The Ultimate Oaxaca Hiking Experience (2 Days)

This adventure begins in a small pueblo on the other side of the valley from Hierve el Agua. We will pick you up at your hotel in Oaxaca at 7:00 AM and drive for approximately an hour and a half. On the way, we will have hearty breakfast at a local restaurant in Matatlan and continue to the town of San Baltazar Guelavila. Here we will pick up our local guides and begin our 4-5 hour adventure. On this amazing trek, you will have an opportunity to hike into a beautiful canyon where the natural springs of the area have formed a gorgeous swimming hole under the waterfall.

From here we hike through the gorgeous vegetation of the area, from the various cacti, flowers and trees, to the maguey fields being harvested to make Mezcal, this hike is spectacular for its vistas the entire length of the trail. In addition, this is a very unique opportunity to see Hierve el Agua from a different perspective, as views of the petrified water falls can be seen throughout the hike. As we arrive on the spectacular falls, we will eat lunch at a local restaurant and have an opportunity to hike around the falls and swim in the pools at this spectacular site. Our driver will be waiting for us here and once we have finished exploring, we will drive through the amazing valley of Tlacolula, have an opportunity to do some mezcal tasting or visit some local artisans, and head into the northern sierra.

Once we are settled in our cabins, we will have a hearty, organic dinner at the community restaurant and explore the town of Llano Grande.

In the morning, we will have a healthy breakfast and begin our trek – Cueva Iglesia. Starting at ~3,100 meters (10,170 feet) above sea level, you will be introduced into the amazing forest of San Miguel del Valle, boasting over 8000 hectares of pine, oak, and madrone trees. Soon we will enter the sacred area of La Nevería where the community gathers each year on December 12 to celebrate the day of the Virgen of Guadalupe. If we are lucky, we will witness wild horses and other animals grazing next to the lake.

From here, we will hike along the old trading path to an amazing view point know as “El Mono.” The hike continues, as we follow the stream through a beautiful canyon where you will witness another change in the vegetation due to the dampness of the area. Here you will hear the stories about the bandidos (thieves) and explores the caves they used as their hide-out in the early 1900's. For a final treat, we will make our way to another view point where you will see the entire mountain range of the area. The trek will end in the Zapotec community of San Antonio Cuajimoloyas where a wonderful lunch will be prepared for you in the community restaurant.

Following lunch there is an opportunity to experience a zip-line or do a second hike before returning to Oaxaca.

This two day adventure is the ultimate choice for those who would like to get a holistic Oaxacan experience!