Two weeks ago I sadly left Oaxaca City and Casa Machaya Bed and Breakfast to return to Toronto. A 26 year old female, it was my first trip out of the country completely on my own, and one of the things that attracted me to Casa Machaya was the fact that the proprietors were ex-pats from Toronto, spoke english, and... more

We are currently staying at Casa Machaya in Oaxaca, Mexico. Tonight will be our last night of a 4 week stay. Both my husband and I have been taking Spanish language classes at the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca. Tomorrow we travel to Puerto Escondido for 9 nights, Mazunte for 6 nights and Huatulco for 3 nights. I spent several months researching... more

Located on the edge of Oaxaca City this apartment gave us relatively easy access to the city with the hosts' transportation and at the same time was within a block's walk of the countryside for hiking. The experience of the area was heightened by three excellent guided tours by Alvin who knew both the archaeological sites and the local artisans... more

Hola! We stayed for a week at Alvin and Arlene Starkman's B&B in Oaxaca City called Casa Machaya. We had a super time! The Oaxaca Valley is wonderfully rich in Pre-Columbian sites and museums, Spanish colonial heritage architecture, a tremendous variety of high quality indigenous crafts, very nice people and great food! Arlene and Alvin (from Canada) are both fluent... more

casa machaya was a great value. less than $50 for an entire apartment. the apartment is located in a private home, and they only have this rental. so one has a private deck, etc.... we were able to relax on our off days. although we were out of the city, we were only 15 mintues from the action. we enjoyed... more

My husband and I booked and paid for a 2-week stay at Casa Machaya, mainly based on the consistently positive guest reviews we read in TripAdviser. The owners were gracious enough hosts, and the rooms had potential, but needed a thorough cleaning, an upgrade from the Salvation Army furnishings, and the regular services of an exterminator. We stayed less than... more

fellow trippers, we would recommend this to family and friends who are looking for a authentic experience. who want a quiet place to regroup in between all the site seeing and shopping. and people who would respect this property as a private home and not a spring break party pad. arlene and alvin, the home owners, love oaxaca and are... more

From the minute we got there til the moment we left, we felt completely at home. Alvin and Arlene were the most gracious hosts, and Alvin's knowledge of local points of interests and customs served to make him an excellent tour guide for visiting the many interesting spots in and around Oaxaca. more

We had an absolutely wonderful time in Oaxaca. The areas in and around Oaxaca City are full of pleasant diversions to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. Staying at Casa Machaya and enjoying the warm hospitality of Alvin and Arlene Starkman served to introduce us to these wonderful activities. Their knowledge of local customs, ruins, local artists, villages, and... more