Difficult option: On this, the first of two simultaneous hikes on the same day, we will scramble up the steep hillside on the north side of Huayapam on an old jeep road littered with loose rocks, cross over a ridge, then make a long, gradual descent to the two lakes which provide water for the towns of Huayapam and Tlalixtac. The uphill section will certainly challenge your cardiovascular system! As with the easier outing (below), this is hiking for its own sake; fun, but with an edge! Both hiking groups will rendezvous for lunch at one of the pleasant restaurants on the lakeshore.

Time frame: 9 am to 2:30 pm / Distance: 6.4 Km (4.0 Mi) / Elevation change: 232 M (762 Ft) up & 287 M (943 Ft) down / Type: point to point / Trail: rough jeep road & footpaths / Exposure: full sun / Rating: difficult

Moderate option: This second of two simultaneous hikes originating in Huayapam, a small village near Oaxaca favored by many resident expats, is a moderate stroll along dirt roads and single track hiking trails that link with San Luis Beltran and San Felipe del Agua. There are some pleasant views of the Oaxaca Valley along the way on this out-and-back walk through rolling terrain, but nothing of historical or cultural interest. This is hiking for its own sake. Both hiking groups will rendezvous for lunch at one of the pleasant restaurants on the lakeshore.

Time frame: 9 am to 2:30 pm / Distance: 6.4 Km (4.0 Mi) / Elevation change: 116 meters (381 feet) gain & loss / Type: out & back / Trail: dirt road & footpaths / Exposure: full sun / Rating: moderate