Ixtepeji Sierra Norte Hike

Tour Description

Behold the beauty of the HIGHLANDS of northern Oaxaca's Sierra Norte region. You will be amazed by the stunning MOUNTAIN VIEWS located at 3,200 meters above sea level as we reach the view point at La Cumbre Ixtepeji. Fully guided in both ENGLISH and Spanish. This is the perfect HALF-DAY trip to start your day with a hike in Sierra Norte in a SMALL group, and after lunch, get back in the early afternoon to enjoy the city and get the most out of your day. We'll meet downtown Oaxaca to begin our journey to the GORGEOUS forest in La Cumbre Ixtepeji (1 hr drive / 30 km). Once we arrive, we´ll start the hike into the CLOUD forest where we will see a lot of local plants like ferns, stunning GIANT agaves, wildflowers, pine trees, oaks, wild MUSHROOMS (in rain season) and many more, as we hike up through gorgeous forest trails, until we reach the view point and WATCH TOWER at 3,200 meters. The views here are just incredible! We'll continue the hike down the forest trail and then drive to a MOUNTAINSIDE eatery to have a well-earned AUTHENTIC Oaxacan lunch. REQUIREMENTS: - The activity level is moderately challenging. - The skill level is intermediate. - Guests ages 16 and up can attend. ABOUT THE HIKE: - Distance: 9+ km. / 5.5+ miles total approx. - Hike time: 3:30 hrs. approx. - Elevation: 2,880 m. min, 3,200 m. max. - Elev. gain: 400+ m. WHAT´S INCLUDED: - Comfortable vehicle with A/C - All park fees are included - A bilingual guide (Spanish, English) - Hiking poles WHAT TO BRING: - Hiking/running shoes - Light rain jacket (Temperature is could be10 degrees celcius lower than in the city, specially on cloudy days) - Water bottle (1-2 liters) - Sunscreen - Cap/hat - Sunglasses - Snacks - Backpack to carry belongings - Cash for food/drinks THINGS TO NOTE: It's important to bring the proper gear to have a comfortable experience. Also, it's important to be familiar with the hike distance/time to enjoy this adventure. * Lunch is NOT included.