Land Adventures with Coyote Aventuras in Oaxaca's Ixtepeji

Join us at Coyote Adventures to explore the Ixtepeji forest. We will meet at our office at 8:00 a.m. Just 45 minutes from the city of Oaxaca lies the charming La Cumbre Ixtepeji forest, a vibrant ecosystem of pine and oak trees that houses much of the biodiversity of the Sierra Norte. The community collectively protects the forest through a rotational guardian system, where its members dedicate 1 to 2 years to being guardians of the land, an effort reflected in the conservation of this natural paradise.

After a brief introduction, we will enjoy a picnic with coffee and traditional Oaxacan cuisine as we get to know each other and prepare for the hike.

Upon arrival at La Cumbre Ixtepeji, our guide will explain the unique features of this cloud forest ecosystem. We will reach altitudes of over 3,270 meters, so we will take it at a pace that allows us to fully enjoy the journey.

Ixtepeji has a network of trails suited for different levels of hikers. As we walk along trails adorned with wildflowers and fungi, we will discuss the history of social struggles to protect the Sierra Norte forests and how the communities have organized to defend their resources. Along the way, we will reach exceptional viewpoints that will allow us to appreciate the vastness of the forest. We will also observe how the air plants, Tillandsia, hang from enormous oaks, absorbing the moisture from the clouds that pass through the landscape. This forest is truly alive!

After our hike through the communal ecopark, we will enjoy a meal with our local friends from the Sierra. Finally, we will return to the Coyote Adventures office around 5:00 p.m.