WHAT YOU’LL DO

 We meet at 7:00 AM in Macedonio Alcalá 802, Centro, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, ring the bell ‘’A’’, between Bicibella and Café Punto Paz.

Join us on an overnight trip in the mountainous town of Santiago Apoala. On this expedition, we’ll stay in cabin-style rooms overnight and have the opportunity to decompress in this beautiful spot tucked away in the Mixteca Alta.

During this trip, we’ll visit protected natural areas, swim beneath waterfalls, and explore a sacred cave. The water in the river is pristine as it is born in the mountains surrounding Apoala making it the perfect place to bathe and swim. During the hikes, our group will be joined by a local guide who will share their in-depth knowledge on Apoalas history and legends. Meals will be served as needed by local cooks who carry hearty and ancient Mixteca recipes.

Santiago Apoala is considered the cradle of Mixteca culture located in the Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca. It’s name in Mixteco is Yutza Tó Ón which means” where the river starts”. The town has four municipal agencies that are Jazmín Morelos, San Antonio Nduayaco, Unión Buena Vista, and Tierra Colorada. Put together, these four municipal agencies make up a total of 1,250 inhabitants most of which are adults. Beautiful landscapes, caves, hiking trails, waterfalls, lagoons, and prehistoric paintings are just some of the reasons people come to explore Apoala.

This pueblo, like many others in the state of Oaxaca, depends on individual labor for the success of the population. Therefore, almost every family in Santiago Apoala cultivates different types of foods. Wheat, corn, oatmeal, alfalfa, avocado, pear, quince, nisperos, and pomegranate are just some examples of foods produced in Apoala. Most of the town’s economy depends on agriculture; much of this agricultural trade is done by bartering.

Discover Santiago Apoala with COYOTE Aventuras for a once in a lifetime experience. We’ll meet at seven in the morning at the COYOTE office for our departure. After meeting our guides, checking our equipment, and handing out fresh fruit, we’ll set off on a three hour ride to Apoala.

The hike is intermediate level. Close toed shoes are recommended along with sandals or water shoes. The first destination is a beautiful canyon with magnificent views. After we’ve explored the canyon, we’ll follow the river down to the first lagoon where we can swim and jump into the blue water from a tree. Our third destination is another lagoon with calmer water and a pebble beach. After soaking in the beauty of these calm lagoons, we’ll hike up to Apoalas iconic waterfall where we can swim, take pictures, and hangout in the cave beneath the waterfall. Once we’re done swimming and enjoying the waterfall, we’ll finish our hike at our lunch destination back in town.

A well-deserved meal will be served at a local home. We’ll enjoy traditional Mixtec dishes that are cooked using ingredients cultivated in Apoala. These dishes are very hard to find in Oaxaca since the ingredients used are organically grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. During this multicourse meal, we’ll get to ask questions about the dishes and what other dishes are offered depending on the time of year. After lunch, we’ll have some down time to digest, explore town, or have a siesta before dinner. In the evening, a light dinner will be offered along with some mezcal. Once everyone’s had a chance to eat, we’ll light a campfire where we’ll be able to socialize and reflect beneath the stars.

The next day, breakfast will be served at 8:00 AM. Once we’ve eaten and gotten ourselves ready for our next adventure, we’ll set off for a three hour hike to The Cave of The Devil and to the iconic waterfall. The Cave of The Devil is a short uphill hike where we’ll get to see some ancient carvings at the base of the cave. Rappel equipment is required to go in the cave since it is up on the cliff, so we will observe and learn about the cave from the carving. Our guide will provide an explanation as to why the cave is sacred, where it got its name, along with the history of the exploration of La Cueva Del Diablo. Our next destination will be the iconic waterfall where we’ll get to freshen up before lunch.

To wrap up our trip, we’ll take a short walk back to town where lunch will be waiting for us. After we’ve savored our last traditional Mixteca meal, we’ll gather our belongings and head back to the City of Oaxaca.

Visit and decompress in the beautiful pueblo of Santiago Apoala, an unknown destination to the typical traveler.

ACTIVITY ADVISORY

Outdoor activities carry risks, and you may be exposed to dangerous situations as part of this experience. Make sure you can participate safely given your abilities and the conditions (such as location, weather, and equipment).

NOTES:

Want to go Private?
Don’t see your desired date available?
Do you want to spend the night there?
Please contact us! We will do our best to make special arrangements for you!