Oaxaca is a beautiful colonial city and capital of a state with more speakers of indigenous languages than any other region in Mexico. Founded by the Spanish in the 1600s, Oaxaca was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is now a thriving arts centre with many excellent museums, galleries and craft markets. Famed for its love of chocolate, Oaxaca is the ideal place for a bowl of aromatic hot chocolate accompanied with sweetened bread at one of many cafes in the central zocalo.

The Central Valleys are the historical homelands of pre-hispanic Zapotec and Mixtec people, with the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban dominating a flattened hilltop just west of Oaxaca. Other archaeological sites include the religious ruins of Mitla and the fortress at Yagul.

Each year in July, Oaxaca City hosts the magnificent festival of Guelaguetza; a spectacular celebration of culture and tradition, uniting communities from all over Oaxaca State in a colourful array of music, costume and dance.