15/10/2026
This market has been around since before the Spanish arrived, and it’s one of the most fascinating places to visit in Oaxaca.
Welcome to Tlacolula, a town in Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales region, home of one of the oldest and most vibrant markets. The name of the town comes from the Náhuatl language, Tlacolullan, which means “Place of abundance,” but the Zapotec name of the town is Gull Bacc, meaning: “God’s town”.
The indoor market sits next to the town’s main church and is open every day, but on Sundays it is extra special to visit because it’s Día de Plaza. Vendors and families from surrounding villages gather to buy, sell, and exchange goods, setting up their wares and stands in the streets surrounding the main market. This tradition goes back to pre-Hispanic times, when markets used a barter system rather than currency.
Walk through the market and you’ll find just about everything: fresh produce, live turkeys and chickens, handmade sandals, kitchen and homeware, but also tools for farming and toiling the fields, woven rugs, pottery…
And, as in any market in Oaxaca, the food takes center stage. Tlacolula-style barbacoa, made with lamb or goat and served in tacos or in a bowl with broth; grilled tasajo and chorizo, tejate, pan de pueblo, Oaxacan ice cream, tepache, pulque…
The Tlacolula market is a feast for the senses, and one of the best places to understand and experience Oaxaca’s ancient food culture and traditions.
Here is a fun fact of recent times that speaks about the market’s evolution: Tlacolula was once nicknamed “Tokiolula”, a bit of wordplay referencing Tokyo, the capital of Japan, because of the heavy influx of imported Asian electronics and goods that saturated the market at one point.
From ancient barter traditions to modern-day bargains, Tlacolula is so much more than a market. It’s a living piece of Oaxaca’s history. And if you’re in Oaxaca on a Sunday, you won’t want to miss it.
📍 Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca
🏷️ Save this for your next Sunday in Oaxaca.
OaxacaMarket