HEADLINES
In August San Antonio Cuajimoloyas hosted the 2008
Mushroom Fair.
BACKGROUND
Visitors to Oaxaca's Sierra
Juárez have long praised the friendliness of the town
of San Antonio Cuajimoloyas (elevation: 3,180 meters or or 10,433
feet).
SCENIC LOCALES
Good reasons to visit include good nature hikes and bike rides.
Part of the Pueblos
Mancomunados, the town has great food and hosts the summertime
Mushroom
Fair.
The following scenic viewpoints (miradores) are recommended
destinations from the experts at the state tourism office. Bring
warm clothes! The hikes are above 3,000 meters and Oaxaqueños
call the town Cuajimilayas.
Mirador Yaa-Cuetzi (one kilometer from town).
You can climb it by a steep path. Along the way, there are pines
and oyamel forests, as well as wild flowers. From the outlook, you
can see the Pico de Orizaba when the sky is clear. There's also
an amazing view of the Valley of Oaxaca, the Zempoaltépetl
mountain and the rest of the Sierra Norte.
Mirador El Calvario I (three kilometers from town). The
vegetation that prevails here is the oyamel forest, which contains
medicinal plants, magueys and shrubs covered with moss. In this
local is found the Cañón del Coyote, the Piedra del
Vigilante, and burrows of foxes and coyotes, as well as an ojo de
agua.
Mirador El Calvario II (five kilometers from town). This
point offers panoramic views of the Sierra; along the trail. Hike
past the pine and oak forests and yo'll see a fresh-water springs
and impressive peaks of the Sierra Norte. The trail leads past an
area devoted to shepherding.
Mirador Piedra Colorada (four kilometers from town). Hike
throught the forests and you'll come to a natural spring and several
small caves.
Mirador Xi-Nudaa (seven kilometers from town). Head out
on the road toward Tarajeas. There are plenty of pine and oak forests,
as well as splendid magueys.
MEXICO'S FORESTS
The madroño evergreen is native to Mexico's Pacific coast.
It has red berries and white flowers. The bark peels off from the
trunk and is sometimes used for a dye. The species is part of the
Ericaceae family and is known as Arbutus menziesii.
HIKES AND BIKING TRIPS
There are numerous options for hikers and mountain bikers. Visiting
the town spring (Ojito de Agua) and Cañón del Coyote,
a beautiful rocky formation with caves, peaks and impressive narrow
passes, takes about three hours.
A moderately difficult bike ride leads to the expansive plain
in an area known as Tarajeas. It is six kilometers from the village
and is surrounded by pines. The trail goes past springs and follows
along the edge of an arroyo.
LOCAL FOOD AND CULTURE
In town, enjoy the delicious regional food of the Sierra Norte.
There are five restaurants near the town square. Mushrooms are plentiful
during the summers.
Throughout the year bakers prepare a special bread
(pan serrano) and meals are completed with hot chocolate
or coffee boiled with cinnamon in a clay pot (café de
olla)
Want to relax even more? The town has its own temezcal.
Make reservations at the local ecotourism office.
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