BrandHoofing it in Oaxaca
Where: Lachatao Overnight

When: January 11, 12, 13 – 3 DAY ADVENTURE

Approximate Additional Costs: 1500 to 1800 pesos

The ecotourism camp in Lachatao in the Sierra Norte mountains north of Oaxaca city is a pleasant place to spend a quiet weekend. There are opportunities to hike, mountain bike or go horseback riding. The most interesting place to visit is the extensive ruins of the gold mines of the Cinco Señores and Socorro haciendas, where you will find the remains of numerous buildings, aqueducts and both vertical and horizontal water wheels which once powered the mine operations. There is also a significant unexcavated temple site on a nearby mountaintop, which is said to predate Monte Alban and is used by villagers for ceremonies marking the spring and autumnal equinoxes. Lastly, the hiking trail linking Lachatao to Latuvi is perhaps the loveliest of all the trails in the Pueblos Mancomunados. Lachatao sits at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet and so has notably cooler temperatures. Be sure to dress appropriately. Motion sickness alert! The ride to and from Lachatao may induce dizzyness.

Time frame: 9 am Saturday through 5 pm on Monday / Hikes along dirt roads or on footpaths through the forest to nearby villages or the scenic ruins of old mines / Hike distances vary, as does the difficulty of the terrain / Exposure: mix of sun & shade / Rating: moderate to difficult

The advertised price for weekend trips covers just the OLL fee and the cost of transportation.

Participants pay their own accommodation charge, as some people prefer to have a private cabin, some couples want a cabin to themselves, while other participants are willing to bunk 4-6 people in a cabin.
Similarly, participants will pay for their own meals in the course of the weekend, allowing people to select whichever items from the menu appeal to them.
The same rationale applies to paying for hiking guides, bicycle rentals or horseback rides -- participants pay for whichever features they want to enjoy on the trip.
Those registered for the various weekends will receive detailed information via email in the weeks leading up to the trip. This information packet will include a time schedule, room assignments and cost analysis.
Experience has shown the total per person cost for a weekend outing usually amounts to 1500-1800 pesos.