Zapotrek Hike and Bike - 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez

My Zapotrek bike tour with Eric was the best and most memorable experience during my visit to Oaxaca. I did a 50 km bike ride through small towns outside of Oaxaca City center, biking through the valley and farms, visited the homes of artisans who very graciously showed us their work. Eric is so kind and so knowledgable. I learned such a different and deeper side of Oaxaca through this tour. As a novice bike rider (i.e., it's been many years since I've gotten on a bike), I felt very comfortable and safe throughout the entire trip. The ride was super enjoyable. I managed to do an "intermediate" ride. They provided me with the bike and everything I needed, and it was a super sturdy and solid bike. Thank you so much, Eric and Zapotrek! I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to explore Oaxaca in a unique and adventurous manner!

If you're in Oaxaca City, do yourself a favor and book your adventure with Zapotrek. We had the time of our lives, a truly unforgettable experience and learned about a culture thousands of years old. We visited a 450 year old Catholic church, went to the market and had traditional dishes to load up on energy for the hike. From there it was an all day epic journey. Wish I could give ten stars.

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.

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!!

Erik and Lupita were outstanding hosts - they communicated clearly and quickly via WhatsApp to help me figure out which tour to book, picked us up from our hotel and stayed out far beyond the return time after a difficult bike ride when we were all exhausted and they had another bike tour to do early the next morning. Erik took us to his own family's barbacoa restaurant in the Tlacolula market, which was one of the best meals I had during my time in Oaxaca. He is super knowledgeable about the history and ecology of the region. I couldn't recommend Zapotrek more.

What a special day! Where to begin From start to finish it was one of the best tours I have ever done. Didn’t feel like a tour but more a unique experience Eric who runs Zapotrek has such a passion and knowledge for the area and Zapotec culture We had amazing food all included The hike was so special again with a guide who had so much knowledge on the plants and area Often we have been on tours to go buy things from mass produced shops but instead we were taken to a husband and wife who both made traditional rugs in a small town in the hills It was a 12 hr day and was so rich and full of special experiences A day we won’t forget and I would recommend to anyone Thank you thank you thank you

I worked with Eric to plan a day's hike tailored to our interests and preferences. He and a staff member took us to the mountains of San Pablo Etla about 30 minutes outside the city to hike the preserved lands and the conservation center of La Mesita. We had a variety of options for how far or how strenuously to hike. At one point, my son split off with the community guide to climb a peak. We saw a huge variety of birds, insects and plants. We were the only ones on the trail. Zapotrek provided water and snacks. When it became apparent that poles would be of assistance, Eric whipped out a pair. We enjoyed a lovely late lunch back in the community after a 12 km hike. The day's outing was professionally executed and very affordable. I can't recommend Zapotrek highly enough!

Lupita and Eric are wonderful guides. Considerate, knowledgeable and fun to be around. We booked two excursions with them, one was a biking tour the other was a hike. Both were excellent and seamlessly executed. It was really easy to reach them through WhatsApp. Both tours included pick-up and drop-off and they were very accommodating with our vegetarian diets. All the food stops were excellent, and we got to see local art and intimate snapshots of the communities in the smaller towns surrounding Oaxaca. Lupita led the hiking tour. She is really vibrant, very compassionate, and is a wealth of knowledge. We wouldn’t hesitate to book with them again. Definitely the highlight of our time in Oaxaca.