Oaxaca, México

The City

The location we’ve chosen for the Salsa retreat is Oaxaca de Juarez — some say it is the most beautiful city in Mexico!

Oaxaca’s size makes this city very approachable — not so big so that the center cannot be comfortably explored on foot, yet big enough to offer a variety of events and places of interest. These include museums, theater, archeological sites, artisan markets, architecture, and churches, as well as music and dance performances and good restaurants and cafes. Several of the most important archeological sites in all of Mexico are located within a day’s journey from the city. These are some of the reasons that UNESCO recognizes Oaxaca as one of several world sites belonging to the “cultural patrimony of mankind”.

The city is located in a temperate highland valley where there is abundant sunshine without tropical heat. This makes it feel like spring throughout the year!

The climate means it’s very comfortable to get around this vibrant city. During the day you can experience the city’s street life from one of the many charming sidewalk cafes or courtyard restaurants. At night you can go out to performances and hear live music. You can also find Salsa and other Latin dancing in the many bars and dance clubs around the city.

Beaches

From the city of Oaxaca to the West coast it’s only a 30 minute plane trip and the coast offers some of the most beautiful and pristine beaches on the Pacific. Puerto Escondido is a traditional Mexican fishing village and a popular surf beach, home to the famous Pipeline wave. Bahias de Huatulco on the other hand is still such a secret that not even an official English website exists. The secluded bays offer some of the best snorkeling on the Pacific coast.

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