Oaxaca Escondida (Oaxaca a Puerto Escondido)

• Best bike: A rigid mountain bike or hardtail with a 2.3″ to 2.5″ tyre is probably the capable and comfortable steed for this route, due to the mixed terrain, the extended climbs, and the often steep grades. Still, because there’s nothing ‘technical’ along the way in terms of terrain, a traditional tourer works well too. If you’re aboard a gravel bike, be sure that your gearing is comparable to that of a mountain bike, fit the widest tyres that you can (38-45mm is certainly doable but you’ll be underbiking in places), and expect to push occasionally. Whatever bike you choose, pack light, as there’s a lot of climbing to contend with. Learn more about bike and gear selection for Oaxaca in the Bikes, Rides, and Gear section of our extensive Oaxaca Bikepacking Routes Network Guide.
• Best time of year: Oaxaca is a popular destination throughout the year, with November to February being the high season. Bear in mind that during the dry season (November to April/May), dirt roads become increasingly dusty and temperatures soar as the months go by – especially as you descend in elevation. By April, the landscape also becomes increasingly dull and brown. In contrast, the rainy season (May to October) brings lush countryside and more bearable midday riding temperatures, but expect heavy later afternoon or nightly downpours. Thankfully, rain in the mountains of Oaxaca is rarely an all-day affair, unless there’s a storm system lingering on the Pacific coast or the Gulf of Mexico, in which case it can be rainy and overcast for a few days. Mid October through January are probably the best times to ride here, as the landscape is still green, the heaviest rains have passed, and the temperatures aren’t yet oppressive – within this time, November is perhaps the very best and will give you the chance to experience the Día de Muertos ceremonies too, at the beginning of the month.
• Speaking of the rainy season, it can be worth bringing a light piece of tarp to protect your bike’s chain from rusting at night. There’s are waypoint on the map for a couple of potential mud-clay trouble spots, though on the whole, the area drains well. Storm systems aside, rains mostly come in the late afternoon or at night, so don’t tend to get in the way of enjoying your days in the saddle. The rainy season has its own charms, including epic skies, storm-racing, and the chance to forage for mushrooms!
• Speaking of the dry season, be prepared for extremely high daytime temperatures (35c/95f) in the valleys and balmy nights. Humidity also increases towards the coast. You’ll need to get early starts, take midday siestas, and carry extra water.
• Road construction: Be aware that there is an ongoing highway construction project that affects sections of this route. If you ride through, please note down issues you come across with a waypoint, so we can keep riders abreast of any changes. Thank you Heather Marie for this update, in November 2021. And thank you Oliver for this one, as ridden in February 2022. For the complete route as Brad rode it in July 2022, see here.
• Looking for a packlist? Find ideas in this post.
• Generally speaking, the mountains of Oaxaca are a safe place to travel, but it’s always worth seeking up-to-date information and being vigilent in the city.
• Depending on the season, there are black flies and occasionally poison ivy too, so have some Benadryl handy if you’re sensitive to these. We’ve spotted brown recluse spiders as well, so an enclosed tent is recommended.
• Spanish language skills are recommended, as parts of this route see few foreign visitors.
• There are NO ATMs en route aside from the first day out of town, so bring cash and small bills. Try and break 500 peso notes beforehand at one of the banks in town.
• Want to get into the botanical groove? Visit the renowned Jardín Etnobotánico de Oaxaca for a plant primer before you set off.
• Oaxaca Journal by Dr. Oliver Sachs is a highly recommended read for those interested in learning more about the area, from both a botanical and cultural standpoint.
• A short ride from the centre of Oaxaca, the trail network west of San Felipe Del Agua is rife with fun cross-country singletrack. See Trailforks for details; if you’ve brought a mountain bike, a loop around High Flyer Ridge/Escalones is especially recommended.
• There is also an abundance of techy enduro trails in the area, especially up in the Ixtepeji area. Again, see Trailforks for details or check out our Hebras to Ixtepeji route, which makes a great compliment to this ride with an appropriate bicycle.
• Need repairs? My favourite shops are Bicimundo and Zona Bici. Both are well stocked and both have branches in Reforma, which are recommended over those in the city centre. Expect to generally find sealant and a reasonable selection of mountain bike tyres, right up to 29 x 2.5/2.6″ sizes.
• MTB Oaxaca is an excellent resource – it lists bike shops, trails, and day rides in and around Oaxaca.
• Consider timing your trip with Oaxaca’s famous Dia de Muertos ceremony (early November), but book accommodation in advance as things get busy at that time of year.
• OLD TRAVEL INFO: If you want to return from whence you came, it’s perhaps easiest to hire a car at Europcar in Puerto Escondido and take a midway stop in San José del Pacífico). A large vehicle – one that fits four bikes and four people – costs around $200, including fuel and a one-way drop off (offices are near the airport). There is also an ADO/OCC overnight service to the city that takes 11 hours and generally accommodates a couple of bikes ($20-30 per person). Otherwise, you can try and fit your steed to the roof rack of one of the daytime minibuses that ply the mountain road that runs between the coast, San Jose del Pacifico, and Oaxaca City. It’s quicker than taking the big bus but a LOT windier, so those who get carsick, be warned…
• NEW TRAVEL INFO: With the completion of the highway between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido, it’s now possible to travel economically in a large ADO bus back to the city, with plenty of room for a couple of bikes. See https://www.ado.com.mx/ for timetables. The journey takes 3 hours and costs less than $20.
• Oaxaca is a six-hour bus ride away from Mexico City. ADO is a recommended bus company and generally has room for a bike or two.
• Volaris, AeroMexci, and a number of other airlines fly to Oaxaca via Mexico City or Guadalajara. Depending on the size of your bike boxes, it’s likely to cost between 350 and 500 pesos for a taxi into town – for 2 to 3 people with bikes.  You can buy tickets for the official airport taxis when you arrive and it’s all regulated. Download the Didi App on your phone for the return journey, or perhaps arrange something through your hotel.
• Safety: The Sierra Norte itself is a safe place to ride. However, as with any city, crime happens in Oaxaca de Juárez, both in the city center at night and on a few of the local trails during the day. If you’re out late, take a taxi home. In terms of riding, hiking, and running in areas close to the city, be especially mindful and see the safety information here for details.
• For general information about our extensive route network in Oaxaca, be sure to check out our Oaxaca Bikepacking Routes Network resource, with a Spanish translation coming soon. It includes details on getting there, bike shops, rentals, gear choices, food, arts and crafts, and worthwhile places to visit in the city and surrounding towns.

• One of the aspects of touring in Oaxaca that I love most is that every settlement likely has tlayudas, memelas, quesadillas, or tacos. In short, you won’t go hungry on this tour. If you don’t want to bring your stove, bring a re-usable container for take-outs, like a Stasher bag or some stout zip locks.
• You’ll want to carry at least a few bottles of water with you. I’d recommend having the capacity to run around 3-4L, as campsites will invariably be dry. When you stop in restaurants, ask to fill your bottles and offer a few extra pesos, to save buying plastic ones. Otherwise, you can refill everything at the start of the day from the 20L, re-usable water jugs found in many local stores – especially if you’re 2 or more riders. Although they’re larger than you’ll need, at 20 pesos each, they’re both an economical and eco-friendly way of filling up. It can be worth carry a filter for mountain streams.
• To find out more about the culinary fare for which Oaxaca City is known, check out the Netflix series Street Food Latin America. It focuses on local legend Doña Vale and the region’s famous recipes.
• Pop into one of the many mezcal specialists or stop along the roadside and try the local tipple, distilled from agave (maguey) plants. There are many subtleties to mezcal, depending on the agave, where it’s grown, and how it’s distilled. If you want to dive deep into the mezcal-tasting experience, Mezcaloteca, in Oaxaca city, comes highly recommended, as does El Destilado.
• Visit any market for a wide variety of fruit and fruit shakes, a great start to the day. ‘Verde’, laced with celery, grapefruit, and parsley is a personal favourite. The main Oaxaca market – Mercado Benito Juárez – behind the zócalo, is always a hive of activity and a great place to explore on foot.
• A post-ride recommendation in Oaxaca? Check out La Popular for a beer or two, and good local food. The wild mushroom (setas) and garlic dish is especially good.
• Eat meat? Or rather, insects? Grab yourself a bag of chapolies – grasshoppers seasoned with lime, salt and garlic – and sprinkle them on your food or just enjoy them for afternoon nibbles.
• In Oaxaca City, Calle de General Portfilio Diaz is becoming quite the street for locally run, ‘new wave’ Oaxacan fare. From the end closest to the centre, the Boulenc ’empire’ includes an incredible bakery, a fantastic restaurant and coffee shop, and a grocery store with all kinds of homemade delights. Further up the street, Hierba Dulce is a an excellant vegan restaurant that a great menu of traditional dishes. I firmly believe that their ‘cremosa’ is one of the best desserts in town! Further up the street still, vegetarians will love the small, hole-in-the-wall ‘Casuelas’ whilst Pan Con Madre, next door, is another excellent spot for bakery products. A few steps beyond lies Macha Pacha, which sells artisanal chocolate in compostable packaging.
• Coffee? Oaxaca has you covered! Coffee is grown in the state and roasted locally. There are too many coffee shops to recommend, but try out Café El Volador, at the beautiful Plaza de la Cruz de Piedra, to get you started. The square is a great spot to hang out after a day ride, too.
• Over the highway in Xochimilco, Rupestre is a nice spot with a lovely courtyard and especially strong americanos – there’s room for bikes too – or there’s the roof terrace at AM Siempre (great gluten-free chocolate cake!) next door. Nearby Chepiche is perhaps my favourite spot in town- it’s super spacious, there’s outdoor seating, it’s great for a breakfast, and again, plenty of room for bikes. I recommend trying La Huerta! Look this place up on Googlemaps, as it’s not signposted from the road.
• If you’re after something a little special, Ancestral, in Xochimilco, Ancestral is an excellent restaurant serving beautifully presented, traditional food.
• Want to really treat yourself? Dive down the Oaxacan foodie rabbit hole by checking out the following world class restaurants: Crudo, Restaurant Alfonsina, Criollo, Agua Miel, Levadura de Olla, Origen, Hotel Sin Nombre, Teocintle, and Casa Oaxaca. You’ll need to book in advance for all of these places. My personal favourites are Levadura de Olla and the seasonal Agua Miel.
• Oaxaca is well known for its chocolate, often melted into a hot drink, and its delicious mole, which is on every restaurant menu, so be sure to get a taste of that, too.
• Agua frescas are the drink of choice in Mexico and way better than Coca-Cola! Choose from jamaica, horchata, and tamarindo, along with whatever fruit is in season – mango, papaya, or guava. Where possible, buy soft drinks in glasses bottles as these are recycled far more times than plastics.
• Paletas! Mexico’s classic ice cream on a stick tastes especially good after (or during) a long day in the saddle.
• For more about Oaxacan food and drink, and restaurant recommendations in the city, see our detailed Comida Oaxaqueño: Oaxacan Food Guide!

Day Rides

In addition to the various bikepacking routes to be found in Oaxaca (linked above), bookend your trip with dirt, gravel, and singletrack loops, rewarding ways of gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation of the area. Find a few on the Favorite Day Rides map at our Oaxaca Bikepacking Routes Network guide.

The Monte Albán and Cuilapan Rural Ramble is a challenging, roughstuff day ride that passes by the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán en route to the Ex-Monastry of Cuilapan – a complex set in Oaxaca’s Valle Grande and Ejutla area. You can trim it down to the single loop, but I recommend the full figure of eight as it’s a wonderful showcase for Oaxaca’s traditional farming practises and inter-cropping – a combination of corn, squash, and beans to help fortify the soil and keep pests away.

For a shorter version with some short sections of trail, there’s also Monte Alban and Atzompa Rough ‘n Ruts. Either way, I highly recommend checking out Monte Alban. It’s an incredible Zapotec site and a highlight of Oaxaca City.

Venture into the Etla Valley and visit the acclaimed Centro de las Artes de San Agustín, housed in a former textile factory, by following San Agustín Etla: foothills out, railroad back day ride. It connects rolling dirt roads to San Agustín with a former railway line on the way back, making for a nice variety of surfaces. There are singletrack options too if you want to spice things up.

Interested in bringing back some a locally made rug? Check out Teotitlan del Valle – and its beautiful textiles that can be purchased direct from the makers – then the 75km Teotitlán, via Huilapam, Dainzú, and Tule is sure to add great memories to your purchase. It links up mellow trails, rural roads, and remote two-track, via the archeological site of Dainzu.

And for a fresh perspective of the area, this short loop is one of my very favourites, connecting dirt roads out to San Felipe Tejalapam. There are several ways of doing this – here’s my favourite.

With thanks to Larry at www.oaxacamtb.com sharing his vast wealth of route near Oaxaca City, via which much of my own knowledge is based.

Have a few more days?

With the right bike, this route pairs especially well with the Hebras de Ixtepeji singletrack route, which is a 2-2.5 day exploration into the Sierra Norte mountain range. Not so keen on trail riding? Here’s a dirt road alternative into the Sierra Norte that hits up some of the same spots.

And beyond…

If you have more time still, consider enjoying the nearby Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (a 2.5-hour bus ride away) or the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour. Or even, use this ride to the coast as  warm up/shakedown to a bigger ride south, following the Trans Mexico (Sur).