Itinerary Ruta Caminos del Mezcal

Day 1: Day 1: Tradition and Textile Art of the Tlacolula Valley

Base: Oaxaca City
Duration: 3 days
Mode: Daily excursions returning to Oaxaca
Type of experience: Cultural, artisanal, natural, and gastronomic

Towns:

Santa María El Tule – San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya – Teotitlán del Valle

08:00 a.m. – Departure from Oaxaca

Starting point: Historic center or accommodation.

08:30 a.m. – Santa María El Tule

Distance: 11 km – 30 minutes

Activities:

Visit the Tule Tree, considered the tree with the widest trunk in the world.
Tour the Church of Santa María de la Asunción and the municipal garden.
Taste artisanal ice cream, oven-baked bread, Oaxacan chocolate, traditional empanadas, and goat or lamb barbacoa.

Services:

Restrooms, parking, local guides, cafés, and souvenir shops.

Duration:

2 hours

10:45 a.m. – San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya

Distance: 10 km – 15 minutes

Activities:

Visit the Temple of San Jerónimo, a masterpiece of New Spanish Baroque.
Listen to music on the restored organ (subject to availability).
Taste artisanal ice cream.

Duration:

1 hour 15 minutes

12:15 p.m. – Teotitlán del Valle

Distance: 7 km – 15 minutes

Activities:

Demonstration of the cochineal dyeing process and rug weaving on pedal looms.
Visit the community rug museum.
Visit the Temple of the Precious Blood of Christ and the valley viewpoint.
Lunch at a family restaurant (El Descanso or Tierra Antigua).

Services:

Restaurants, craft shops, community guides, parking.

Duration:

​Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes

03:30 p.m. – Return to Oaxaca

Arrival: 04:30 p.m.
Evening suggestion:
Dinner in the historic center and a stroll along the Macedonio Alcalá Tourist Walkway.

Day 2: Day 2 – Culture, Archaeology, and Flavor

Towns:

Tlacolula de Matamoros – San Pablo Villa de Mitla

08:00 a.m. – Departure from Oaxaca
09:00 a.m. – Tlacolula de Matamoros

Distance: 33 km – 60 minutes

Activities:

• Visit the Temple of Santa María de la Asunción and its golden chapel.
• Explore the traditional market (recommended on Sundays): tlayudas, barbacoa, cazuela bread, and artisanal mezcal.
• Purchase local handicrafts and textiles.

Duration:

2 hours

11:30 a.m. – San Pablo Villa de Mitla

Distance: 15 km – 30 minutes

Activities:

• Tour the Mitla Archaeological Zone, second in importance after Monte Albán, famous for its Zapotec fretwork.
• Visit the handicraft market.
• Visit the local museum and pedal loom embroidery workshops.
• Lunch at a traditional restaurant (Comedor Doña Chonita or traditional stalls at the municipal market).

Duration:

Approximately 3 hours

03:00 p.m. – Stop at an artisanal mezcal distillery

Location: Mitla – Matatlán road

Activities:

• Tasting of espadín, tobalá, and blended mezcals (suggested: Rancho Zapata or Parador El Espadín).
• Explanation of the traditional production process: cooking, fermentation, and distillation.

Duration:

1 hour

04:30 p.m. – Return to Oaxaca

Arrival: 05:30 p.m.

Evening suggestion:

Stroll through the Zócalo and enjoy tlayudas from Libres.

Day 3: Day 3 – Nature and the Essence of Mezcal

Towns:

Hierve el Agua – Santiago Matatlán

08:30 a.m. – Departure from Oaxaca

Recommendation: Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat, and sunscreen.

10:30 a.m. – Hierve el Agua

Distance: 70 km – 1 hour 45 minutes

Activities:

• Walk through the natural site of petrified waterfalls and mineral pools.
• Panoramic view of the valley and swim in the natural pools.
• Stroll along the walkway (4 kilometers).
• Taste Oaxacan snacks in the community food area.

Duration:

Approximately 3 hours

02:30 p.m. – Santiago Matatlán (Mezcal Capital)

Distance: 20 km – 60 minutes

Activities:

Visit the Catholic temple with ornate architecture.

Guided tour of a traditional or modern distillery (Mal de Amor, El Rey de Matatlán, El Cortijo).

Learn about the complete process: agave planting, jima, stone oven, milling, fermentation, distillation, and bottling.

Mezcal tasting and purchase of certified mezcals.

Lunch at a regional restaurant (Restaurante Mal de Amor or Don Agave).

Duration:

Approximately 3 hours

04:30 p.m. – Return to Oaxaca

Estimated arrival: 06:00 p.m.