Natural Attractions

Oaxaca is blessed with many natural attractions, there are peaks almost 10,000 feet high (more than 3,000 meters) caverns among the deepest in the world, untouched beaches, secret jungles and vast valley’s. Oaxaca, the state capital is also a UNESCO world heritage site for Humanities Cultural Patrimony. Some of these natural attractions are beaches like Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel, and Huatulco. Natural spas like Laollaga, Eitzul-zul, and Atonaltzin. Waterfalls such as Hierve el agua, and La Guacamaya. There are also caves and caverns, spectacular lagoons, dams and beautiful plant life seen nowhere but here in Oaxaca.

The Northern Sierra
The Northern Sierra of Oaxaca is among the three richest areas in variety of fauna in the country, with more than 400 species of birds and 350 species of butterflies.
One of the best preserved natural areas in Mexico, it also has a very wide variety of flowers, and seven of the nine kinds of vegetation in the country. Alternative Tourism offerings integrate journeys for mountain-biking and hiking along well defined routes and accompanied by professional guides. This allows visitors to know the most spectacular sites and impressive forests, as well as ancient traditions. Activities can include rappel, rock climbing, fishing or participating in practices of traditional medicine as temazcal (a kind of sauna with herbs) or the limpias (natural healing).The communities of Benito Juárez, Cuajimoloyas, Lachatao, La Nevería, Latuvi, Llano Grande, Ixtlán de Juárez and Calpulalpan de Méndez all offer rustic style cabin and camping sites for travellers.

  The Central Valleys
Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, participating in handcraft workshops or participating in local fiestas, ceremonies and dances, are just some of the activities offered by the Region of the Central Valleys of Oaxaca. This large area surrounds the capital city of the state and its rich in traditions, legends and gastronomy. Routes on Central Valleys include sites such as Monte Alban, the cradle of Zapotec civilization, San Antonio Arrazola, an artisan town which creates the famous alebrijes -fantastic multi-colored items carved in wood, La Lobera in Zaachila, where paragliding takes the adventure literally to other levels, Teotitlán del Valle and Santa Ana del valle, where the natural attractions are united to the beauty of an old tradition of woolen textiles, and the culture and local history are represented in its Community Museums. Yagul, where the pre-hispanic ruins form a special frame for the adventure of rappel and rock climbing, not forgetting Ocotlán, Tlacolula or San José El Mogote, where the cultural expressions, like the markets, handcrafts, the fiestas, the ways of life and the people themselves are the main enchantment.

 The Coast
Oaxaca has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast. Rich in flora and fauna. Most of these beaches are untouched and offer some of the most beautiful and serene sights that Oaxaca has to offer. There is of course rock climbing and hiking, waterfalls, rappelling, and mountain biking and horseback riding. All of which you get a fantastic view of the turquoise waters of the coast.

Flora & Fauna tours                                                                                                     Think you have a green thumb, take a tour of Oaxaca and surrounding areas plant and animal life. These tours show you plants that are only found within the state of Oaxaca, and animals that you have only seen on national geographic. This region is filled with hidden treasures like forests, jungles, waterfalls, animals, even buildings with thousands of years of architecture designed into them.

Turtles

The state of Oaxaca is home to many beaches used by turtles for nesting. Most of these turtles are endangered and have been hunted for hundreds of years. Some of these beaches are protected by worldwide conservation efforts in order to help the populations. The great thing about this is that when the turtles come up out of the water to nest people may come and watch the turtles nest. There are limits as to how far you can go and you are not allowed to have any contact with the turtles. This makes for a great tour for those who are interested in seeing the natural attraction side of Oaxaca Mexico.

Tule Tree

The tule tree is in the town of Santa Maria del Tule. It is the world’s largest tree and is more than 2000 years old. The tree has a circumference of 54 meters (or 164 feet). The largest girth of any tree on the planet. A good brain buster… this tree was a sapling when the civilization at Monte Alban was beginning to grow!