Santo Domingo Tomaltepec is a very ancient agricultural village located on the north side of the Tlacolula valley approximately 6 miles (10 km) east of Oaxaca city and 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village of Tule. For the thousand years preceding Monte Alban (about 1000 – 100 BCE) it may have been the largest settlement in this branch of the Valles Centrales, when Mogote (on the northern fringe of present-day Oaxaca) was the dominant city-state in the region and Tilcajete was the biggest village in the southern Zimatlan valley. From time immemorial the native population has grown corn, beans and fruit there, as they do still today.
There is a dependable supply of fresh water that flows in a stream from a nearby mountain valley, and is used to irrigate local crops. Two dams upstream from the village catch and store water for the dry season. The upper reservoir is the larger and more picturesque of the two, and is popular with local fishermen.
Our hike will start from the upper lake and proceed 6.2 miles (10.0 km) out and back along a dirt road, which gradually withers to a narrow footpath going higher into the mountain valley. As we progress, it will be necessary to ford the stream that feeds the reservoirs. Because the creek winds back and forth, the trail crosses it several times going in each direction. Since the water level is low or non-existent during the dry season, it is usually possible to use rocks as stepping-stones to keep shoes dry while crossing. Smart hikers, though, will wear sandals in which they can simply splash through the water without worrying about getting their feet wet!
At the conclusion of the hike, the group will reboard the bus and travel the short distance to Tule, there to admire the gigantic and ancient cedar tree in the churchyard and then dine at any of several restaurants clustered on the main road or the many food vendors’ stands in the local marketplace.
Time frame: 8:30 depart Llano Park / 9:00 arrive Santo Domingo / 9:30 visit Presa Mina / 10:00 start hike / 11:30 hike turn-around point / 12:30 board bus to Tule / 1:00 lunch in Tule / 2:15 board bus for Oaxaca / 3:00 return Oaxaca.
