BIENVENIDOS A MEXICO !!  According to your time of arrival you are picked up from the airport in Oaxaca and brought to your hotel. Afterwards you will be picked up from your hotel to begin a guided walking tour of the colonial center of Oaxaca which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the guided walking tour you can experience the magic of this city and its fascinating folklore, famous fiestas, indigenous markets, the magnificent artisan craftwork and the authentic colonial atmosphere. While strolling along the beautiful streets of the state capital your guide will show you the most impressive and beautiful buildings of the city, such as the Zócalo, the Government Palace, the elaborate mural paintings as well as impressive Santo Domingo Church. After the tour, you will be brought back to your hotel. You have the rest of the day on your own to explore the city. The regional cuisine in Oaxaca is quite famous and we recommend trying the delicacies such as dried grasshoppers, mole or the local chocolate. The city also offers a variety of museums, galleries, and many shops that sell delightful arts and crafts. You are then taken back to your hotel.

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: Casa de Siete Balcones Hotel Boutique

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Oaxaca. After an hour drive, you will arrive at the beautiful mountain scenery of the Sierra Norte. At an altitude of 3,000 m, the alpine and the tropical zones come together and encounter pine forests with huge agaves, bromeliads and cacti. The starting point for today's hike is the small Zapotec mountain village Llano Grande. From here, you will begin an approx. 5-hour-hike through the highlands of San Miguel del Valle to Cuajimoloyas. The cloud forest of San Miguel del Valle holds all sorts of surprises. You will reach impressive viewpoints from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Sierra. With a little luck, wild horses can be spotted. At the end of the hike, you will pass through a hidden gorge, "La Cueva de la Iglesia", a mystical place full of stories and legends that your local guide from San Miguel del Valle is happy to share with you. Once in Cuajimoloyas, you will enjoy a late lunch with the locals (included). Afterwards, you will be brought back to your hotel in Oaxaca. Difficulty: medium, approx. 13 km, approx. 5-hour-hike

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: Casa de Siete Balcones Hotel Boutique

Today you will visit the Yagul and Mitla Caves, which have a history of over 12,000 years. In these caves you can admire cave paintings and karst formations on the floor and on the ceiling, which have been part of the world cultural heritage since 2010. Then we will continue to Teotitlan del Valle, where authentic wool carpets are made, colored with natural pigments such as the cochineal. There you can also get to know the process of making traditional candles, where people use them for important social and religious events such as weddings or Mayordonias. Finally, you will make a stop at a mezcal distillery, where you will learn about the production of our traditional mezcal (alcoholic drink) and after the tour you will also have the opportunity to taste different types. You will then be brought back to the hotel. Note: From Thursday to Sunday you will also visit the archaeological site of Mitla.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Mid-Range Accommodation: Casa de Siete Balcones Hotel Boutique

In the morning, you are picked up from your hotel in Oaxaca and are off to visit a number of artistic villages surrounding the city of Oaxaca. Your first stop is the lovely village of Ocotlan. A unique spectacle is the enormous weekly market on Fridays. This market has remained almost unchanged over the centuries and still preserves its charming and authentic atmosphere. It has been operating since the pre-hispanic era and vendors from all over the region gather together to sell a wide range of products. The tour continues to Santo Tomas Jalietza where you can find beautifully intricate woven clothes and accessories. The style of patterns and colours is uniquely Oaxacan and the villagers are proud of passionate of their talents. The final stop of the day is Coyotepec, a quaint village 11 km to the South of Ocotlan. The village is known for its beautiful black fired pottery which is sold throughout the country. Your guide takes you to the pottery workshop of Alfareria Doña Rosa, where the descesdants of the founder Doña Rosa welcome you. They will give you an insight into the history of his family and their passionate relationship to this profession. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel in Oaxaca. According to your flight´s departure you are picked up from your hotel in Oaxaca and brought to the airport.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast