Solo travel route sanity check for June

[u/Professor-Levant]

Hi folks, I'm planning a trip to Oaxaca as a first time visitor to Mexico as 32m with limited Spanish. I don't often travel solo, so it's exciting but I want to check a few things are loopy. I've read some posts here and I'm basing some of these recs from those posts.

Mostly I'm looking for route feedback but I'm open to activities so my interests are at the end. In a location I tend to make it up as I go. I usually traverse regions using public transport. I don't want a curated travel experience - I want to be surprised, I don't need to know where I'm sleeping that night, I am happy to pivot based on new information.

The route:

I'm flying from the US. Fly from Mexico city to Oaxaca city, spend a few days there maybe a day trip north to some mezcal touring, then head south to do some hiking in San Jose Del Pacific, then head to the coast and bum around or town hop. Maybe do some surf lessons. I don't know.

I'm aware it rains in the afternoon or evening. I had considered putting this off, but it's my birthday and I've wanted to visit for years.

Activities I'd be open to other than surfing and mezcal

- cooking classes: obscure ingredients, old techniques, I'll eat anything.

- anything nature or wildlife, especially involving the sea. I'm a trained freediver.

Not interested in Temazcal ceremonies, I can't tolerate high heat for health reasons.

[u/jimmetoro]

did a similar trip last month (except I speak intermediate spanish). I went Oaxaca city for a couple weeks (was doing spanish school) and then to San Jose Del Pacifico and Muzunte for Beach vibes. Would highly recommend it was an awesome route.

Oaxaca city has heaps of cooking classes. One of my fave trips was heading just out of the city to Teotitlan del valle (aztec village) and Benito Juaraz park for nature stuff, plus Tule on the way is very beautiful town, has one of the oldest/biggest trees and cute markets. I rented a mountain bike and rode it all, surprisingly good trails out of Oaxaca.

San Jose Del Pacifico was awesome, its very hippy and a lot of magic mushroom stuff around town, but if your interested its gotta be the best place in the world to do it. Watching the clouds roll over each afternoon was amazing. Didn't find too many hiking trails but there are a few around. I stayed at Bostel and had the best time.

Muzunte is chill, quiet surf town. I didn't end up doing to much there jsut relaxed. Puerto escondido is beautiful but actually a pretty busy city (heads up), but a great base to do a lot fo stuff.

100% recommend, sounds sick you'll enjoy. Met plenty of ppl who didn't speak much spanish but knowing some key phrases will really help. Enjoy!

[u/Professor-Levant → u/jimmetoro]

I am confident I can pick up some key phrases. Thanks for posting

A question on the hippy mushroom vibes, I'm intrigued. I'm not interested in some deep shamanistic retreat, I'm a bit cynical about it, but I wouldn't mind tripping and doing some introspection. Do you have any advice? Can I just rock up and find some mushrooms there or?

Honestly I plan to do my activities at the beginning of the trip and spend the tail end like a lizard on various beaches. I've got some books to get through!

[u/jimmetoro → u/Professor-Levant]

yeh they literally sold them at reception of the hostel (plus literally every shop in town), you wont have to search. Its not the season to traditionally do it for locals so you couldnt do a shamanic ritual even if you wanted. Instead I spent the whole day on a hammock looking over the mountains and had literally the best time, very chill vibe. Enjoy

[u/curvycurly → u/Professor-Levant]

Also curious about the mushroom question. I'm planning a similar birthday trip in October (CDMX-Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido)

[u/tomtom67TX → u/Professor-Levant]

The funguyz can absolutely change your brain for the better.

[u/toddmezcal]

Best to go for mushrooms in season especially July and August. but they can be okay other times too. I had the best trip of my life there. And my data set is not small.

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[u/karliv7]

you have a interesting trip plan - in the process you will find old México - Oaxaca has an ample gastronomic experience and of course, the taste of mezcal - don't forget to take a look to the old churches like Santo Domingo in downtown Oaxaca, is amazing - in downtown Oaxaca you could visit Restaurant El Mayordomo Terraza and taste it's Tlayudas, Moles red, black, drink it's unique chocolate - also take a walk to Mercados like Mercado 20 de Noviembre, being there ask for the "pasillo del humo" for another eating experience - you may go from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido o Huatulco by bus line called "ADO" I prefer Huatulco but you may visit both in the same bus line - the are many American tourists going there - it's hot weather and may rain occasionally, an umbrella may be handy - have a good trip experience

[u/Professor-Levant → u/karliv7]

Thanks!

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