was a knowledgeable guide who gave us historic and cultural context for our trip.Wonderful intro to Oaxaca

Rachel

(About local Tanivet)

2 April 2024

We spent our last afternoon in Oaxaca with Tanivet, who customized our tour so that we could explore both the Jalatlaco and Xicholmilco neighborhoods before we left. We appreciated that she was especially patient and easygoing given we had our two small children with us in a stroller. She led us to so many beautiful murals and peaceful corners and shared about her personal experience growing up in the neighborhood. We got to drop in a couple of hidden artisan workshops, that we never would have found on our own and try the local beverage tejate. We'd highly recommend Tanivet's tours!Perfect Afternoon in Oaxaca

nwz2v26qh8

(About local Tanivet)

23 March 2024

It was a pleasure to have Tanivet as our guide for a walking tour of the Jalatlaco barrio this week. We explored the neighbourhood and its street art in a way that we never could have on our own. She was exceptionally knowledgeable about the neighbourhood and it's history, all delivered in a warm and friendly manner. I highly recommend her tour for anyone who wants to get off of the regular tourist haunts of Oaxaca.A Beautiful Walking Tour With Tanivet

Sarah🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Tanivet)

9 March 2024

Tanivet ist eine großartige Guide. Wir haben viel gelernt und Einblicke bekommen, die wir sonst nicht erhalten hätten. Wir hatten großes Glück unsere Tour am La Samitarian gebucht zu haben. Tanivet hat uns sogar Trinkbecher mitgebracht, damit wir die vielen verschiedenen „water“ ausprobieren konnten, die an diesem Tag kostenfrei überall im der Stadt ausgeben werden. Wir empfehlen die Tour mit Tanivet allen wärmsten! Spannende Tour in Oaxaca

michellehawley

(About local Tanivet)

27 February 2024

Tanivet was a wonderful guide, sharing history of Oaxaca and the barrio - and the murals! This is our fourth time to Oaxaca and we’ve never ventured here so it was a treat— including the cemetery where we learned more about the day of the dead rituals.Highly recommend Tanivet and this tour! Go with Tanivet to Jalatlaco

Danielle

(About local Tanivet)

26 February 2024

Tanivet took me on a very interesting informative walking tour of places that I would have likely not discovered on my own: park Canteras—what a gem, the impressive building of the archivo histórico del estado de Oaxaca, Jalatlaco—the streets and cemetery. She is very friendly, proud and eager to share the history of her beautiful city. I also appreciated the Spanish tutoring. Muchas Gracias. Muchas Gracias

Penny🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tanivet)

24 February 2024

Tanivet was great. She met us at our private residence. She then took time to introduce us to the Xichomoto barrio which is near where we are staying. We both use canes so she modified our walk to better meet our walking needs. We found her to be extremely knowledgeable as well as entertaining . We highly recommend her!Brst guide in Mexico City

Patricia

(About local Tanivet)

10 February 2024

My husband and I had such a wonderful time with Tanivet! We learned so much from her insights about history, architecture and art. The love that she feels for her home is Oaxaca comes through in her enthusiastic sharing. Highly recommended!Fun & Fantastic!

Mitchell🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Tanivet)

3 February 2024

Tanivet is as awesome, engaging and friendly as all the previous reviews have stated. Her pride and love for Oaxaca and the people who live here comes across throughout the tour. We learned a great deal but in an engaging and fun way. Tanivet is also flexible, so we were able to take the odd detour when our interests led us elsewhere. Wonderful tour and great guide.Beautiful and authentic tour

Arthur🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tanivet)

23 January 2024

Tanivet, Thank you very much for the very interesting tour of Jalatlaco! Your knowledge of the barrio and your family background really made the tour great Tim, Connie and Sara Tempel

Ian

(About local Tanivet)

15 January 2024

We had been in Oaxaca for two days and were familiar with the central district. I found Tanivet on withlocals.com and it proved to be an excellent choice. We were taken to areas of interest we wouldn’t have gone to on our four day stay and Tanivet amazed us with her knowledge and expertise, her English, and incredibly friendly manner. We thoroughly recommend her!Oaxacan wonder

sondra🇺🇸 United States

(About local Tanivet)

10 December 2023

We had such a great tour with Tanivet and so appreciated her sharing her passion for Oaxaca. It was our first time there and we were able to discover places we would have never found on our own! Totally recommend this tour especially with Tanivet.Such a great tour!

Karina

(About local Tanivet)

7 March 2025

Tanivet and Enrique the driver were fantastic guides for my family. We were able to customize our trip to Hierve el Agua, by stopping to see the Tule Tree, which is the oldest and largest tree in the world. Before Hierve el Agua, they took us to a 5th generation weaver in Teotitlan del Valle who showed us his process for creating beautiful rugs. Tanivet is extremely knowledgeable about the area being an insider and shared personal stories. Having her as a private guide was the best way to explore. Hierve el Agua and Surroundings

Laura

(About local Tanivet)

5 March 2025

My boyfriend and I spent an incredible day with Tanivet and Enrique. Tanivet was so knowledgeable about Monte Alban because she spent so much time there as a youngster because he father spent time at the site. It felt like a true insiders tour. The rest of the afternoon was very customizable and flexible. We visited an incredible alabrijes craft workshop, had an incredible lunch, and visited a woman-owned Mezcal distillery. She has a lot of knowledge about the evolving culture in Oaxaca and we learned so much. She was so kind and helpful. Trust Tanivet!

Unknown

(About local Raquel)

5 March 2025

We did the culinary experience with Raquel and it was amazing - we learned not only a lot about Oaxaca’s native foods but also about the culture and how everything ties together. One of the things I have noticed since being in Oaxaca is how proud the people are of their culture and heritage and that certainly came through during Raquel’s tour. We not only sampled many of the items in the market but she also explained how it fit into their culture. She also took us to a cultural museum and made suggestions for other things we might want to consider while we’re visiting Oaxaca. Overall it was a great experience and would highly recommend.Totally enhanced our Oaxaca experience!

Maggie

(About local Raquel)

28 February 2025

We had an amazing tour our first evening in Oaxaca. Raquel was so knowledgeable about the history and culture of the area and also, where to get the best bites. From tamales and tlayudas in the market to street tacos and mezcal tasting, we ate and sipped our winding way through the streets of this tradition-rich city. Raquel was so personable and tailored everything to our wishes, even showing us an amazing print making cooperative at the end of the tour. Everyone in our group raved about how great she was, and what a fun time we had. It was a great introduction to the city and its food at the beginning of our trip! Wonderful way to learn and taste!

Chelsea

(About local Raquel)

26 February 2025

Raquel was a phenomenal guide in every way—I truly can't recommend her enough. She gave us such a great introduction to the history, culture, and flavors of Oaxaca. She went above and beyond to make our time in Oaxaca special and memorable, and we loved getting to know her! Raquel rocks!

Phillip

(About local Tanivet)

26 February 2025

Enjoyed a three hour walking tour with Tanivet our first full day here. She was knowledgeable, personable and customized our tour to our needs. We appreciated that she took us to places we might not have seen, showed us the aqueduct and took us to some terrific artisan workshops. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience!Excellent Walking Tour: Oaxaca Centro

Donna

(About local Raquel)

26 February 2025

We were so fortunate to book Raquel on our first day in Oaxaca, and I strongly suggest you do this! Not only did she give us an unbelievable introduction to Oaxacan food with the most respected vendors in the Benito Juarez market, she took us around town to familiarize us with several notable sites and artisan places which we were able to spend more time at later on. She also gave us an extensive list of restaurants, many of which we ate at and thoroughly enjoyed. Raquel is so energetic and enjoyable… truly felt like we were with an old friend. If you are going to Oaxaca and want a great experience, don’t hesitate to book her! Absolutely fabulous experience!

Chelsea

(About local Tanivet)

25 February 2025

Tanivet was a wonderful guide and Enrique was a great driver! Tanivet's knowledge of the region was on full display and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring Tule, Yagul, and Hierve el Agua—a tour that Tanivet customized just for us :) She even went so far as to bring us towels for Heirve el Agua, which was very appreciated. Highly recommend Tanivet!A fabulous day with Tanivet!

Peter🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Raquel)

24 February 2025

My wife and I had a terrific evening food tour with Raquel eating some wonderful local street food (the ice cream, mole and crickets were definite highlights), but more importantly meeting some amazing local folks and learning about Oxaxa from a different non-touristly perspective. Spending time with Raquel was truly special as she not only is deeply immersed in the culure of Oaxaca but also leverages her global experiences that help create the space for stimulating and insightful conversations. The night ended perfectly with an amazing mezcal in a cool local mezcaleria! We would highly recommend a tour with Raquel - you will not be disappointed!A great connection.

Erin

(About local Raquel)

23 February 2025

We got a custom tour the first day we arrived in Oaxaca and I am so happy we did. Raquel helped us get our bearings in a new city while learning about the history, art, food, and much more. Raquel is super knowledgeable and has a wonderful energy. I can’t recommend her enough - thank you!!Thank you Raquel!

Vanessa

(About local Tanivet)

23 February 2025

Tanivet was a wonderful guide on beautiful Oaxaca! She took us around the Center, explaining everything we saw and experienced. She was also open to personalizing our tour, stopping when we wanted to stop, even to stop to shop a little bit, or just to rest a bit under the shade. She was also very patient and considerate of my 2 senior parents who walked slowly and tired easily. We could've walked the area by ourselves, but having Tanivet there to give context and history to everything, and to show us places we would not have thought of checking out, was great :) We would take this tour again when we go back with our kids!A wonderful tour of Oaxaca!

Carol

(About local Rolando)

22 February 2025

My tour with Rolando was exactly what I wanted. A brief overview of the Zapotec & Mictec peoples and the Conquest with a more in depth discussion of the development of the city as reflected in its architecture. We stopped for a delicious snack, and visited a few artisans in the Barrio de Xochimilco. I highly recommend a tour with Rolando for an introduction to Oaxaca.Perfect

Ella

(About local Sofia)

21 February 2025

Sofia was an amazing host. We had a great time and loved how she tailored our experience to our specific wishes. She is the best! Would definitely do this tour again!Awesome tour!

Katie

(About local Tanivet)

21 February 2025

Tanivet and our driver Enrique were very knowledgeable and accommodating. My husband wanted to go to San Bartolo and they made it happen. Tanivet added to the history of Monte Alban by telling stories about her childhood since her dad worked there. She and Enrique were also funny and had tips for the rest of our trip. Our only mistake was not eating enough at breakfast since the tour went into the midafternoon. Highly recommend! Next time we visit we want to do the street art tour with Tanivet.Great tour!

Jo

(About local Tanivet)

21 February 2025

Highly recommend! Tanivet and Enrique were professional, punctual, knowledgeable and personable. As the three of us were non-spanish speakers, their communication skills were excellent, clear & precise. They tailored our journey to our desires and abilities. A delightful surprise was their suggestion of an organic, from scratch traditional meal in one the local villages. They shared their knowlege of Oaxaca's history and cultural heritage. Unexpected discoveries!

David

(About local Rolando)

20 February 2025

Rolando is an excellent tour guide!! Knows the City really well and has great information about the history of the city. We saw some amazing artisans that we never would have seen on our own. Well worth it!!Great tour

Phyllis

(About local Sofia)

18 February 2025

Four of us took a walking tour with Sofia. We met her in the zocalo where she was easily identifiable. We had a lot of questions and Sofia was happy to answer them as we went to each location. I would say that if you are looking for an introduction to Oaxaca with a very happy, enthusiastic and energetic tour guide this tour is great for you!Oaxaca city walk

sheila🇺🇸 United States

(About local Raquel)

17 February 2025

We had. Great time walking around Oaxaca with Raquel. She was so informative and taught us a lot about the beautiful city of Oaxaca. She was very flexible and accommodating regarding timing. Anazing eveningnin Oaxaca

NICK🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Raquel)

16 February 2025

We had a fantastic tour with Rachel today. Rachel is extremely knowledgeable not only about the Oaxacan food but also about the culture and history of the area. We tried lots of different foods we hadn’t tried before and learnt so much about the area too . Rachel has a very engaging persona and the time flew by. We would highly recommend taking this tour with Rachel Our best food tour yet !

Mary

(About local Raquel)

15 February 2025

Raquel gave us a five-star tour of Oaxaca’s highlights and hidden gems. Her passion for the city and its peoples and its artists was infectious. She took us into artisans homes where they demonstrated their art for us. A scheduling mistake was n the morning was quickly dealt with and we had our fabulous 3 hour tour later in the day. I would recommend Raquel to anyone. She is the best.Five-star tour of Oaxaca’s highlights and hidden gems

Marcus🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Sofia)

15 February 2025

Wie haben mit Sofia eine Abend-Walkingtour durch Oaxaca gemacht. Dabei haben wir nicht nur historisch Wissenswertes erfahren sondern durften diese außergewöhnliche und bunte Stadt auch von ihrer kulinarischen Seite kennenlernen. Sofia hat uns auf ihre sehr sympathische Weise die besonderen Ecken der Stadt gezeigt und Oaxacas vielfältige Speisen probieren lassen. Einzigartige, sympathische Stadttour

Unknown

(About local Sofia)

13 February 2025

We enjoyed the tour very much! Sofia was very knowledgeable and took us to several interesting places. We definitely wouldn't have found these places on our own. My favorite part was seeing the old aqueduct. Fun and knowledgable!

Ronald

(About local Tanivet)

11 February 2025

Tavinet is an excellent guide and we enjoyed our walk through some nice neighborhoods with her. She is very knowledgeable about the city and its history and we learned a lot about Oaxaca as we walked. The story of the aqueduct that provided water to the town in earlier times was particularly interesting. The tour with Tavinet was definitely worth our money and time. Great Walk in Oaxaca

Wendy

(About local Raquel)

10 February 2025

We had an absolutely amazing day out seeing the astonishing & beautiful Hierve el Agua, swimming in the “natural infinity pool” among stunning scenery. We also loved seeing the beautiful ancient remains at Mitla and learning about weaving and chocolate-making. Raquel is a marvellous guide: Mexican born & raised, but she has also lived in other countries and was able to provide a truly enlightening world-context. We love to do tours given by local people when we travel, & have had many from different companies, but Raquel is a truly inspirational guide and by this was the best tour we have had! Many thanks, Raquel, from Wendy, Larry & RobynFantastic trip to Hierve el Agua

fkj76xf4tq

(About local Raquel)

10 February 2025

Raquel gave us a good introduction to Oaxaca, focussing on just what we wanted to know. She’s a lovely person. Highly recommend her as a guide.Great person to spend time with

markkelly1917

(About local Raquel)

6 February 2025

Raquel is a wonderful guide. She is bright, knowledgeable, and personable. Her passion for Oaxaca is palpable and she is an effective presenter. We very much enjoyed our time with her. Raquel is a delight

Ryun

(About local Raquel)

3 February 2025

We had the absolute pleasure of going on the "10 Tastings of Oaxaca" tour with Raquel, and it was one of the highlights of our time in Oaxaca! Raquel is not only incredibly knowledgeable about Oaxacan food, drink and culture, but also passionate about sharing that love with her guests. Raquel took us through Oaxaca's vibrant markets, local eateries, and hidden gems that we never would have discovered on our own. (*Don't miss out on the local Tejate drink!) What truly set this tour apart was Raquel's personal touch. She engaged with us on a deeper level, offering insights into the history and traditions of Oaxaca. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and we felt like we were walking through the city with a close friend rather than a guide. If you’re looking for an authentic, immersive food tour in Oaxaca, I highly recommend this experience to fully appreciate the rich culinary heritage of this amazing region. Thank you, Raquel, for making our trip so special!"10 Tastings of Oaxaca" Tour with Raquel

Michelle🇺🇸 United States

(About local Raquel)

31 January 2025

Raquel is passionate about the culture and walked us through every taste perfectly. What a great experience!

Jose

(About local Rolando)

31 January 2025

Rolando was very nice, knowledgeable, showed very interesting points of this beautiful city, gave good recommendations in general, he was a great tour guide. Gracias Rolando.Walking in Oaxaca..

Edward

(About local Tanivet)

27 January 2025

We recently had two separate tours with Tanivet to Hierve el Agua and to Monte Albán. They were both excellent tours. When learned a lot about the Zapotec and Mixtecos people in the Oaxaca. We would hihgly recommend Tanivet for any tours in that area.Tanivet is an Excellent Guide

tom.c.osborn

(About local Sofia)

26 January 2025

Sofia was a fantastic guide. She was energetic, passionate, patient, helpful, knowledgable and fun! We highly recommend using her services. Worth every dollar!

Naomi

(About local Tanivet)

24 January 2025

We had an excellent experience with Tanivet. She was clearly motivated to help us see as much of Oaxaca as we could in the time that we had, and shared about her city with passion and energy. As a result of her tips and knowledge, we got much more out of our trip than we would have had we not toured with her. I recommend this trip for anyone who wants a local's understanding of Oaxaca city. Perfect way to see Oaxaca!

Phil🇺🇸 United States

(About local Sofia)

23 January 2025

We really enjoyed our 3 hour Oaxaca city tour with Sofia. She was personable and well educated. She was passionate about her home town and took us to places that we will definitely revisit. It was the perfect tour for 1st time visitors and we highly recommend Sofia as your tour guide.Fun and Informative Tour With Sofia

Emilie

(About local Tanivet)

21 January 2025

We had a lovely day with Tanivet and her driver Enrique. The tour visited all of the sites listed and added in a few additional quick stops. We ended up staying out for much longer than the tour advertised; the advertised time seems very short, in retrospect, but Tanivet and Enrique also made it seem that we could linger whenever we wanted (which we appreciated and took advantage of). Both Tanivet and Enrique were lovely people overall, and our conversations felt very relaxed. We were traveling with my kids, ages 9 and 11; and both considered it a great day and really liked Tanivet as well. Very pleasant day

Grenville

(About local Tanivet)

21 January 2025

Heidi

(About local Tanivet)

20 January 2025

We booked a full day tour with Tanivet and driver Enrico. We visited Monte Alban as well as the alebrijes town of Arrazola. The day was fabulous. Tami was super flexible, on time and adjusted to some last minute changes without any issues- she just made it happen. She is a Spanish teacher and was so kind with our attempts to speak. Tami knows her stuff! As a born and raised Oaxacana, she filled our day with history, fables, legends explaining symbolism and tradition plus the actual history of Oaxaca and Arrazola (the original Fantastical Animals/alebrijes town). What I really appreciated were her stories of her childhood spent exploring the ruins of Monte Alban (as the excavation was expanding) with her architect father. She provided some very interesting alternative theories of what was built and why (all of which made lots more sense than some of the more common and accepted explanations.) Her driver, Enrico, who also spoke good English, was so helpful and took us to a delicious barbecue restaurant for lunch. His car is lovely and so is he! (He also provided us airport services the next day.) Sometimes it is a crap shoot booking a private guide. You’ve spent the money before you know if you’ve made a good choice. However, with Tani, we made an excellent choice! Hope she is feee when you visit! Touring with Tanivet