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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Oaxaca

15 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Oaxaca, Mexico

Updated March 25, 2025

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Unusual Attractions in Oaxaca

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Explore Oaxaca, Mexico

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Food 5
Chefs 5
Corn 4
Restaurants 4
Art 2
Markets 2
Burial Places 2
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The structure of these ancient ballcourts varies a bit, but at each site there’s a consistent pattern: a playfield framed by two embankments.

An Ancient Ballcourt in Oaxaca Expands a Sport’s Footprint

3,000 years before the Aztecs, Mesoamericans were already playing ball.
by Isaac Schultz
Julián Isidro’s father, Robustiano Isidro Dominguez, rotates pasillas above a heat source.

Saving the Prized Chile That Grows Only in Oaxaca’s Mountains

Farmers growing the smoky pepper had no idea chefs were paying top dollar for it.
by Isabel Torrealba

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