Calenda & Rompehielos (Parade & Welcome Cocktail)
Wedding Day
Itinerary
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH: Calenda & Rompehielos
First join us for a calenda, a celebratory parade typical of Oaxaca. We'll then walk to the sunset cocktail!
Calenda: 5:45pm
Meet at Quinta Real Hotel
Welcome Cocktail: 6:30pm - 9pm
Vaca Marina Rooftop
--------------------------------
WOMEN'S ATTIRE
Cocktail (colorful encouraged)
Comfortable shoes for walking are recommended
MEN'S ATTIRE
Guayabera* or linen shirt with long pants
*The guayabera is a men’s linen shirt, worn outside the trousers and is often worn in formal contexts in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. Cubavera.com has good options, or you can buy an inexpensive one from a street vendor once in Oaxaca!
Pinterest board if you need some inspo!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST: Wedding Day
We are very happy to have you with us on this special day! Below are all the details you should know:
Catholic Ceremony: Santo Domingo Church
6:00 pm
Reception to follow at Centro Gastronomico de Oaxaca
The reception is a short 5 minute walk from the church
-------------------------------
WOMEN'S ATTIRE
Formal floor length gown
MEN'S ATTIRE
Dark colored suits and ties/bow ties
Pinterest board if you need some inspo!
Travel
Oaxaca (wah-ha-ka), Mexico was recently named the No. 1 city in the world according to Travel + Leisure - see their guide here. Oaxaca is one of our favorite cities in the world and is known for food and amazing art.
Air Travel
There is one international airport in Oaxaca: Oaxaca Xoxocotlan International Airport (OAX) 20 minutes from the city. From the US there are many one stop flights to Oaxaca on the following airlines:
American Airlines: through Dallas
United Airlines: through Houston
Aeromexico/Delta: from NYC, LA, ATL through Mexico City
For our friends flying from San Francisco: OAK has affordable flights to Monterrey or Guadalajara, MX on Volaris or VivaAerobus (think Spirit Airlines of Mexico), where you can transfer to the regional terminal to fly to Oaxaca. It takes a bit more effort, but its something we've done several times!
Airport Transfer
It's about a 20 minute drive from the airport to the center of Oaxaca (where all of the festivities will be)!
There is no Uber in Oaxaca. Upon arrival at the Oaxaca airport, it is both easy and safe to take a taxi to bring you to your hotel. For this option, make sure to take out pesos at the ATM at the airport or order some pesos from your bank before you leave the states, as most taxis don't accept credit card.
Your hotel or Airbnb can also help you book an airport transfer, or if you're arriving with a bigger group you can pre-book a shuttle service through this private driving company (Whatsapp: Evanisto, +52 1 951 1354025).
Accomodations
We recommend you book your stay in downtown Oaxaca, aka 'el Centro,' to be walking distance to events, restaurants, and attractions.
If families or friends desire to experience Oaxaca like a local, there are some great AirBnBs for low nightly rates in the City Centro.
[FULLY BOOKED] QUINTA REAL HOTEL
The Quinta Real Hotel is very centrally located and is where we will be staying. This is where we will meet as a group for the Calenda prior to the Welcome Party.
*The hotel is now fully booked
Hotel Parador de Alcalá
Rate: 1 King Bed $166 USD ($3,046 MXN) / 2 Double Beds $235 ($4,281 MXN)
Use Code: "Boda Paulina & José Ángel"
Please contact the hotel directly to reserve: via email at reservaciones@paradordealcalaoaxaca.mx or via phone at
+52 951 206 04 02
4 min walk to wedding reception, 9 min walk to wedding ceremony
Hotel Abu
Rate: 1 King Bed or 2 Double Beds $120 USD ($2,158 MXN)
Use Code: "Boda Paulina & José Ángel"
Please contact the hotel directly to reserve: via email at reservaciones@hotelabu.com or via phone at
+52 951 516 4900
5 min walk to wedding reception, 10 min walk to wedding ceremony
City Centro by Marriott
Rate: 1 king bed (up to 2 people) $171 USD ($3,451.00 MXN) / 2 Double beds (up to 2 people) $183 USD ($3,689.00 MXN)
To reserve this hotel with the discount code contact Rocio Fuentes via email (rfuentesr@norte19.com) or Whatsapp +52 55 6448 8773 with the dates and discount code "Boda Paulina & José Ángel"
WEBSITE LINK
15 minute walk to ceremony, 16 minute walk to reception
Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca
Rate: Standard Deluxe Room (up to 2 people) $307 USD ($6,188.00 MXN). Use Code: "Boda José y Paulina"
Please contact the hotel directly to reserve: via phone at
+52 443 310 8137
WEBSITE LINK
11 minute walk to ceremony, 11 minute walk to reception
HOTEL CASA CATRINA
Prices range from $200-$250 USD a night
WEBSITE LINK
6 minute walk to ceremony, 1 minute walk to reception
Parador del Dominico
Prices range from $70-$90 USD a night
Website LINK
8 minute walk to ceremony, 12 minute walk to reception
Airbnbs in Oaxaca
Please check reviews and location before booking AirBnBs. If you choose to book an AirBnB, the area circled on the map below is ideal for being close to everything!
FAQ
Why Oaxaca?
Are children welcome to the wedding events?
Where can I find wedding weekend details?
When should I arrive in Oaxaca?
What's the weather like in Oaxaca?
Where else should I travel in Mexico if I want to extend my trip?
Why a heart, a frog, and a penguin?
The heart on fire, or “sacred heart,” is a prominent symbol in Oaxacan folk art that represents universal, eternal love.
The coquí frog (named after its unique and recognizable call, "co-kee") is Puerto Rico’s national animal, where Jose is from. The coquí represents the island's culture, identity, and connection to nature.
The penguin represents Paulina, a life-long penguin-lover. Penguins mate for life and propose with the smoothest pebble they can find. Paulina happily accepted Jose’s pebble on December 29th, 2024.
Our Guide to Oaxaca
FOOD & DRINK
🥖 BOULENC (Jose's Favorite)
(Bakery/breakfast)
Order the molletes and add salsa macha to do it the Jose way! Paulina loves the granola & matcha-limonada.
You can also try Boulenc Pan y Cafe for a slightly different menu but the same great pastries. This location is in Jalatlaco, an art district where you can walk around and see beautiful murals like the one below! The last time we were in Oaxaca we went to Boulenc restaurants 3x in one visit!
🌽 LEVADURA DE OLLA (Paulina's Favorite)
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
A MUST! Focuses on cuisine from a particular part of Oaxaca, we loved everything we ate! They recently earned a well-deserved Michelin star, so make reservations early as it's a popular spot!
(Bakery/breakfast)
Our great place for an authentic Oaxacan breakfast and great pastries, but they also offer lunch and dinner too. At La Atoleria, you can try Atole, a traditional masa based drink, or the Cafe de Olla (made with Mexican ground coffee, cinnamon, + raw dark sugar)
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
Authentic Oaxacan food with rooftop views of the church and central square. A great spot for lunch or dinner and we recommend the desserts! Make sure to make a reservation.
(Oaxacan Cuisine)
Has always been one of our favorite restaurants and the cocktails are amazing! Received a Michelin star in 2024, and can now be harder to get into, so look into reservations.
WHERE TO SHOP
This is a hidden gem and tiny shop next to the market! This is where Paulina has found the best prices for tablecloths, hand woven pouches, etc. that all come from a village called Santo Tomas Jalieza that specializes in a particular textile style.
👔 VIAJANTE
Really cool guayaberas with hand embroidery!
This shop partners from artisans all over Oaxaca, so you can find a variety of different handmade goods like pottery, linens, and metal work. We recently loaded up on pottery here (see an example below).
From straw bags to detailed alebrijes, this market has the best prices for great Oaxacan crafts and textiles. It is also a food market where you can try a tlayuda, a traditional large scale Oaxacan tostada.
THINGS TO DO
The Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca is an ethnobotanical garden, designed by famed Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo. It is an example of Oaxaca’s unparalleled biodiversity and is meant to tell the region’s history via its plants. They offer a few tours a day through a tour company.
Spanish for “the water boils,” the Hierva el Agua is a set of natural travertine rock formations that have formed over thousands of years and resemble cascades of water. There are a number of small natural pools, as well as two large artificial pools, all set on the edge of the cliff. These falls are a 90-minute taxi from the city center.
Oaxaca's textile museum is set in a lovely restored colonial mansion in the city's historical center. The museum celebrates Oaxaca's rich and varied textile traditions and offers an overview of textiles from Oaxaca, Mexico, and the world.
