Author: Larry

Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing

San Baltazar Guelavila

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There is some good riding to be found on the gravel roads that run upvalley from San Baltazar Guelavila with views of the backside of Hierve el Agua. It is a 90 minute drive to San Baltazar, 64 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Oaxaca. The objective for today’s outing was a visit to the cascada at Las Salinas, located just over 8 kilometers (5 miles) from San Baltazar. There is a very challenging hiking trail which leads from Las Salinas to Hierve el Agua, but it is not open to bicycles. After linking up with two local guides at the cascada, we continued to ride further through the valley, passing well beyond the rock waterfalls at Hierve el Aqua, which were easily visible across the valley. The road has a good bit of ups and downs, but nothing too steep. However, the road is very rough in places, with lots of loose stones to make your rear tire spin out on the climbs. All in all, this is an interesting destination for a shuttle ride from Oaxaca. We covered 26.2 kms (16.3 miles), gaining and losing 511 meters (1678 feet) in elevation on today’s ride, which took about four hours to complete. We would have pedaled farther but looming rain clouds prompted us to turn back. Happily, we outran the storm, getting just a bit wet at the end.

The village of San Baltazar Guelavila is the jumping-off point for today’s ride.
Rugged mountain scenery abounds.
Not much water flowing at Las Salinas today.
Even so, the rock formations are interesting.
Uriel (standing) and Emanuel observe as Dhruba works on a broken derailleur.
Two local guides + two gringos = a great team!
Bike back in action: Yeehaw!

The rock waterfall of Hierve el Aqua appears in the distance on the hillside across the valley.

Foothills, GPS, Hiking, MTBing, Photos

La Derivadora MTB Park

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Some local maps show a La Derivadora mountain bike park in the rolling hills to the west of the village of Santa Cruz Lachixolana on the far side of the cuota to Mexico City. There is no signage to speak of to designate the park location or point out various trails, so riders are on their own to find their way. The landscape in the area is lovely and the trails are a delight to explore. All the trails can be rated moderate and there are no technical challenges to speak of. Using a GPS to map one’s route is recommended so you can find your way back to your starting point. The ride shown on the map below was accomplished using a shuttle to Lachixolana. The park may also be the destination of a longer bike ride from Oaxaca, which would add about fifty kilometers (thirty-one miles) to the round trip distance.

It is obvious trails in La Derivadora park do not get a lot of use.
Following a faint jeep track in the mountain bike park. Where does it lead?
In places you just make your own trail.
There are miles of hills and valleys with no sign of human habitation.
Another beautiful part of the Valley of Oaxaca.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Diaz Ordaz

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The village of Diaz Ordaz is the gateway to the mountain towns of the Pueblos Mancomunados from the Valley of Oaxaca. It was the destination for a Sunday ride the weekend the community was celebrating the feastday of its patron, Santo Domingo de Guzman. The day dawned bright and clear – a perfect setting for a bike ride. The round trip distance amounted to 84.7 kms (52.6 miles), with a modest elevation gain and loss of 470 meters (1541 feet) along the way. The excursion took 6.5 hours, counting time spent having brunch in Diaz Ordaz.


Manuel and Tomo signal their pleasure in riding on a Sunday morning in Oaxaca.
Our small cluster of three riders encountered a much larger group from the Fridas en Bici club.
Peaks of the Sierra Norte in the background.
Photo op in Diaz Ordaz.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos, Uncategorized

La Concepción

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It is both a delight and a rare treat to discover a place in the Oaxaca valley never visited before. There have been innumerable rides to Jalapa del Valle in the course of more than a dozen years, using any of four different routes to get there. A wrong turn today, though, led us happily astray – into the hills around the tiny village of La Concepción. This revealed some beautiful scenery and significant hill climbs which made the day’s outing a charming adventure. La Concepción is a farming community with a patchwork of small fields dotting the landscape, most of which are tended by families using oxen to plow the steep terrain where corn is planted by hand. After visiting this charming place we continued on to Jalapa del Valle and than circled back to Oaxaca, covering 59.9 kms (37.2 miles) on the outing, which saw an elevation gain and loss of 726 meters (2382 feet). Skies were heavily overcast all day, with a couple of light rainshowers encountered in the last miles.

A panoramic view of the rolling hills around La Concepción.
Huffing and puffing on the long climb up from the valley floor.
A big smile and victory sign upon reaching the top.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Feria de Barro Rojo

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San Marcos Tlapazola is famous for the red clay pottery the women of the village produce. This enterprise is the main economic engine that keeps the community alive. Once each year the town hosts a feria to highlight the industry. Today’s ride there entailed a 71.5 km (44.4 mile) round trip ride from Oaxaca city to the far reaches of the Tlacolula valley. While most of the ride was on paved and dirt roads through flat countryside, there were some rolling hills and a few sketchy sections near San Marcos to challenge the group. At the feria in the town center ladies set up tables to display their wares; a very talented band provided rousing music; and there were several food stalls selling tasty treats. Weatherwise, it was a perfect day for such an outing, with lightly overcast skies ensuring moderate temperatures throughout the day.

Rolling along through the Tlacolula valley.
Vast fields of agave have supplanted the corn which once dominated local agriculture.
Flat terrain gives way to rolling hills on the approach to San Marcos.
A boundary marker in a farm field.
Today’s route included a short section riding in an arroyo.
Women of San Marcos display their work at the Feria de Barro Rojo.
The covered plaza in front of the municipal building served as bandstand and dance floor.
An example of the elaborate dress which is everyday wear for the ladies of San Marcos.