Oaxaca – 2016

Come to Oaxaca with us to enjoy beautiful Pacific beaches, release turtle hatchlings, immerse yourself in the culture of Oaxaca and celebrate Day of the Dead.

October 27 – November 4, 2016

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San Agustinillo is a tiny, one-street village 4km west of Zipolite by road. We’ll be staying in beachfront cabañas on this small, curved bay with waves that are perfect for bodyboarding, swimming and learning to surf.

Mazunte, just west of Agustinillo, and home to the National Mexican Turtle Center, Mazunte has a curving, sandy beach on a scenic bay, and a good variety places to stay and eat. Foreign residents are attracted by the area’s beauty and laid-back atmosphere.

National Mexican Turtle Center In the face of the imminent extinction of the diversity of turtle species, the Mexican government called for the creation of the National Mexican Turtle Center. Biologists, veterinarians, and research groups study turtle behavior, diet, and monitor the quality of water in the tanks to gain insight into the problem of the protection of the species.

Playa de Escobilla Sanctuary is a waterfront sanctuary for sea turtles in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, with an area of about 30 hectares. The sanctuary lies in Santa María Tonameca Municipality, between the towns of Puerto Escondido and Huatulco near the town of Mazunte. In order to protect the turtles, the beach is guarded duringnesting season and is off-limits to tourists.

Iguanario de Cozoaltepec conserves and protects the black and green iguana. They protect the eggs during incubation from being eaten by ants, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and especially humans. After keeping the iguanas for two years they free them in their natural habitat. They current have approximately two thousand young iguanas on more than three hectares.

Oaxaca de Juárez. With its rich culture, arts, culinary specialties and a beautiful colonial center of lovely, tree-shaded streets, Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s most captivating cities. Artists and artisans alike are inspired by the area’s creative atmosphere, indigenous traditions and bright, clear light. Capital and largest city of the Mexican state of the same name, Oaxaca has top-class museums, a dynamic zocalo (town square) and fascinating markets.

Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The Zapotec settled Mitla around 600 B.C., and it became a Mixtec bastion in the late 10th century,and many of the buildings were used through the 16th century. One of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica, Monte Albán was the Zapotec socio-political and economic center for close to a thousand years.

Mitla is the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca and the most important of the Zapotec culture. The site is located in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley. While Monte Albán the political center, Mitla was the main religious center. The name Mitla is derived from the Nahuatl name Mictlán, the place of the dead or underworld. Its Zapotec name, Lyobaa, means “place of rest.”

Teotitlán Del Valle is famous for its beautiful woolen rugs woven on hand-made looms. Most weavers sell out of their homes and give demonstrations. The rugs are colored with natural dyes made from indigo, cochineal and rock moss.

San Bartolo Coyotepec is the home of the famous black pottery sold all over Oaxaca. In 1953, a native woman named Doña Rosa invented the technique of smoking the pottery during firing to make it black and rubbing the fired pieces with a piece of quartz to produce a sheen.

San Martín Tilcajete is home to woodcarvers who produce alebrijes — fantastical, brightly painted animals and imaginary beasts. You can wander from house to house viewing the amazing collections.

Factory of Mezcal: Santiago Matatlán town is considered the birthplace of Mezcal. It’s worth a visit to a small factory of mezcal to know the process of this typical beverage.