Moon Handbooks: Oaxaca (1st Ed.) (Paperback)

~ Bruce Whipperman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Oaxaca Handbook provides detailed coverage of excursions from Oaxaca City to the fascinating, unknown corners of the state such as the lush, spring-fed valley of Apoala and the mountain community of the only partly explored stalactite- and stalagmite-decorated cave of Sebastian de las Grutas. One excursion leads travelers south to a cluster of crafts villages offering rich black pottery and handsome embroidery and another southwest to the ancient imperial city of Monte Alban. Bruce Whipperman also proposes a tour out of the valley to the Pacific Coast vacationlands and the adjacent southern Sierra, where visitors might encounter jungle coffee plantations in the lush foothills and colorful Zapotec- and Chatino-speaking villages at the cool, pine-tufted summit. The guide also contains detailed information on the northern oases of the warm canyonland of the Canada and the southeastern tropical isthmus, Land of Festivals. Balanced, detailed coverage in Oaxaca Handbook includes lodging and dining to suit any budget or mood, just as it discusses Oaxaca's well-known Day of the Dead fiesta and recommends the region's lesser-known traditional summertime dance performances.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Pub (December 24, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566911664
• ISBN-13: 978-1566911665
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #586,904 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a guide book that does justice to Oaxaca, January 30, 2002

By	"cued" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: Oaxaca 2 Ed: Mountain Craft Regions, Archaeological Sites, and Coastal Resorts (Paperback)

I know of no better guide book to Oaxaca: not the Moon Mexico Guide, not the Lonely Planet guide. This book is simply the best book on Oaxaca in English. The problem with the other books is that Mexico is simply too big and rich: you can't fit the entire country in one volume without skimping on something great. That is where Oaxaca and Moon Handbooks' other regional publications come in. This book takes its time, reports on every single corner of the state, and tries to be as thorugh as possible. I only wish there were guidebooks as detailed and complete for Mexico's other states.

There are a few complaints I have though: there is no mention of Santiago Matatlan, the world's Mezcal capital, even though the town is full of Mezcal stores selling an amazing variety of local distills. Also, the road from Oaxaca to Salina Cruz is long and dreary, about 5 hours of driving... and the few small towns along the way often only offer very suspect dining and rest options. It would be nice if there were mention of a place or two where pitstops could be done. (Also the book makes no effort to identify where gas stations are located on Oaxaca's long and lonely highways) I ended up finding a good spot to eat in El Camaron, but not with the guidebook's help. Also, readers of the guidebook would think that there are only two ways to drive to Huatulco: via the Oaxaca-Pochutla highway or via the Oaxaca-Salina Cruz highway. There is no acknowledgement that the safest route from Mexico City to Huatulco actually circumvents the high and rugged Oaxaca mountains (Sierra Madre Sur) altogether, passing through flat Veracruz state before heading south across the equally flat Tehuantepec isthmus.

All in all, though, this is the very best source of info on Oaxaca state in English!

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a Oaxacan "Bible", May 19, 2000

By	Judith Haden (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

Even after 15 years of traveling to the region I learned many new things about the state and the city. A most thorough, complete and honest opinion of one of Mexico's most delightful and complicated regions; not only from a historical view point but also shopping, driving,and siteseeing the out of the way places. Makes me want to grab two months and a van and hit the road! The ONLY book you need to take with you...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best guide book to Oaxaca--or anywhere!, March 21, 2005

By	Karen Herreid (Austin, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Handbooks Oaxaca (Paperback)

I travel more than most people and buy several guidebooks each year. This has been the most helpful book that I have ever bought. Of course, you could have a great trip to Oaxaca with no guidebook at all, just staying in Oaxaca city and hanging out around the zocolo. However, we wanted to see Oaxaca state beyond the city and made a side trips to both Puerto Escondido and the Sierra Madre mountains. This book was helpful in planninng our excursions. Since I know little about Mexican history, I also found the book helpful in giving me background on what I was actually seeing. The next time I travel I will definitely check out a Moon handbook.