Welcome To Hoofing It In Oaxaca 

                Welcome to the Hoofing It In Oaxaca                      Hiking Program!

Foreign visitors from the United States, Canada and other countries flock to Oaxaca de Juárez, the capital of the Mexican state of Oaxaca, during the winter months to enjoy the wonderful climate here — as well as to  the take in the festivals, food, musical events, art scene and archeological sites that are such attractions.

Since 2011 a series of weekly hikes has been offered November through March, which afford visitors a chance to get out into the countryside for some fresh air and exercise, and to see things they might not otherwise have a chance to enjoy.

The hiking program is part of the “Out & About In Oaxaca” endeavor provided by the Oaxaca Lending Library (Pino Suarez 519) as part of its role as a community center.

Day Hikes

Our day hikes fall into three categories:

• • • rambles through the open countryside in the Valles Centrales,
    • visits to archeological sites in the area, and
    • more vigorous hikes in the mountains surrounding Oaxaca.

Hikes take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays November through March. Additional hikes may be scheduled in January and February at the height of the winter season. The reservation fee for the 2024-2025 season will be 450 pesos for OLL members and 550 pesos for non-members. All hikes begin at 8:00 AM.

  Hike Schedule for the 2024-2025 Season

Hike Sign-Up

The Hoofing It In Oaxaca program runs November thru March. Day hikes are scheduled each week following a flexible schedule. There may be just one hike per week at the beginning and end of the season, with up to five hikes per week in January and February. To see the current list of upcoming hikes, click HERE.

The cost for hike reservations this season is 400 pesos for OLL members and 500 pesos for non-members. For simplicity, this is a flat fee which applies to all day hikes, no matter the distance or difficulty.  Reservations may be made online at the Lending Library’s “Online Store”, which can be accessed HERE. Follow the directions posted there. Reservations may also be made in person at the circulation desk at the Library. All reservations must be paid for at the time they are registered – so no phone reservations are accepted. Please note that reservations are accepted no more than 30 days prior to the date of the hike.

The Lending Library does not offer refunds for hikes or tours. If your plans change so that you are unable to take part in an event you registered for, you may give or sell your reservation to someone else. You might accomplish this by word of mouth or by means of a post on the Friends of the Oaxaca Lending Library Facebook page, which you can access HERE. Your substitute can simply give your name when they check in the morning of the tour or hike. Thank you for your understanding.

Rendezvous point:  hike participants should meet on Libres street on the back (east) side of the Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel, approximately two blocks north of the Lending Library.  Please arrive at 7:45 am to check in and pay any additional fees before the 8 o’clock departure time.

Most day hikes entail walking from three to eight miles. The “trail” may be a city street, a country road, a short-cut across a farm field or a footpath winding through the woods or across a mountainside.  The day’s outing may last anywhere from four to ten hours, depending on how far afield the group travels.

Every hike participant should be well aware of his or her physical abilities or limitations and informed about the nature and difficulty of each hike. There are very detailed trail descriptions posted on the HIKES page of this web site to enable hikers to make wise choices as to which outings are suitable for them. Given the high elevation and intense sunshine in Oaxaca, hikers should use sunscreen and lip balm. Hats and parasols are a good idea, too. Many people like to use hiking poles or a walking stick. All hikes can be accomplished in hiking boots or tennis shoes as long as the footwear has a pronounced waffle sole for good grip. Naturally, each person should carry an ample supply of water and perhaps some energy bars or snack food.  

The hiking group always takes a lunch break. Our preference is to stop for a meal at a local restaurant along the route, thus supporting the local economy. However, on many hikes there are no comedores nearby, so participants must pack a sack lunch. Sack lunches are always an option for those who have special dietary needs or simply prefer to carry their food with them.

Weekend Trips

Many of the small villages in the highlands of Oaxaca state offer overnight accommodations for weekend visitors or people hiking or mountain biking from one community to the next. These ecotourism facilities are well maintained and have friendly and helpful staff. The typical cabin in the ecotourism camps accommodates four people in two bunk beds or two double beds. All have private bathrooms with hot running water. Most, but not all, have fireplaces to provide heat. Simple, home-cooked meals are available at a very reasonable price at many camps. Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are available for the outdoorsy type; other folks may prefer reading, quiet conversation, a ramble through the woods or wandering the streets of a nearby village.

Be advised that temperatures in the mountains are typically 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than those in Oaxaca city. Also, clouds and light rain are commonplace even during the dry season. Days can be chilly and nights quite cold, so visitors should be prepared with plenty of layered clothing (hats & gloves are a good idea, too) and some rain gear. Upon your arrival, check to see that your bed is equipped with several blankets. Weekend excursions usually depart at 8:00 am on Saturday morning and return about 5 pm the following Sunday (or Monday, in the case of three-day excursions). Rendezvous point: participants should meet on Libres street on the back (east) side of the Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel, approximately two blocks north of the Lending Library.  Please arrive at 7:45 am to check in and pay any additional fees before the 8 o’clock departure time.

Click on the “Hikes” tab in the menu bar at either the top or bottom of this page to see a description of the various venues visited by the “Hoofing It In Oaxaca” program.  Go to the “Schedule” page to see the current season’s hikes listed in chronological sequence. Use the “Hike Sign-Up” page to make a reservation for one or more hikes during your stay in Oaxaca.  

Reservations

Reservations are required for all hikes and weekend trips, as we must make appropriate arrangements for transportation. Reservations for day hikes are accepted until midnight three days before any given hike; those for weekend trips should be made a minimum of two weeks ahead.  Reservations may be made online at the Lending Library’s “Online Store” –  https://www.oaxlibrary.org/hikes. Follow the directions posted there. Reservations may also be made in person at the circulation desk at the Library. All reservations must be paid for at the time they are registered.

The Lending Library does not offer refunds for hikes or tours. If your plans change so that you are unable to take part in an event you registered for, you can give or sell your reservation to someone else. You might accomplish this by word of mouth or by means of a post on the Friends of the Oaxaca Lending Library Facebook page, which you can access HERE. Your substitute can simply give your name when they check in the morning of the tour or hike. Thank you for your understanding.

SPECIAL NOTE:  Many of our day hikes sell out. If a hike that interests you is listed as sold out, you might want to consider showing up at the rendezvous point the morning of the outing in hope of finding a seat available due to last-minute cancellations or no-shows. It has been our experience that in a group of twenty hikers we will likely have two or three no-shows. But of course there is no way to predict this in advance. Walk-in clients pay the same reservation fee as everyone else, along with whatever admission or guide fees are due for that particular hike.

Cost

The hiking program is part of the Lending Library’s “Out & About In Oaxaca” enterprise, which is designed to let patrons and guests become acquainted with the many features and attractions Oaxaca has to offer. The Library benefits financially from the “Hoofing It In Oaxaca” program, whose profits contribute to annual operating costs.

DAY HIKES:  The cost of hiring vans to transport groups to the hike trailhead is the main expense, and is included in the reservation fee.  In addition, there may be admission fees for archeological sites or to enter ejido lands. At times guides will be hired for hikes in the Sierra Norte. These expenses are usually noted in the information provided on this site for each particular hike. However, the actual cost may vary, as prices sometimes change in the course of the season. These ancillary fees will be collected when boarding the van the morning of the hike.  Lastly, if the group has lunch at a restaurant, each person is responsible for his or her own bill for food and beverages.

WEEKEND TRIPS:  The reservation fee for weekend outings includes the cost of transportation. Participants will pay for their lodging when boarding the van on the morning of the trip. Participants will be contacted by email a week or two before the weekend trip with detailed information about lodging costs. People will pay for their own meals in the course of the weekend, as well as for bicycle rental, horseback rides or guide services, all of which are available at the ecotourism office in the camp.

E-Mail List

Hike participants are encouraged to put their names on the OLL mailing list so as to receive periodic notices about upcoming hikes and other library-sponsored events. Please know that the mailing list is not shared with any other group and is not used for political, religious or commercial purposes.

The Oaxaca Lending Library

For a number of years the “Hoofing It In Oaxaca” program was run independent of the Oaxaca Lending Library, though closely associated with it. However, the hiking program was integrated with the Library’s “Out & About In Oaxaca” enterprise in the 2017-2018 winter season. This change was possible because of the OLL’s creation of an Online Store which provides a place where people can view and make reservations for all of the programs offered by the Library. See https://www.oaxlibrary.org/

Liability Disclaimer

The Oaxaca Lending Library is not responsible for the conduct of the hike coordinator or the various hike leaders and bears no liability for the chartering of vans or the safety of those who take part in the outings. Hike participants should advise themselves of the nature of the hikes they sign up for and be aware of the physical requirements demanded of the various hiking trails. We do our best to provide comprehensive information about each hike venue so participants can make informed choices as to which outings are appropriate for them.