Continental Airlines’ new nonstop service to Oaxaca, Mexico helps to open up a travel destination sometimes overlooked. Tom Cotter, general manager of Travel 360, told TravelMole:
“It’s definitely an area that is underserved. The beaches in Mexico get all the attention, but there are a lot if inland cities that we think deserve more attention.”
Travelers in the past were not encouraged there because the city is not easily accessible, Mr Cotter said.
Travel 360 provides customized itineraries to Mexico and Hawaii. It pays travel agent commissions, according to Mr Cotter.
Continental just started its daily non-stop service from Houston to Oaxaca, located in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains in southern Mexico.
Mr Cotter said the city’s attractions include a balmy year-round climate, interesting architecture, historical sites and 17 different indigenous Indian groups.
“Visiting Oaxaca is like stepping back in time,” said Mr Cotter. “The comment we hear most often is of the warmth and friendliness of the people.”
Optional activities in the area include gallery tours, cooking classes, chocolate making, a coffee mill tour, nature walks and archeological tours.
The city is also the site of a major food celebration, Guelaguetza; an amphitheatre seating 11,000 was built to accommodate it.
Report by David Wilkening
