Hiking Oaxaca: Benito Juárez to La Neveria
The Hoofing It In Oaxaca hike was high in the Sierra Norte. As always, the bus trip to and from the hike locations is part of the adventure! The bus began its climb on the valley floor at the town of Diaz Ordaz (elevation 5577 ft. or 1700 m.) and wound its way up the mountain roads, which began as pavement and later changed to hard-packed dirt.
Click on any photo to see it enlarged
The hike began in the pueblo of Benito Juárez, elevation 9600 ft. or 2926 m. Benito Juárez is one of a group of mountain towns called Pueblos Mancomunados that work together to welcome visitors and provide information, guides, accommodations and activities for the enjoyment of their magnificent forested mountain-top environment.
During the month of August many varieties of mushrooms are gathered in the area, and mushrooms in escabeche (kind of like spicy pickles) and other taste treats are available in the visitor center. We bought some yummy chocolate/mushroom balls that helped sustain us through the hike! I should have taken a photo before we ate them all.
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- Welcome center in Benito Juárez.
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- Basketball court
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- Trail Markers
Sierra Norte
People farm the slopes, mostly growing corn for their own use.
Leaving the pueblo of Benito Juárez, we admired spectacular vistas as we hiked along the ridge, then we trekked downhill through towering pine and fir forests, enjoying the cool shade and carpet of pine needles.
Valentin, our knowledgeable guide, taught us the names and medicinal uses of many plants. The creek crossing was at the bottom of a mountain, and the pueblo of La Neveria, our destination, was at the top. The trail was long and steep, but Valentin was quite considerate of our need to stop frequently so our pounding hearts could settle down!
For more information on the Pueblos Mancomunados: http://www.sierranorte.org.mx
For more information about the hikes: http://www.hoofingitinoaxaca.com
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What a beautiful and interesting hike! Looks like the effort to get to the top was worth it.
Looks like a good trek! I love the pics of vegetation, and particularly the one of the orchid. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, it was! You would have loved the chocolate/mushroom balls.
I’m craving for another hike now after reading this post. The last time I did a proper hiking was half a year ago, which turned out quite arduous. Keep inspiring, Marilyn!
I’m glad this inspired you! These weekly hikes have been the perfect way to learn about tucked away places and people.
What does a chocolate-mushroom ball taste like? (I know, chocolate and mushrooms, maybe?….) The oddness of the combo really caught my attention. Great pics!
Thanks for liking my post about the hike. They are one of our favorite activities here in Oaxaca. The chocolate/mushroom balls were good – definitely more chocolate than mushroom. I’m trying to read the ingredients on the bag, but the print is SO small. 100% from Oaxaca
60% cacao blanco and cacao rojo
25% avena and Amarante from the central valley and Sierra Sur
10% piloncillo y miel de abeja y agave
extract of the hongos of the Sierra Juárez. It tells the type of mushroom, but I just can’t read it.
We also got some dried apples that have extract of hongo ganoderma lucidum
Apparently in August they have a big mushroom festival, which sounds fun and interesting. Too bad we can’t be here at that time of year.
Marilyn, when you can appreciate the culinary specialties of not only a country but a specific region (or town), you reach a special status of traveler. You are so in that category now!
The culinary specialties of Oaxaca are many! This area is well known for it’s delicious food, and I can understand why. Yesterday I learned from the man who cuts my hair of two new flavors of tamales (new for me), and now I just have to try and be on the right street corner at the right time of day to find them! Every day there is a mission…
Very interesting post of hiking with beautiful photos. It seems to be different than our hiking in the Northernmost part of Finland.