Outdoors
Sierra Norte Oaxaca Villages Hike
A walk between two Zapotec mountain villages. You leave Cuajimoloyas on forest tracks, climb to a ridge of moss forest and a viewpoint, then descend to a river before a short climb to Latuvi, known for its trout. Most people link it with other villages such as Amatlán or Benito Juárez over two to four days, sleeping in community cabins.
- Where
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Distance
- about 16 km one way (Cuajimoloyas to Latuvi)
- Climb
- about 300 m, with a longer descent
- Time
- 5-6 hours for this stage; 2-4 days for a full trek
- Difficulty
- Moderate
The route
Cuajimoloyas to Latuvi in the Pueblos Mancomunados, usually walked as part of a 2-4 day village-to-village trek.
Cuajimoloyas is about two hours' drive from Oaxaca city. Without a car, take a bus to Tlacolula de Matamoros and change to a local bus into the mountains, or book the trip with transport through Expediciones Sierra Norte or a village tourism office.
When to go
November to May is the dry season with clearer skies; June to October is wetter and greener, and is mushroom season.
Permits and fees
The communities charge a daily fee to use their trails, and guides are paid by the hour or day; rates vary, so confirm them locally. A guide is compulsory on some stretches, such as Llano Grande to Cuajimoloyas, and operators treat guides as required on all their treks.
Before you go
- Nights are cold at 2,400-3,000 m; pack warm layers, gloves and a torch.
- Sleep in the community-run cabañas and eat in village comedores; the village tourism office can book both.
- Waymarks are missing on parts of this stretch, so a local guide saves time and supports the community tourism model.
- Tell the tourism office your route, carry enough water and avoid setting off late in the afternoon.
What to bring
- Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Food you will actually want to eat
- A warm or waterproof layer
- The route, saved offline
- Sun cream and a hat
- Camping, cooking and navigation kit for every night, or check exactly what your operator provides
Getting ready for it
Several days in a row with a loaded pack or boat is a different kind of tired from one long day.
Do at least one full day out with all your kit a few weeks before, and fix anything that rubs, leaks or slows you down.
Staying safe
- Trails reach about 3,000 m; take the first day steadily if you have come up from lower ground.
- Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
- Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.
Route details checked September 30, 2026 against sacredtreks.com, sacredtreks.com, thecommontraveler.net and hikingandcoding.com. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.
