Mitla Route
You will be able to visit the beautiful town of Santa Maria de Tule and we will introduce you to their oldest inhabitant, the “Arbol del Tule”, a 2 000 year old Sabino tree that impresses with its 40 meters height. In the Tlacochauaya community, you will contemplate the frescoes painted with indigenous features and, if you wish to buy a souvenir of your visit to Teotitlán Del Valle, you will find beautiful wool rugs created by the artisans with pre-Hispanic techniques. If you prefer a poncho or a blanket, you can buy it in Santa Ana del Valle. You will also discover the Zapotec heritage of Oaxaca when visiting the ceremonial center of Mitla, which is very different from the rest of the country’s archaeological sites, due to its fringed buildings that geometrically decorate the grounds of the Zapotec sacerdotal class who lived there thousands of years ago, and to its sacred atmosphere. This splendid place you will find a museum with a collection of the most important Zapotec pre-Hispanic pieces. Other destinations are included in the route are: Dainzu, where there is a fascinating stone gallery; Lambityeco with buildings, palaces and temples of this important Zapotec commercial center; Yaguil, which has the largest ball game court in Oaxaca and the second largest in Mesoamerica, and, the cherry on top would be the visit to Hierve el Agua, a splendid place with fossilized waterfalls that forms part of a pre-Hispanic irrigation system and is surrounded by spectacular springs.
Monte Alban-Zaachila Route
Monte Alban holds secrets of the mysterious Zapotec civilization and it is considered Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Be part of high itinerary, where you will reach the heavens to watch from atop the pyramids, temples, palaces, tombs and platform of what once was the capital of the Zapotec people and one of the first pre-Hispanic cities. Within the central valleys of Monte Alban is the Zaachila zone, where we can bear witness of the extraordinary tomb representations of characters such as the “Lords of Hell”.
During this tour, you will be delighted to taste the delicious Oaxacan cuisine in local restaurants and we will fill this route with colors in Arrazola, where skilled artisans sell the fantastic alebrijes made with copal wood. Other attractions included in this trip are the Atzompa village, which has the Casa de las Artesanias, a place where it is possible to watch the manufacture of beautiful natural clay and green glazed potter. Moreover, to leave no colonial buildings behind we will make a stop in Cuilapan Guerrero, where you will be amazed with the grandeur of the Sixteenth Century Dominican compound, an outstanding open chapel, the unfinished basilica Church and ex-convent. In this place, General Vicente Guerrero was shot.
Ocotlan Route
A brilliant path that visits the pre-Hispanic origins of the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, which is famous for its ornamental, utilitarian and ceremonial pottery made with black clay. This pueblo also has a Sixteenth Century church that is worth visiting. San Martin Tilcajete is a pueblo known for its handicrafts and workshops where the main manufacture is the famous alebrijes. To continue with the traditional heritage, in the village of Santo Tomas Jalieza you will find a wide variety of textiles and rebozos, dresses, huipiles, blouses, coats, shawls and more. Stop by San Antonio Castillo Velasco and visit its Seventeen-Century temple, built to honor the saint who gives name to the village. As a final point, you can travel 33 kilometers away from the capital of the state to take a stroll in Ocotlan de Morelos to admire the restoration made by the artist Rodolfo Morales to the ex-convent of Santo Domingo, while you enjoy the traditional beverages the pueblo has to offer, such as mescal, tejate and chocolate.
Dominican Route
Another tourism alternative you will find in Oaxaca is the Dominican Route of the Mixteca. Along this route, you will see many colonial buildings, dozens of churches, chapels and convents located in the towns founded by the Dominican friars, who created a remarkable religious compound with the New Spain architecture of the Fifteenth Century, which still preserves its original paintings, altarpieces and sculptures. Yanhitlan is the commercial center of the region and its Nahuatl name means “New Pueblo”. For those who like to admire the richness in nature, architecture and gastronomy, we have Teposcolula and Coixtlahuaca, beautifully decorated with Baroque altarpieces and a sumptuous pre-Hispanic heritage.
Sierra Juarez Route
Take a break and experience nature excursion. Penetrate the Sierra of Oaxaca and fall in love with the paradisiacal habitat of the area, while admiring the flora and fauna of the region. Admire the beautiful rivers of Calpulapan de Mendez and discover why it is known as the magical pueblo, a place than inspires everyone with its beautiful scenery, where, in addition to finding an environment friendly ecotourism place, you can also admire the vernacular architecture of this mining town. Without a doubt, you will love the idea of visiting Guelatao de Juarez, a warm village located 68 kilometers northeast of the city of Oaxaca, which has a paradisiacal lagoon in the heart of the town. This region is famous for being the birthday of Benito Juarez. We are sure that this tour you will be fascinated by Ixtlan de Juarez, a place where beauty blossoms everywhere, manifested in its more than 6 000 types of plants and 1 300 species of animals. Discover a flora composed of lilies, calla lilies, daisies, roses, tulips and much more, while you coexist with butterflies, birds, toucans, raccoons, armadillos, opossums and many other.
