Mexico: Sierra Norte Trek

The adventure begins with a drive from Oaxaca City into the cool mountain air of Llano Grande, one of Mexico’s cleanest and most peaceful villages. Your first hike follows El Pinovete Trail, a gentle 8-kilometre route that winds through dense pine forest, where the mist dances between towering trees and bird calls echo through the valley. In the afternoon, share a warm, hands-on experience with a local family, learning to bake traditional serrano bread in a wood-fired oven.

Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in Llano Grande

Wake early for an optional sunrise excursion to one of the highest viewpoints in the Sierra Norte, where dawn paints the horizon in gold. After breakfast, shoulder your backpack for an 8-kilometre trek along Latzi Hroo Lli Trail, crossing mountain ridges covered in wild herbs and medicinal plants that local healers have used for generations. In the afternoon, visit Doña Esther’s home and listen to her stories about traditional medicine and healing rituals passed down through the Zapotec community.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in Cuajimoloyas

Today’s hike follows an old rural trail once used by local farmers walking to their fields. This peaceful path reveals sweeping views of the surrounding valleys and the everyday rhythm of mountain life. The walk ends at Don Eli’s small ranch, where a hearty home-cooked meal awaits. Those with energy left can continue to the Benito Juárez Viewpoint for one of the best panoramas in the Sierra Norte or cross the community’s hanging bridge that stretches across the pine canopy.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in Benito Juárez

After breakfast, begin your 8-kilometre hike toward La Nevería, a small settlement nestled deep in the mountains. The trail descends gently through changing vegetation—from tall pines to patches of oak and cedar. La Nevería, whose name recalls the ice that early settlers once gathered from the mountains, offers one of the most tranquil settings in the region. Here you’ll join a family for a traditional cooking workshop, learning recipes and stories that connect the community’s past and present.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in La Nevería

As the sun rises, the trail leads you from the cool heights of La Nevería down toward Latuvi, passing through a rich transition of ecosystems. The 12-kilometre route unfolds with breathtaking vistas of mountains layered in green and the scent of pine needles underfoot. This is a contemplative day of walking—long stretches of silence broken by the sound of birds and the distant rush of rivers. After arriving in Latuvi, enjoy a well-earned rest and, for those who wish, relax in a traditional temazcal steam bath to restore body and spirit.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in Latuvi

Today’s route follows one of the most impressive and historic trails of the Sierra Norte: the Camino Real, an ancient Zapotec route that once linked the Central Valleys with the Gulf of Mexico. The 16-kilometre path winds along a river, crosses narrow canyons, and reveals remnants of the original stone road still intact after centuries. Along the way, visit Doña Martha to learn about the artisanal production of pulque and tepache, ancestral fermented drinks that have long sustained local farmers. As you reach the quiet village of Amatlán, you’ll be welcomed with a nourishing meal and the warmth of your hosts.

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Community cabins in Amatlán

Your final morning begins with an easy 12-kilometre hike around Amatlán, tracing forest trails surrounded by the soft murmur of the wind and birdsong. Each step feels slower, more reflective, as the journey nears its end. After a final community meal, return to Oaxaca City with a heart full of gratitude and memories of the people, landscapes, and trails that define the spirit of the Mancomún.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch