Active Pursuits

Hiking & Biking

Northwest of the city of Oaxaca is a mountain range known as the Sierra Norte that is cooler and wetter than the valley. The native communities offer guides and simple lodging for active sorts who are interested in seeing yet another side of Mexico. Several ecotourism outfits work with these communities. For information, ask at the State Tourism Office. Zona Bici, García Vigil 406 (tel. 951/516-0953; boccaletti@prodigy.net.mx), does bike tours. This outfit also leads bike tours of the valley, which avoid car traffic and are less challenging than biking the mountains.