Miami, FL, November 21st, 2009- Lonely Planet’s new release Best in Travel 2010 has named Oaxaca one of the Top 10 Regions to visit in 2010. Lonely Planet is one of the world’s leading travel media companies. Drawing on the knowledge, passion and miles traveled of Lonely Planet’s global team of staff and authors, Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2010 showcases a year’s worth of inspiration to take travelers out of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences.
Oaxaca provides travelers with a variety of activities, from surfing the legendary ‘Mexican pipeline’ at one of the world’s great surf beaches Playa Zicatela, sweating it out in a temazcal, a pre-Columbian herbal sauna in Puerto Escondido or surveying the vast valley of Oaxaca from atop the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán.
“It is an honor for Mexico to be recognized once again, by Lonely Planet as one of the Top 10 Regions in the world. Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s richest cultural regions, and we are proud that visitors around the world feel the same,” said Oscar Fitch, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board.
Taking 2,500 years of indigenous history, adding a splash of Spanish colonialism mixed with contemporary progressive politics and art, and presto!, you’ve got Oaxaca, one of Mexico’s most cultured and colorful states. The capital, Oaxaca City, is a postcard-pretty charmer, with a tree-shaded town square surrounded by colonial churches and outdoor cafes, and cobblestone streets lined with craft markets and galleries. Enjoying a winding half-day’s bus journey through the misty mountains takes guests to Oaxaca’s wild, sun-soaked coast. There, the surf town of Puerto Escondido has a party atmosphere, while sleepy coves like Mazunte and Zipolite are fast becoming ecotourism destinations. Traveling further southeast, the people of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec still follow ancient Zapotec rhythms. Visitors can purchase iguana tamales from women clothed in vivid embroidered traditional dresses.
Oaxaca continues to attract an increasing number of believers in the ‘slow travel’ philosophy, which entails engaging more deeply with Mexican Life (la vida Mexicana) by renting a house, shopping at local markets and sipping coffee and milk (cafe con leche) with locals at the corner cafe.
“We’ve always known at Lonely Planet that Oaxaca is special with its green mountain vistas, tradition-rich indigenous enclaves, vibrant handicrafts, festivals and contemporary art, laidback beach towns, marvelous moles and tequila’s smoky, fiery cousin mescal”, says Catherine Craddock, Lonely Planet’s Commissioning Editor for Mexico. “This year it’s been included as one of our Top 10 Regions to visit in 2010 because travelers can find incredible deals, near-empty tropical beaches and a warm friendly welcome from the people who live there. Now is Oaxaca’s time for a traveler renaissance.”