Car Rental Charleston Sc - Sierra Norte ixtlan District, ecotourism in Oaxaca - Arroyo Guacamaya,

And a restaurant featuring fresh fish from the local trout farm - all within a community-managed forest promoting sustainable logging operations, children's facilities, lodging, streams and waterfalls, nature trails for hiking and climbing, including mountain biking, la Guacamaya has most if not all of the features and attractions of the more distant ecotourism locales in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Or public transportation, accessible by private vehicle in about an hour, arroyo Guacamaya is one of the closest ecotourism sites to the City of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca Ecotourism Site in Ixtlan District getting to Arroyo Guacamaya,

As a day trip from Oaxaca one can easily enjoy a great deal of what the region has to offer, while there are a number of reasonably priced overnight cabins at Arroyo Guacamaya, accordingly. And thus just over an hour from the City of Oaxaca, is only a 45 minute car ride from Villa Etla, while in the District of Ixtlan, the village of La Guacamaya.

There are a number of options for getting to Arroyo Guacamaya ecotourism site:

Libertad. Col, located at Calle Heriberto Jara #118, rez, take the bus known as the autobus comunitario de Teococuilco de Marcos Pé o From downtown Oaxaca near the Abastos Market. Though an attractive option for those without at least a little facility with the Spanish language, although this option might entail unnecessary expense, o Seek out a Oaxaca ecotourism company. O Rent a car from one of the several vehicle rental facilities located both at the airport and in downtown Oaxaca. Although this option is best for just a day trip since one might end up paying for the driver's down time if an overnight is preferred, driver or taxi, o Hire a tour guide.

Keeping to the right rather than going on the toll road ("cuota"), and continues along the "libre" or free highway, one leaves Oaxaca driving north towards Mexico City along Federal Highway 190. 000 feet above sea level, at approximately 9, la Guacamaya is 31 kilometers from the City of Oaxaca.

" with an arrow indicating a right turn off the highway, 13 kilometers, there's a clearly marked blue sign indicating "Arroyo Guacamaya Ecoturismo, about a minute's drive beyond the Pemex gas station at the entrance to Villa Etla.

Often dusty depending on the time of year, for the rest of the drive one is on a dirt road, and finally, then narrows to two lanes, the road begins as a four-lane paved secondary highway. It's therefore an easy drive and extremely difficult to get lost. One does not make any additional turns, and until arriving at Arroyo Guacamaya, after leaving the main highway.

With mixed semi-tropical vegetation, the terrain is rolling hills. Each with a quaint old stone church located on the right side of the road, one quickly passes through the villages of San Miguel Etla and then San Gabriel Etla.

So one need not be concerned in this regard, the roadway is not particularly conducive to motion sickness. And the balance of the drive is a gradual climb along a dirt road with numerous easy-to-navigate switchbacks, the pavement ends shortly thereafter.

Note the brilliant yellow and occasional red bromeliads growing on the trees. To scrub oak and coniferous forest of predominantly pine, cactus and mixed brush, the vegetation changes from agave, ascending.

Oaxaca sierra Norte, arrival at Arroyo Guacamaya,

To the right the road continues on for a couple of kilometers to the hillside village of La Guacamaya. A blue sign directing visitors to the cabins and restaurant is clearly visible with arrows pointing to the left down a smaller roadway. One finally arrives, and temperature, elevation with corresponding ear popping, about 45 minutes alter having left the main highway and witnessed changes in vegetation.

And ocote (wood used as kindling), berros (similar to watercress), and for the remainder of the year fresh flowers (in particular azucenas which have strong cultural significant to natives of the region), the nearby Wednesday Etla market) are fava beans and potatoes. For about half of the year the main products harvested and taken to market (i.e. Villagers dedicate themselves to predominantly agricultural enterprises, aside from ecotourism and sustainable logging operations.

Oaxaca Ecotourism Site facilities at Arroyo Guacamaya,

The ecotourism site consists of: as of early 2010,

Scheduled for completion later in the year, o An adobe temazcal. O Children's swings and Jungle-Jim style climbing apparatus. Able to accommodate up to about 50 diners, o A restaurant consisting of a large dining room with kitchen. And one up to a family of six, four of the cabins house up to four people. Beds consist of bunk beds and double beds. Electricity is provided by solar panels. And beds, washroom with hot water, a working fireplace, o Five brick and adobe cabins each with lighting.

Beer and mezcal, soft drinks, beverages include water. The fish broth is equally as fresh and delectable as the appetizers and main course offerings. Beans and tortillas, spaghetti with vegetables and mushrooms, sides include salad. Serves standard Oaxacan fare such as meats and quesadillas, in addition to serving aluminum-wrapped grilled or fried fresh trout, the dining hall.

Oaxaca ixtlan, ecotourism Activities at Arroyo Guacamaya,

Partaking in the various activities, consider spending at least one afternoon with him. And anxious to provide advice and interesting information, up on ecotourism matters, adan is a conscientious bilingual guide and resource person.

The pursuits one can enjoy include:

O Taking note of and photographing interesting mountain plants such as sedum and echeveria. Thick beds of dried pine needles, over soft, o Hiking to nearby streams and waterfalls. Its pools fed by fast-flowing waters from an alpine spring, o Visiting the trout farm. O Learning more about local economic activities and obstacles to the continued sustainability of the community through ecotourism. O Walking through the village. O Mountain biking. From which exquisite panoramic vistas of the valleys and numerous hamlets flecking the mountainsides can be appreciated, o Climbing through forests up to the mountain peaks of Siempreviva and La Portillo.

Some have described the ritual as being akin to the Iroquois sweat lodge. Tourists to the village will have an opportunity to partake in the ancient healing custom of temazcal - sweat facilitated through the use of steam combined with medicinal herbs - cleansing the body and soul. The temazcal should be completed in the year 2010, as noted.

Cabins and temazcal, located steps from the restaurant, arroyo Guacamaya holds the additional attraction of wooden teeter totters and climbing apparatus, while the foregoing activities are both safe and educational, for children.

Arroyo Guacamaya Compared to Other Oaxacan Ecotourism Sites

A significant bonus for most, there's the proximity to the City of Oaxaca, and of course. The relative lack of tourist numbers in and of itself constitutes part of its allure, while still developing and therefore perhaps deficient in some activities such as horseback riding. And boasts similar attractions, and other similar yet longer-established village ecotourism sites, ixtlan de Juarez, llano Grande, benito Juarez, la Neveria, it stands alongside Cuajimoloyas. La Guacamaya is a relatively new ecotourism site in the Ixtlan district of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca ixtlan, contact Information for Arroyo Guacamaya Ecotourism Site,

Or by calling direct: (951) 521-8127; breakfast, arrangements for visiting Arroyo Guacamaya in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca can be made through one's hotel or bed &.