Puerto Escondido tour: Enjoy Mexican Wonders from Mazunte to Oaxaca (Private / 8 Days)

Puerto Escondido tour: Enjoy Mexican Wonders from Mazunte to Oaxaca (Private / 8 Days)
Fra USD US$ 1 187,00
  • Varighet: 8 Dager (ca.)
  • Produktkode: PA102X

Overview

Join our 8-day off-the-beaten-track "Mexico: Coast & Heartland of Oaxaca" tour to get acquainted with the rich cultural & natural diversity of this unique Mexican state. With the size of Hungary or Kentucky, it indeed has a lot to offer. Multiple archaeological sites, wide sand beaches, great surfing waves, picturesque colonial towns, indigenous traditions, and much more. Start from Mexico's surfing capital Puerto Escondido and cross the whole state of Oaxaca before passing through Puebla and reaching Mexico City in the end...

Highlights

  • Try famous Oaxacan cuisine - one of the most delicious & diverse in Mexico.
  • Surf & enjoy golden sand beaches in Puerto Escondido & Huatulco.
  • Learn about Oaxacan coffee traditions on the family coffee farm.
  • Visit UNESCO-listed ruins of Monte Alban - one of the greatest pre-Hispanic cities in Mexico.
  • See dinosaur footprints paved on what used to be a seabed in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve.


Itinerary

Day 1 (Sun): Puerto Escondido

Bienvenidos a Puerto Escondido - a port town and resort on the Mexican Pacific coast that’s known for its numerous beaches and buzzing nightlife. Arrive at any time (you can also book an extra night and arrive some days before) before meeting your group & Tour Leader in the lobby of your accommodation at 2 pm. After a brief informational welcome meeting, join your group and go for an optional lunch and orientation walk in Puerto Escondido's center. Thereafter, see the sunset & liberate little turtles on the nearby beach. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local bars in the evening.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Puerto Escondido
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: baby sea turtle release (October to May); orientation walk of the center of Puerto Escondido

Day 2 (Mon): Puerto Escondido - Mazunte - La Crucecita

First, after breakfast, check out & go for a mangrove boat tour. Then, continue to Mazunte - a "Magical Town" famous for a strong surf,  beautiful beaches & Mexican Turtle Center. Once there, enjoy sweeping views of the ocean and (if you are lucky & it's a correct season) migrating whales on a local peninsula. Then, go for an orientation walk and optional lunch in the center of the town. Once ready, transfer to Bahia de Cacaluta - a virgin golden-sand beach in Huatulco National Park accessible by a 30-min walk through the forest. This is a great spot for snorkeling, swimming & enjoying untouched nature. After spending several hours on the beach, go to see the sunset from a local lighthouse. Transfer to our accommodation in La Crucecita, check-in, optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in La Crucecita
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: mangrove boat tour; guide hikes to Punta Cometa Peninsula & Bahia de Cacaluta

Day 3 (Tue): La Crucecita - Pluma Hidalgo - San Jose del Pacifico

After breakfast & checkout, go for a coffee tour in one of the farms around Pluma Hidalgo. This little mountainous village is one of the most idoneous places in Mexico for the cultivation of coffee. As a matter of fact, the local Pluma Gourmet type is one of the most prestigious in the country. Then, after an orientation walk, lunch & a cup of delicious coffee in Pluma Hidalgo, head to San Jose del Pacifico. Located in the southern sierra of Oaxaca, this town at 2,500 meters above sea level literally touches the sky. Once there, have an orientation walk of the town and see a beautiful sunset from our accommodation. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants in the evening.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: eco-cabins in San Jose del Pacifico
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast; lunch, coffee & waffles tasting in Pluma Hidalgo
  • Activities Included: coffee farm tour around Pluma Hidalgo; orientation walks in Pluma Hidalgo & San Jose del Pacifico

Day 4 (Wed): San Jose del Pacifico - Santo Tomás Tamazulapan - San Martín Tilcajete - Zaachila - Oaxaca City

After breakfast & check-out, continue our "Mexico: Coast & Heartland of Oaxaca" tour visiting a family mezcal distillery in Santo Tomás Tamazulapan. Then, head to San Martín Tilcajete - a little town known for its colorful fantastical creatures hand-carved by local artisans. After visiting some of the local workshops & orientation walk of the town, transfer to Zaachila - a small town that became the last Zapotec capital after the fall of Monte Álban. There, we will visit a still largely unexplored local archaeological site & local market where we will try some of the most exquisite regional specialties.

Then, we will transfer to Oaxaca City with a visit to a unique (it has no roof!) Ex-Convent of Guerrero Cuilapam on our way. Once in Oaxaca City, join your Tour Leader for an introductory walking tour of its historic center visiting its main attractions. Check-in, optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Oaxaca City
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast; Market Food Experience in Zaachila
  • Activities Included: visit of a family mezcal distillery in Santo Tomás Tamazulapan; guided visit to Zaachila Archeological Zone & Ex-Convent of Guerrero Cuilapam; orientation walks in San Martín Tilcajete, Zaachila & Oaxaca City

Day 5 (Thu): Oaxaca City

After breakfast, go to explore Monte Albán Archeological Zone. Free time in the afternoon. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants in the evening.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Oaxaca City
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Monte Albán Archeological Zone

Day 6 (Fri): Oaxaca City - San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca - Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve - Puebla

Firstly, go to visit an impressive Ex-Convento de San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca. Then, head to San Juan Raya - a little village in the middle of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve. There, accompanied by a local community guide, we will visit a place with impressive vegetation and dozens of dinosaur steps that are millions of years old. After a tour, transfer to Puebla with an optional stop at a unique local restaurant with delicious regional cuisine. Check-in, an orientation walk of the historic center of Puebla, optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Puebla
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Ex-Convento de San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca; tour to dinosaur steps in San Juan Raya

Day 7 (Sat): Puebla - Mexico City

Free time in the morning to explore the city. At midday check-out and transfer to our accommodation in Mexico City. After check-in and some rest, go to explore Mexico City's Historic Centre and visit the world-famous National Anthropology Museum with your Tour Leader.  Optional farewell dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.

  • Transportation: private vehicle
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: walking tour of the Historic Centre of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Anthropology Museum

Day 8 (Sun): Mexico City

Free program: last day of our "Mexico: Coast & Heartland of Oaxaca" tour. Depart at any time or extend your vacations & stay longer!

  • Food & Drinks Included: breakfast

Why go with us

  • Small groups of up to 13 travelers: closer communication, easier coordination, more adventures & fun!
  • Off-the-beaten-track tours with maximum immersion in local nature, culture, and traditions.
  • The easy-going atmosphere of our tours is perfect for informal travel & making new friends among co-travelers and locals.

Logistics

  • DEPARTURE: We will leave our accommodation in Puerto Escondido on Day 2 around 9 am.
  • ARRIVAL: We will arrive at our accommodation in Mexico City on Day 7 around 2 pm.
  • ACCOMMODATIONS: An exact list of accommodations is sent together with trip notes 2 weeks before the departure date. Most of the accommodations are centrally located, tourist-class, locally-owned properties with private facilities in each room (unless otherwise specified in the itinerary).
  • ROOM TYPES:
    • Shared Twin Room: Single bed in a twin room shared with another co-traveler of the same gender. This option is specifically designed for solo travelers and applies just to group departures.
    • Double/Twin Room: Private room for 2 people. You can choose between 1 double bed or 2 single beds.
    • Triple Room: Private room for 3 people. It normally has 1 double bed for 2 people and 1 single bed for 1 person.
    • Quad Room: Private room for 4 people. It normally has 2 double beds for 2 people each.

    If none of the room types above fits you, please contact us and we will send you a personalized quote.

  • TRANSPORT: The type of private vehicle for inter-city transfers depends on the size of the group and may include a car, 7-seater, minivan. Inside urban areas, walking is the most common way of transportation.
  • ACTIVITIES: Participation in all activities is optional - just be sure to be in time for departures. Both walking tours (>2h, normally in historic centers of bigger cities) and orientation walks (<2h, normally in smaller towns & villages) focus on local history, culture & gastronomy and are led by a Tour Leader.

Notes

  • FOOD: Food & drinks included in the tour (be it breakfasts at our accommodations, Market Food Experiences, lunches, or dinners) can normally meet most of the common dietary restrictions. However, due to the active program of the tour and different menus in each place, satisfying a special diet or food preferences of a particular traveler will depend on circumstances and cannot be fully guaranteed. Market Food Experiences normally involve live commentary about local gastronomic traditions & tasting of the most representative regional dishes.
  • PHYSICAL CONDITION: This tour involves a decent amount of hiking & walking. Therefore, travelers should have at least moderate physical fitness condition.
  • WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU: Comfortable clothes & (preferably hiking) shoes; swimming suit & slippers; a smaller backpack for daily tours; hat/cap, sunglasses & sunscreen; travel insurance; good mood & curiosity.
  • PRICING: * The price of the tour/person depends on the number of travelers & room option you choose.