Oaxaca is where Mexican food culture is at its most concentrated — seven classic moles, tlayudas, mezcal from village palenques, and a market scene that has shaped the world's understanding of Mexican cuisine. The Copper Canyon adds one of the continent's great train journeys.
Monte Albán above the Oaxaca valley is the most impressive pre-Columbian site most visitors have never heard of — a Zapotec hilltop complex of substantial scale and atmosphere. Hierve el Agua's petrified waterfall and the mezcal villages of the Central Valleys round out a genuinely satisfying cultural circuit.
The Chepe Express through Barrancas del Cobre — the Copper Canyon — is four times deeper than the Grand Canyon in places and has been carrying passengers since 1961. The train descends from high pine forest through tropical canyon floor in a single dramatic journey.
In-depth guide
The Guatemala Adventure Guide
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