Oaxaca, Mexico Travel Journal

Emma, Rachel, Andi and I just returned from a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico—one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited! Our trip was hosted by Thread Caravan and Caitlin did an incredible job of filling up our days with a mixture of education and inspiration. We originally got interested in this trip because Rachel wanted to learn about weaving and dyeing from indigenous people, where the crafts originated and are still created today using traditional methods.

Here are some photos from our classes and sights we saw …

We’re so grateful to have had a chance to travel together. We kept calling it Rachel’s “Eat, Pray, Love”… at least we did pretty well on the eating part of it. 🙂

I know many of you wanted us to write a travel guide, but to be honest we did not spend enough time in the city to properly do that. But if you do travel to Oaxaca, we recommend the Hierve el Agua (the mineral springs pools in photos above) and the botanical gardens. Also, we absolutely recommend a guided tour with Thread Caravan. You can book your own private group trip like we did or join a trip they already have planned if you just have one or two people who want to go.

Have you visited Oaxaca? If so, we’d love to hear your favorite experiences. We will definitely go back! xx – Elsie

Credits//Photography by: Elsie Larson, Emma Chapman, Andi Eaton and Rachel Denbow (all iPhone snapshots edited with A Color Story).
  • It looks like you guys had a great time!! It looks like it was a beautiful place to learn and get some quality girl time in!

  • What a wonderful opportunity to learn more and spend quality time with some awesome ladies! Our world is such a beautiful place filled with some many beautiful people. I can’t help but smile at the ladies dressed in such happy colorful clothes and so gracefully working on their craft. Such a treat.

  • Oaxaca and Thread Caravan have popped up in my feed numerous times. I took a look at their website and found a tour that worked with my schedule and am heading there in July. I’m so excited and loved “traveling” along with you all. Can’t wait to experience it for myself!

  • Hi ABM team, Thanks for the inspiration.
    At the risk of sounding a bit chicken, and while I’ve travelled quite a few places already, i’ve not yet been to Mexico because it has a reputation to be dangerouns for foreign tourists.
    I’m from france and Mexico has a somehow poor reputation here, but for a couple regions.
    Some part of the country are listed as not safe to go areas by our foreign office.
    Can you please let me / us know if the whole trip felt safe (as safe as any travel can be), and if it’s a destination I can consider with a toddler?
    Thanks

    • Hi Pauline,
      We’ve been to Mexico quite a bit and I’ve never experienced an unsafe situation. On this particular trip, since it’s planned for you, it’s extra safe! xx

      • Glad to hear it, as I have the same feeling as Pauline and even I’d love to see some Mexican cities, I’m too scared … maybe it’s time to stop watching Narcos and news 😀

    • I’ve been going to Mexico since I was a kid and I’ve never felt unsafe! (Driving through and flying) I think as long as you stick to the major tourist spots you’re fine 🙂 My favorite spots are Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. You should definitely go if you have the opportunity, it’s a beautiful country and the people are wonderful!

  • I lived in Oaxaca City for about 4 months and it definitely has a special place in my heart. Thanks for sharing your photos – it was fun to reminisce!

  • We went to Oaxaca for 2 weeks, 15 years ago on our honeymoon. It was wonderful! I’m so glad you guys had a great time. I still have small area rugs throughout my house that were woven by artisans in the area, and some table runners. The rugs have held up amazingly–through three messy kids and tons of foot traffic and they still look vibrant and new.

  • Hi Girls, I’m very happy to read this article, I’m Oaxaqueña based in California,
    Oaxaca is a very safe place for tourists, there are many retired Americans and French. My family lives there.
    ????

  • This sounds like such a wonderful little trip. It’a too bad it was so short. I have always wanted to go to Oaxaca. Maybe I will make it there one day.

  • First my parents, then my sisters and I and finally my husband an I have all been traveling to Oaxaca since the early 80s. First thing you should tell your readers is that Oaxaca is both the name of a city and a state. This article doesn’t really say, but from the pictures it appears you were in and around the city of Oaxaca. The many cooperatives employing local women as weavers and are fascinating. So are the nearby ruins of Monte Alban. The beaches of Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel and Huatulco, all in the state of Oaxaca are some of the nicest in the world. Think sleepy fishing villages not Acapulco. I find the beach vacation to be more restful. If you go at the right time of the year the Mexican National Surfing Championships are held in Puerto Escondido. Whichever your readers chose to visit, they will not be disappointed.

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