Comparison · Antigua vs Oaxaca · Guatemala / Mexico
Antigua vs Oaxaca
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Francisco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Antigua for Colonial ruins and Santa Catalina Arch; choose Oaxaca for Mole and Mezcal. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 700 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 700 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Antigua
- November–March
- Best time for Oaxaca
- October–March
Side by side
| Antigua | Oaxaca | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Guatemala | Mexico |
| Known for | Colonial ruins, Santa Catalina Arch and Volcano views | Mole, Mezcal and Monte Albán |
| Best time to visit | November–March | October–March |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$150 | $80–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 27°C (81°F) | April, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 23°C (73°F) | January, 27°C (81°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | GUA | OAX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Antigua for…
Colonial ruins and Santa Catalina Arch. Antigua was the capital of Spain's Kingdom of Guatemala until the 1773 Santa Marta earthquakes, and its grid of cobbled streets still holds dozens of baroque churches, convents and ruins. The town sits at about 1,500 metres in a valley ringed by the Agua…
Choose Oaxaca for…
Mole and Mezcal. Oaxaca de Juárez is a low-rise colonial city of green cantera stone in a highland valley at about 1,550 metres, surrounded by Zapotec and Mixtec villages. Its UNESCO-listed centre runs from the laurel-shaded Zócalo up the pedestrian Andador Macedonio Alcalá…
Top sights compared
| # | Antigua | Oaxaca |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parque Central | Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán |
| 2 | Antigua Cathedral | Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca |
| 3 | Santa Catalina Arch | Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca |
| 4 | Iglesia de La Merced | Monte Albán |
| 5 | Cerro de la Cruz | Zócalo and Cathedral |
Food compared
| Antigua | Oaxaca |
|---|---|
| Pepián | Mole negro |
| Jocón | Tlayuda |
| Kak'ik | Tasajo and cecina |
| Desayuno chapín | Quesillo |
Which is cheaper?
Antigua and Oaxaca cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $80–$150 in Antigua and $80–$150 in Oaxaca (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Antigua on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Antigua and Oaxaca are about 700 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Antigua and 5 in Oaxaca.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Antigua or Oaxaca cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 in Antigua and $80–$150 in Oaxaca (estimates).
+Is Antigua or Oaxaca better for a first trip?
Pick Antigua for Colonial ruins and Santa Catalina Arch, or Oaxaca for Mole and Mezcal.
+How far is Antigua from Oaxaca?
About 700 km in a straight line.