The Mexico Diary, Day 1: Oaxaca

Forget the margarita-soaked Mexican beaches of Cancun and Acapulco—if you look inland, you’ll find a city so wonderful it’s deemed magical (“Pueblos Magicos”) by the Mexican government: Oaxaca.

It lies about six hours southeast of Mexico City, and boasts a unique mix of natural beauty, architecture, culture, historical relevance, cuisine, and hospitality. Oaxaca doesn’t disappoint on any front.

The colonial city was once a market town, and you can still get lost for hours admiring the colorful handicrafts in cheap markets all over the city. But you can also explore pre-Columbian ruins and baroque churches, dine out at incredible restaurants and nosh on chapulines (fried grasshoppers), and, of course, get drunk on mezcal sourced from the surrounding mountains—all in a four-day weekend.

Whatever you do, make sure you come to Oaxaca with your appetite: This city is known as the mecca for Mexican cuisine (and we’re not talking about the kind of Mexican cuisine you order off Seamless). If you follow this Thursday night through Sunday night itinerary, it’ll turn everything you think you know about Mexico on its head.