Zapotrek

We started planning our trip to Oaxaca before COVID was a thing and as October 2020 got closer and closer, we decided to still go on our trip. I initially reached out to Eric and Lupita a few months prior to schedule a hiking trip in the Pueblos Mancomunados, but the villages (along with many other popular spots like Hierve El Agua) have been closed and still are. Lupita and I stayed in contact regarding possible tours we could go on. Ultimately we did a day tour, the Mezcal tradition tour. Eric and Lupita picked us up at 7am at our airbnb, we got an amazing breakfast in San Bartolo Coyotepec, walked around the market of Ocotlan, toured two different palenques, and sampled more mezcal than I could count. We also had a great lunch at a tucked away restaurant in Santa Catarina Minas between the two palenques. We met so many incredibly friendly and generous people at the restaurants and palenques, and Eric and Lupita were invaluable tour guides, arranging for us the best food and experiences, translating everything for us (I speak no spanish, my boyfriend only a little), teaching us about the culture and traditions, and driving us around for what turned into an eleven hour day. We cannot wait to return to Oaxaca someday when COVID is done, and we will definitely reach out to Zapotrek for more tours.

I visited Oaxaca last year – it was a solo trip, and these guys helped me see the best parts of the region. We mountain biked into the backcountry and saw where they made mezcal on two different plantations, as well as numerous types of agave plants, some as large as myself! No dinky roadside tourist shops here. These guys are amazing!

We booked two tours with Zapotrek; wanting to be active in the countryside and learn more about the area and the culture. Both 100% exceeded my expectations; the guides are passionate about their country, Oaxaca, and the Zapotek culture and traditions. We enjoyed hiking and biking, visiting local families, seeing palenques and tasting lots of mescal, and most of all, talking with the guides and learning all we could about this amazing corner of the world. I cannot recommend them highly enough!!

These guys were great when we visited Oaxaca for a wedding last year. we wanted to see some of the scenery around but didn't know where to start. We did "The Mezcal Tradition" tour and it was AMAZING. No dumb shops by the side of the road, no tourist traps - it was real, backcountry, mountain biking to real Oaxaca plantations! We learned a ton and drank even more. This is a great eco-tour agency that gets you out of the ordinary!

Had such a great time hiking through the sierra norte pine forests with those guys. Very well organized!