Oaxaca Tour: Ancient Ruins, Charming Towns and More (15 Days)

Day 1: Mexico City

Start the Oaxaca Tour in Ciudad de Mexico – the largest city in Latin America where ancient and modern coexist in harmony. Arrive at any time before meeting your group and Tour Leader in the evening: welcome meeting and dinner in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
• Food & Drinks: welcome dinner
• Activities: welcome meeting

Day 2: Mexico City

Spend the first half of the day exploring Mexico City’s Historic Centre and visiting the National Anthropology Museum with your Tour Leader. Free time in the afternoon, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in the evening.

• Transportation: public transport
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: walking tour of the Historic Centre of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Anthropology Museum

Day 3: Mexico City - Cuernavaca - Tepoztlán

Firstly, in the morning, head to the colonial city of Cuernavaca visiting El Salto de San Antón waterfall and Teopanzolco Archeological Zone on your way. Once there, have a walking tour of the historic center of the city and visit its main attractions. Afterward, following an optional lunch, go to the “Magical Town” of Tepoztlan. There, we will hike to Tepozteco. This unique archeological zone on top of the hill is famous for its temple of Tepoztēcatl, the Aztec god of pulque (fermented beverage from the sap of agave). Later, we will explore the historic center of the town, and try some of the most typical regional dishes in a municipal market and famous local ice cream. Check-in, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B house in Tepoztlan
• Food & Drinks: breakfast; ice-cream tasting in Tepoztlan
• Activities: guided visits to El Salto de San Antón Waterfall, Teopanzolco andTepozteco Archeological Zones; orientation walks in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlan

Day 4: Tepoztlán - Cuautla - Zacualpan de Amilpas - Atotonilco

In the morning, go to explore the history and nowadays of Ex-Hacienda de Apanquetzalco. Afterward, move to Cuautla – a regional center famous for its rich war history and revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata who was born here. After a walking tour of the historic center of Cuautla, and a visit to a local railways museum and nearby house-museum of Zapata, we will transfer to Zacualpan. This little town is famous for its coffee and aguardiente (alcoholic beverage from sugar cane similar to rum) traditions, there we will see both of them. Finally, we will arrive at our accommodation in Atotonilco, a small village famous for its numerous hot springs. Check-in, relaxation in thermal springs in our accommodation, optional dinner, and get-together in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel with hot springs in Atotonilco
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: guided visits of Ex-Hacienda de Apanquetzalco, Museo Casa Zapata, Cuautla Railways Museum; orientation walk of Cuautla

Day 5: Atotonilco - Chalcatzingo - Izúcar de Matamoros - Huajuapan de Leon

Start your morning exploring Chalcatzingo Archaeological Zone: see its impressive 2000-year-old structures and unique carvings. Then, transfer to ancient 400-year-old Ex-Convento De Santo Domingo De Guzman in Izucar de Matamoros. After a guided visit to the convent, an orientation walk of the town, and lunch, head to Ayutla Distillery. Once there, have a factory tour learning about the process and tasting some of its main products. Afterward, move to the final destination of the day – the colonial town Huajuapan de Leon. Check-in, orientation walk of the historic center, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Huajuapan de Leon
• Food & Drinks: breakfast; distillery tour in Ayutla
• Activities: guided visit to Chalcatzingo Archaeological Zone; orientation walks of Izucar de Matamoros and Huajuapan de Leon

Day 6: Huajuapan de León - Reserva Natural El Boqueron - Grutas de San Miguel Cuevas - Putla Villa de Guerrero

Start your day with breakfast in Huajuapan de León. Then, move to Reserva Natural El Boqueron with a photo stop at Presa de San Francisco Yosocuta. In El Boqueron, have a spectacular hike along the steep walls of the canyon, followed by an optional swim in a crystal-clear mountainous river. Afterward, following an optional lunch, go for a swim in a spectacular Laguna Encantada and walk through the hidden San Miguel Caves. By the evening, arrive at Putla – the center of the municipality that serves as a commercial center for the Mixtecs, Amuzgos, Chatinos, and other indigenous people that live in the area. Check-in, an orientation walk of the historic center, optional dinner, and a get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Villa de Guerrero
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: hiking to Reserva Natural El Boqueron; guided visits to Laguna Encantada and San Miguel Caves; orientation walk of Putla.

Day 7: Putla Villa de Guerrero - Atotonilco - Pinotepa Nacional - Lagunas de Chacahua National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a local river beach near Putla Villa de Guerrero and natural hot springs in Atotonilco village. Afterward, continue to Pinotepa Nacional – the center of one of a few Afro-Mexican areas of the country: lunch and orientation walk of the center. Thereafter, move to Lagunas de Chacahua National Park. There, visit a local beach where hundreds of turtles come every year to lay eggs, enjoy the view from an abandoned lighthouse, and see the sunset from one of the huge rocks. Check-in, optional dinner, and night bioluminescence boat tour to one of the local lagoons.

• Accommodation: cabins in Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: visits to the river beach near Putla Villa de Guerrero and natural hot springs in Atotonilco Village; orientation walk of Pinotepa Nacional; night bioluminescence boat tour in Lagunas de Chacahua National Park

Day 8: Lagunas de Chacahua National Park

Enjoy a free day in this natural paradise by choosing among a variety of activities: surfing; sunbath, swimming, snorkeling, fishing in the morning with locals, exploring the beach, and searching for the traces of turtles, or just have a relaxing temazcal and massage.

• Accommodation: cabins in Lagunas de Chacahua National Park
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: free time

Day 9: Lagunas de Chacahua National Park - Puerto Escondido

After free time to enjoy the beach in the morning, check out at midday and visit the local crocodile protection center. Then, continue our Oaxaca Tour going to the center of Puerto Escondido – a port town and resort that’s known for its many beaches and buzzing nightlife: optional lunch and orientation walk. Thereafter, go to see the sunset and liberate little turtles on the local beach. After sunset, transfer to our accommodation in Zicatela Beach, check-in, optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local bars.

• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Puerto Escondido
• Activities: guided visits to crocodile and turtles protection centers; orientation walk of the center of Puerto Escondido

Day 10: Puerto Escondido - Mazunte - La Crucecita

After breakfast, check out and go for a mangrove boat tour. Then, continue to Mazunte – a “Magical Town” famous for its strong surf, beautiful beaches, and Mexican Turtle Center. Once there, enjoy sweeping views of the ocean and (if you are lucky and it’s the correct season) migrating whales on a local peninsula. Then, go for an orientation walk and optional lunch in the center of the town. Once ready, transfer to Bahia de Cacaluta – a virgin golden-sand beach in Huatulco National Park accessible by a 30-min walk through the forest. This is a great spot for snorkeling, swimming, and enjoying untouched nature. After spending several hours on the beach, go to see the sunset from a local lighthouse. Transfer to our accommodation in La Crucecita, check-in, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in La Crucecita
• Activities: mangrove boat tour; guided hikes to Punta Cometa Peninsula and Bahia de Cacaluta

Day 11: La Crucecita - Pluma Hidalgo - San Jose del Pacifico

After breakfast and checkout, go for a coffee tour on one of the farms around Pluma Hidalgo. This little mountainous village is one of the most idoneous places in Mexico for the cultivation of coffee. As a matter of fact, the local Pluma Gourmet type is one of the most prestigious in the country. Then, after an orientation walk, optional lunch, and a cup of delicious coffee in Pluma Hidalgo, head to San Jose del Pacifico. Located in the southern Sierra of Oaxaca, this town at 2,500 meters above sea level literally touches the sky. Once there, have an orientation walk of the town, and see a beautiful sunset from our accommodation. Optional dinner and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants in the evening.

• Accommodation: cabins in San Jose del Pacifico
• Food & Drinks: breakfast; coffee and waffles tasting in Pluma Hidalgo
• Activities: guided visit to a coffee farm around Pluma Hidalgo; orientation walks in Pluma Hidalgo and San Jose del Pacifico

Day 12: San Jose del Pacifico - Santo Tomás Tamazulapan - San Martín Tilcajete - Zaachila - Oaxaca City

After breakfast, and check-out, continue our “Oaxaca Tour” visiting a family mezcal distillery in Santo Tomás Tamazulapan. Then, head to San Martín Tilcajete – a little town known for its colorful fantastical creatures hand-carved by local artisans. After visiting some of the local workshops and orientation walk of the town, transfer to Zaachila – a small town that became the last Zapotec capital after the fall of Monte Álban. There, we will visit a still largely unexplored local archaeological site and local market where we will try some of the most exquisite regional specialties. Then, we will transfer to Oaxaca City with a visit to a unique (it has no roof!) Ex-Convent of Guerrero Cuilapam on our way. Once in Oaxaca City, have an introductory walking tour of its historic center visiting its main attractions. Check-in, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Oaxaca City
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: guided visit to Zaachila Archeological Zone and Ex-Convent of Guerrero Cuilapam; orientation walks in San Martín Tilcajete, Zaachila and Oaxaca City

Day 13: Oaxaca City

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Oaxaca City
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: guided visit to Monte Albán Archeological Zone

Day 14: Oaxaca City - San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca - Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve - Puebla

Firstly, go to visit an impressive Ex-Convento de San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca. Then, head to Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve, a complex system of mountain ranges and valleys generating great biodiversity and different ecosystems. The region has played an important role in the development of agriculture in Mesoamerica. There, accompanied by a local community guide, we will visit a place with impressive vegetation and dozens of dinosaur steps that are millions of years old. After a tour, transfer to Puebla with an optional stop at a unique local restaurant with delicious regional cuisine. Check-in, orientation walk of the historic center of Puebla, optional dinner, and get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Puebla
• Food & Drinks: breakfast
• Activities: guided visit to Ex-Convento de San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca; guided visit of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve

Day 15: Puebla - Mexico City

Free time in the morning. At midday check out and transfer to Mexico City. End of the Oaxaca Tour.

• Food & Drinks: breakfast