The Mixteca Alta

This is an area, further from the city on the road towards the State of Puebla and over 3,000 feet above the valley floor in a region know as the Mixtec Highlands. It’s the first region settled by Spaniards in the first part of the XVI century and has some of the most magnificent & unusual Dominican Convents, now considered as world heritage sites due to the unique Indian art features blended in with Christian icons. There are also vestiges of several ancient Mixtec cities and Indian communities that are distinguished by their own unique style of dress, language, customs and handicrafts.

Next are only samples of the many ways we tailor programs in this beautiful region.

Sample Itinerary A

Day 1
Depart Oaxaca City towards the north valley on the toll road that takes us up the Sierra Madre into the Mixtec Mountains, know as the Mixteca Alta.

Our first stop will be to visit the first of 3 oldest colonial monuments of XVI century Mexico, recognized all as national treasures. This first one is called Yanhuitlan and has an amazing Mudejar wooden choir & fabulous altars with paintings.

Afterwards, we will cross thru the hills into the Christmas Mountains of the Mixteca and stop to enjoy a warm lunch. Then continue to visit the Indian Trique villages of Chicahuaxtla & Copala, where we will see locals wearing their traditional ethnic outfits in their daily lives. We will visit their towns and spend the afternoon with a Trique family to learn about their way of life & culture and also to see their beautiful weaving patterns and methods.
From there we will drive back to the big town of Tlaxiaco, where we will lodge for the night.

Day 2
This morning we will wake up to walk thru the Saturday Indian market day in Tlaxiaco. After, we will check out and visit the picturesque village of San Martin Huamelulpan that has remains of a good size archeological site & small community museum. Then we will continue to visit second of the colonial national treasures. This one is called Teposcolula and has the finest of the unique structures called “Open Chapels”, which mendicant friars created to facilitate mass conversions. There is also a great museum collection in the old convent next to the church.

After enjoying a warm lunch, we will continue to visit the village of San Juan Yucuita to see a small archaeological dig and a nice community museum.
Afterwards we will return to the City.

Sample Itinerary B

Day 1
Depart Oaxaca City towards the north valley and on the toll road that takes us up the Sierra Madre into the Mixtec Mountains, know as the Mixteca Alta.
Our first stop will be to visit the first of 3 oldest colonial monuments from the XVI century in Mexico, all of which are recognized as national treasures. This first one is called Coixtlahuaca, and has a small but authentic structure called ‘Open Chapel” which mendicant friars created to facilitate mass conversions.
From there we will continue to visit the second of the colonial jewels. This one is called Teposcolula and has the finest of the unique structures called “Open Chapels”, and also a great museum collection in the old convent next to the church.
After enjoying a warm lunch there, we’ll visit the picturesque village of San Martin Huamelulpan that has remains of a good size archeological site & small community museum.

After we will arrive to the large town of Tlaxiaco where we will lodge overnight and after checking in, take a walk around the village.

Day 2
This morning we will push into the mountains to visit the Trique Indian villages of Chicahuaxtla & Copala where we will see locals wearing their traditional ethnic outfits in their daily lives. We will visit their towns and spend then the time with a Trique family to learn about their way of life & culture and also to see their beautiful weaving patterns and methods.
From there we will push to the larger village of Juxtlahuaca to enjoy a warm lunch and then continue thru the hills to the village of Santo Domingo Tonala, where we will walk thru a small canyon.
After we will arrive to the large town of Huajuapan de Leon where we will lodge overnight and after checking in, take a walk around the village.

Day 3
This morning we start by visiting the archaeological site at the top of the town’s hill called Cerro de las Minas. After we will check out and then visit the village of Tamazulapan that has a beautiful colonial church and also a factory of palm weavers. After a warm lunch there, we will continue to visit the third of the oldest colonial treasures. This third one is called Yanhuitlan and has an amazing Mudejar wooden choir & fabulous altars with paintings.

After, we will continue to visit the village of San Juan Yucuita to see a small archaeological dig and a nice community museum.
Afterwards we will return to the City.