Local Businesses / Shopping
 

Oaxaca is quite a bit different than most Mexican cities, when it comes to shopping.   Oh, you will find some fancy boutiques and high end jewelry stores, but not one true high-end shopping mall.  Shopping in Oaxaca is truly an eye opening experience.  The incredible magnitude of, high quality, hand-made arts and crafts is almost overwhelming. Everywhere you go there are stores (large and small), open air markets, street vendors and city streets that are temporally blocked for the sale of local crafts.  Local artists may set up shop anywhere in the central city and they will usually bring a small (or large) inventory of their work, all of which is for sale.  The black pottery and brightly colored wooden animal carvings, from nearby villages are especially popular.  Hand carved wooden and colorful ceramic masks can be found in abundance along with elaborate originals of the ceramic "Tree of Life", which is said to have originated in Oaxaca. 

Warning: Oaxaca's airport can boast of the highest percentage of excess baggage charges in all of México.  Many of Oaxaca's visitors cannot help themselves when it comes to restraint in shopping because of the sheer number of truly unique, high quality, items to choose from.  This is true all over the city and in most of the surrounding villages.  Be aware that the airlines are more than willing to charge for any excess baggage, and they are especially vigilant because of the number of passengers attempting to fly with their excessive purchases.