San Antonio Arrazola
Calle Emiliano Zapata, Arrazola, Oaxaca
Situated beneath the Monte Albán archaeological site, the artisan town of San Antonio Arrazola offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of Oaxaca. Best known for its fantastical painted wooden figurines called alebrijes—and the street art dotted around town dedicated to them—San Antonio Arrazola is the ideal spot to pick up some souvenirs from your time in Oaxaca.
In San Antonio Arrazola, travelers can explore the markets, museum, and galleries where these one-of-a-kind pieces are on display and learn more about the age-old tradition passed down through generations. A popular stop on half- or full-day tours (both group and private) of Oaxaca’s Valle Centrales region, Arrazola is typically combined with nearby Monte Albán, an archaeological site; the barro negro producing town of Coyotepec; and the striking Cuilapam Convent in Cuilapam de Guerrero.
San Antonio Arrazola is a must for anyone interested in local Oaxacan craft and culture.
There are some 80 families in Arrazola that are said to craft the alebrijes, principally from copal wood.
Vendors will happily and carefully wrap up alebrijes for you to take home with you or ship to friends.
Combining a tour to San Antonio Arrazola with a stop at nearby attractions is a great way to maximize your time in the region.
San Antonio Arrazola may not be easily accessible for wheelchair users.
San Antonio Arrazola is situated roughly 5 miles (8 kilometers) from Oaxaca City and is easy to reach by both private and public transportation. Grab a taxi from Oaxaca City, hop on a colectivo (shared minibus)—look for those which say “Arrazola” on the windshield—or arrive as part of an organized tour with round-trip transportation included.
There’s no bad time to visit San Antonio Arrazola, although it’s better to arrive in the early afternoon as many stores and workshops are closed in the morning. Expect the weather to be fine year-round, although be careful if traveling during the rainy season of roughly June to October, because it typically begins to pour in the mid- to late-afternoon.
San Juan Arrazola purports to be the birthplace of the wooden alebrije figurine, although the name and basic idea for these colorful, borderline fantastical figures was born in the 30s in Mexico CIty. Back then, alebrijes were made from papier-mache. Nowadays, Arrazola and nearby Tilcajete are overwhelmingly associated with the copal-wood critters, attracting visitors from around the world to browse and buy.
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