Copalita Trail: 6-Day Trekking Adventure from Oaxaca
Oaxaca, Mexico
Trip Type: Multi-day Tours
Duration: 6 days
The Copalita Trail is a journey that combines adventure, nature, culture and sustainability. It is a 6-day trek that will take you from the alpine region of Oaxaca, all the way down to the coveted pristine beaches of the Pacific. Along the way you will not only see amazing mountain panoramas, swim in the crystalline waters of their rivers, traverse through 5 different ecosystems, and eat amazing authentic food, but you will witness first hand how native communities can thrive in this remote location, whilst preserving their biodiversity and chemical free lifestyle. The Copalita trail is a full immersion into Deep Mexico. The steep mountains where corn is grown, the shaded Guanacastle forests that grow some of the world´s best shade coffee, the fertile highlands that produce timber, and the rain-forests that provide a home to hundreds of species of birds.
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The Copalita Trail is a journey that combines adventure, nature, culture and sustainability. It is a 6-day trek that will take you from the alpine region of Oaxaca, all the way down to the coveted pristine beaches of the Pacific. Along the way you will not only see amazing mountain panoramas, swim in the crystalline waters of their rivers, traverse through 5 different ecosystems, and eat amazing authentic food, but you will witness first hand how native communities can thrive in this remote location, whilst preserving their biodiversity and chemical free lifestyle. The Copalita trail is a full immersion into Deep Mexico. The steep mountains where corn is grown, the shaded Guanacastle forests that grow some of the world´s best shade coffee, the fertile highlands that produce timber, and the rain-forests that provide a home to hundreds of species of birds. Day 1
Leave Oaxaca City at 9am and drive through the Sierra Madre for around 4 hours until you reach San Juan Ozolotepec. This place has breathtaking views of the mountains, and is a great example of a well organized, progressive community with an above average quality of life. You'll savor local flavors in the camp located inside their community forest and, for those wanting to stretch their legs, an optional hike to the highest peak of Oaxaca is available.
Day 2
After breakfast, two community guides will take you along the pine and fir forests to the community of San Francisco Ozolotepec (SFO). This trail crosses through the sustainable forestry parcels and includes great views from mountain ledges. Lunch is at 12:30pm and you'll arrive back around 4:30pm. The total hiking time is 5 hours.
Day 3
Throughout this trail you will see beautiful landscapes and experience the biological diversity of the area and see how different products are harvested under different climate zones. The trail continues until you reach the bottom of the ravine where the communities of SFO and San José Ozolotepec meet. San José is also a Zapotec community, and it can only be reached by foot. From this point on, you will cross the river at different points and have a chance to swim and relax in the river. Total hiking time is 9-10 hours with a high level of difficulty.
Day 4
Follow the river and cross through areas of mango, coffee, guanacastles and ceiba trees. You will be accompanied by guides from the San Felipe Lachilló community, where you will spend most of the day. Arrival at Yuviaga is at around 3:30pm. Yuviaga is a paradisaical fresh water spring where you will have a chance to swim. Visit cave paintings found in that area that trace back thousands of years. Total hiking time is 6 hours.
Day 5
Today you will walk through an impressive Guanacastle tree forest and an abandoned coffee plantation. You are now in coastal vegetation, very humid, very green, and very dense. You will arrive at the tiny community of Mandimbo at around 4pm. Here, you'll see coffee growers, but in addition bamboo plantations, and more uniquely a bromelia and medicinal plant project operated. Total hiking time today is 5 hours.
Day 6
Walk down to the Copalita River where rafts or kayaks will be waiting for you. You will row for 3 hours before reaching the community of La Blas, a haven for hundreds of bird species. After lunch, you will row for 3 more hours until you reach La Bocana Beach, located in Huatulco. La Bocana is a huge beach occupied only by a small fish restaurant and a few surfers. Camping that night on the sand is optional and you can return to Oaxaca whenever you like. Total rowing time today is 6 hours with a low level of difficulty.
Leave Oaxaca City at 9am and drive through the Sierra Madre for around 4 hours until you reach San Juan Ozolotepec. This place has breathtaking views of the mountains, and is a great example of a well organized, progressive community with an above average quality of life. You'll savor local flavors in the camp located inside their community forest and, for those wanting to stretch their legs, an optional hike to the highest peak of Oaxaca is available.
Day 2
After breakfast, two community guides will take you along the pine and fir forests to the community of San Francisco Ozolotepec (SFO). This trail crosses through the sustainable forestry parcels and includes great views from mountain ledges. Lunch is at 12:30pm and you'll arrive back around 4:30pm. The total hiking time is 5 hours.
Day 3
Throughout this trail you will see beautiful landscapes and experience the biological diversity of the area and see how different products are harvested under different climate zones. The trail continues until you reach the bottom of the ravine where the communities of SFO and San José Ozolotepec meet. San José is also a Zapotec community, and it can only be reached by foot. From this point on, you will cross the river at different points and have a chance to swim and relax in the river. Total hiking time is 9-10 hours with a high level of difficulty.
Day 4
Follow the river and cross through areas of mango, coffee, guanacastles and ceiba trees. You will be accompanied by guides from the San Felipe Lachilló community, where you will spend most of the day. Arrival at Yuviaga is at around 3:30pm. Yuviaga is a paradisaical fresh water spring where you will have a chance to swim. Visit cave paintings found in that area that trace back thousands of years. Total hiking time is 6 hours.
Day 5
Today you will walk through an impressive Guanacastle tree forest and an abandoned coffee plantation. You are now in coastal vegetation, very humid, very green, and very dense. You will arrive at the tiny community of Mandimbo at around 4pm. Here, you'll see coffee growers, but in addition bamboo plantations, and more uniquely a bromelia and medicinal plant project operated. Total hiking time today is 5 hours.
Day 6
Walk down to the Copalita River where rafts or kayaks will be waiting for you. You will row for 3 hours before reaching the community of La Blas, a haven for hundreds of bird species. After lunch, you will row for 3 more hours until you reach La Bocana Beach, located in Huatulco. La Bocana is a huge beach occupied only by a small fish restaurant and a few surfers. Camping that night on the sand is optional and you can return to Oaxaca whenever you like. Total rowing time today is 6 hours with a low level of difficulty.
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