Santa María del Tule is a town and municipality located in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is situated within the Centro District of the Valles Centrales region, approximately 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) southeast of the city of Oaxaca along Highway 190.
The name of the town and municipality is derived from its patron saint, the Virgin Mary, combined with "Tule," which originates from the Náhuatl words "tulle" or "tullin." These terms translate to bulrush.