Hiking in Mexico: Oaxaca’s Indigenous Highlands

This five-day hiking trip takes you from Oaxaca to some of the small villages of the Pueblos Mancomunados – a Zapotec community tourism project in the Sierra Norte Mountains. With local guides and your handy local leader, you’ll hike from village to village along rural paths and forest trails, soaking up the natural scenery of the highlands. With hard-to-access Zapotec villages, you’ll leave the common tourist trail and visit local small farms, participate in a cooking class, join a pulque and tepache workshop and spend each night in a community cabin. With an Intrepid leader by your side, you can get closer to some of Mexico's favourite places, no matter how much time you have.

Day 1: Oaxaca
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. Your adventure begins in Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ca), the city known for its mole (sauces) and mezcal (tequila). You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm at your hotel. If you arrive early, maybe see the main square with its architecture dating back to the 16th century or the 20 de Noviembre Market – a food market loved by the locals. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner and try some of the regional specialities, like tlayudas (Oaxacan pizza) or one of the seven varieties of mole.
Day 2: Pueblos Mancomunados - Benito Juarez (3100 m/10170 ft)
After breakfast, drive to the community of Benito Juarez – named after the prominent Mexican President. This is where your village to village hiking adventure really begins! When you arrive, you’ll meet your local guide for the walk to Mirador and the Hanging Bridge, where you’ll have a great view of the Central Valleys. If the day’s clear, you’ll be able to see the Pico de Orizaba – an active volcano, this is the highest mountain in Mexico and the third highest in North America! After, head to the farm where you’ll be staying tonight and meet the family of Mr Eli. Tuck into a home-cooked dinner made by your hosts and watch the sun go down before resting in your comfortable cabins for the night.
Day 3: Pueblos Mancomunados - La Neveria (3100 m/10170 ft)
After your restful night, meet your group at the farm’s dining room for breakfast. It’s here that you’ll meet your local guide who will take you to the community of La Neveria along a rural path used by farmers. As you make your way along the trail, soak in the beauty of the forests of Sierra Norte and learn about the diverse flora and fauna there. When you arrive in the town, have lunch at a local restaurant, then it’s time to set off again with your guide for a tour of the community and its corn farms. Visit a local family for a gastronomic workshop based around the food that grows here, then settle in for another night in a small highland village.
Day 4: Latuvi to Oaxaca (2700 m / 8860 ft)
As the sun rises, your hiking adventure continues. After breakfast, meet your guide and set out on the Cipriano Cabrera trail to the community of Latuvi. Along this quiet trail, you’ll see the biodiversity and climate of the Sierra Norte change, as you go from the cold pine forests of Neveria to the oak forests of lower altitudes. With diverse flora and fauna, local wildlife and gorgeous highland scenery, you’ll see why the people in these villages feel it’s important to protect their precious land. When you arrive in Latuvi, head to the community restaurant to try some local regional dishes for lunch. After, visit Dona Martha, who will show you the process of making pulque and tepache – traditional Mexican beverages typically made with agave sap and pineapple rinds or corn. Tonight, you’ll head back to Oaxaca, where you’re free to grab dinner and say ‘salud!’ to a beautiful, off-the-grid hiking trip.
Day 5: Oaxaca
With no further activities planned, your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Oaxaca, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.