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.
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.
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.
The village of San Andrés Zautla boasts an extensive Parque Recreativo in the hills northwest of that town. There are miles of jeep roads and single track trails in the area, all of them rated moderate in terms of steepnesss and technical challenges. This is a fun area to spend several hours exploring. On the map below the park is the 10.8 km (6.7 mile) loop in the upper left corner. Zautla is located 24 kilometers (15 miles) northwest of Oaxaca city, just west of the cuota to Mexico City. There is a toll-free exit from the cuota at Zautla, making for easy access by vehicle. Those pedaling to Zautla from Oaxaca can choose from several rural unpaved roads to get there.
Today’s out & back ride covered 72.4 kilometers (45 miles), with an elevation gain and loss of 565 meters (1853 feet) along the way. Moving at a leisurely pace, the ride took six hours to complete.
Here is another map of the same area showing a continuous loop ride along the three major trails in the park, with a few detours to explore intersecting trails. This ride took three hours.
A festive wall mural in Zautla.Pedaling into the recreation park at San Andrés Zautla.Two gringos on bikes.Riding through rolling hills in the park.There are many lovely vistas to be enjoyed. This being the rainy season in Oaxaca, the trail became a watercourse at this point.An altogether excellent day and place to be out mountain biking!
What we call the West Etla Valley trail is a rough farm access road that runs along a creek in the hills northwest of Cuilapam. It is a delightful place to hike or mountain bike. On this particular day the trail was ridden out and back on a route that proceeded from Oaxaca to Cuilapam, then continued from Cuilapam to Zaachila and thence back to Oaxaca. This route covered 51.8 kilometers (32.2 miles) and had an elevation gain and loss of about 370 meters (1216 feet). This ride is rated moderate. Time in the saddle amounted to 3.5 hours.
