MyColores: Sierra Norte in the northern mountains of Oaxaca.
Take in Oaxaca’s rich and ancient culture, traditional food & diverse landscapes over 7 full days & 8 nights as we forage, cook, & craft with local Zapotecs in the gorgeous Sierra Norte mountains! We will explore the ancient history, eat traditional foods and learn about the indigenous artisanship of the region. Alissa Allen, veteran mushroom dyer and founder of Mycopigments, will be joining us from Seattle, Washington for her third year in Oaxaca with The Fungivore, to lead both our forays and our mushroom dyeing workshops.
We will be taking you deeper into the Sierra Norte than we have gone before: In the elevated mixed pine and fir forests of the high sierras, we will explore forests never explored for dye mushrooms with The San Pedro Cojonos community, known for their silk textiles and incredible natural dyeing. Over the last many seaosn, we and our partner and nature guide Celestino Mendez, a native to the Sierra Norte--have nurtured relationships with the local communities, and we will have unfettered access to wild woodlands that aren’t just open to anyone! With the blessings of the communities, who will join throughout our forays, meals and activities, we look forward to you joining us on our mission of immersion and guelaguetza* with our gracious Zapotec hosts.
Like all of our trips, this adventure is book-ended by a night on either side in the cultural & culinary mecca of Oaxaca City. We will enjoy dinners at some of the most celebrated restaurants, chefs known for the foraged fungal feasts during the month of "Hongosto," and opportunities to get lost in the magic of the city for the night.
See our day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
*Guelaguetza is a Beniza'a (Zapotec "People of the clouds") word (Dixza'a = 'Zapotec language,' meaning "words from the clouds") meaning "to give and to get" and suggests an active principle of giving what you can, and sometime more and receiving it in return when needed, a community principle perhaps millennia old.
We will be taking you deeper into the Sierra Norte than we have gone before: In the elevated mixed pine and fir forests of the high sierras, we will explore forests never explored for dye mushrooms with The San Pedro Cojonos community, known for their silk textiles and incredible natural dyeing. Over the last many seaosn, we and our partner and nature guide Celestino Mendez, a native to the Sierra Norte--have nurtured relationships with the local communities, and we will have unfettered access to wild woodlands that aren’t just open to anyone! With the blessings of the communities, who will join throughout our forays, meals and activities, we look forward to you joining us on our mission of immersion and guelaguetza* with our gracious Zapotec hosts.
Like all of our trips, this adventure is book-ended by a night on either side in the cultural & culinary mecca of Oaxaca City. We will enjoy dinners at some of the most celebrated restaurants, chefs known for the foraged fungal feasts during the month of "Hongosto," and opportunities to get lost in the magic of the city for the night.
See our day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
*Guelaguetza is a Beniza'a (Zapotec "People of the clouds") word (Dixza'a = 'Zapotec language,' meaning "words from the clouds") meaning "to give and to get" and suggests an active principle of giving what you can, and sometime more and receiving it in return when needed, a community principle perhaps millennia old.
This trip was incredible! Kim and Zack were warm and wonderful and the group and I connected with them instantly. The trip combined craft, food, history, nature, and community in a way that I have never experienced before. There was absolute respect and reverence for the indigenous communities we stayed with and learned from which was an amazing thing to be a part of. Getting to spend time in the small pueblos outside of Oaxaca gave us the chance to interact with people from different cultures and to share knowledge and space and food together. It made me appreciate this special place in a way that was really special and way more impactful than I ever imagined it would be." |
2022 Cuajimoloyas Mini-Mycofest with our group and local community.
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Key Trip DetailsLength: 8 nights
Average Foray Distance: 3-5 miles/day Altitude: 8,000-11,000 feet Exertion Level: Moderate Accommodations: - 2 nights in Oaxaca City hotel - 6 nights in mountain community cabins All meals included (8 Dinners, 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches) |
Each year we invite the local communities to learn mushroom dyeing. This year, we'll work with the silk community of San Pedro Cajonos.
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Day-to-Day Itinerary Overview
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Day 1: Check in, meet fellow foragers, and enjoy a group dinner at a top Oaxacan restaurant.
Day 2: Explore the 2,500-year-old Zapotec site of Monte Alban. Lunch in Tule, home of the world’s widest tree. Head to Cuajimoloyas for the night, with an evening presentation on dye mushrooms by Alissa. Day 3: Forage for dye mushrooms with local guides and the community in Cuajimoloyas. Afternoon dye demonstration. Day 4: Depart for a foray in the Sierra Nortes, on the way to El Carrizal, a baking village, for our mountain stay. Set up our ID table and pop-up dye studio for a week of creative exploration. Day 5: Morning mushroom foray with local honguera, Reina. Lunch in nature, followed by a relaxing afternoon of dyeing with our foraged mushrooms. |
Displaying our rainbow of mycopigments in El Carrizal.
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Day 6: Foray with the artisan community of San Pedro Cajonos to find dye mushrooms—a first for this community.
Day 7: Spend the day at Silk Sanctuary in San Pedro Cajonos. Learn about the silk production process, from raising worms to spinning, weaving, and naturally dyeing fiber. Transform our foraged treasures into a silk rainbow of color. Day 8: Explore the Zapotec weaving and dyeing village of Teotitlan del Valle. Afternoon in Oaxaca City, concluding with a final group dinner to celebrate our time together.* Day 9: Check out of Hotel with a rainbow of mushroom colors and lasting memories.** |
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*All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) starting with dinner on the night of 8/15 through our last night together on August 22 with accommodations provided through 8/23.
** You can put your newly dyed yarn to use and add a 6 hour hands-on weaving workshop with Dr. Sam, Leonora, and his incredible family in Teotitlan del Valle on 15th century style looms to bring home a small rug to remember your time here. |
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WHAT PAST MYCOLORES ADVENTURES SAID:
"The mushroom dyeing was top notch with master dyer Alissa. And we got to weave our own rugs!"
- Liann; Washington State "This adventure was very interesting and displayed a colorful mix of culture in relation to mushrooms, plants, weaving, dying, and food."
- Holly; San Francisco, CA |
"The Sierra Norte is such a beautiful place and so much fun walking in the forest looking for mushrooms and other living things. I am so glad we had a Celestino with us who seemed as excited as any of us when coming across special mushrooms and plants."
- Kate, Washington State 
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"This tour was an amazing experience. Through Kim & Zach’s respectful relationship with the Mixtec and Zapotec people I gained an authentic heartfelt connection."
- Meredith; Canada "Everything I hoped for and more. A taste of authenticity and humanity."
- Lara, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
A trail of color and spores...
It is not often that a partnership of such immense proportions lands in one's lap, but that is exactly what happened with Alissa Allen of Mycopigments! After beginning our work with our weaving friends in Teotitlan del Valle in 2021, it was clear that mushroom dyes and the natural artisans of Oaxaca were a perfect match. Now in 2024, we are so excited to welcome Alissa Allen back for her third year in a row of collecting and teaching about our ecological world through the beautiful rainbow lens of mushroom dyes.
In 2023, we helped facilitate three dyeing workshops with Alissa for the community members, as well as learn about the many artisans traditions within the communities. In 2024, we are very much looking forward to hunting and dyeing with a silk-producing village deep in the Sierra Nortes with whom we’ve been excited to work with for over a year now. In addition, this year, we are focusing more heavily on our time in nature and the processes for natural dyeing, so our days hiking and foraging will double!
In 2023, we helped facilitate three dyeing workshops with Alissa for the community members, as well as learn about the many artisans traditions within the communities. In 2024, we are very much looking forward to hunting and dyeing with a silk-producing village deep in the Sierra Nortes with whom we’ve been excited to work with for over a year now. In addition, this year, we are focusing more heavily on our time in nature and the processes for natural dyeing, so our days hiking and foraging will double!
Our Team
Zachary & Kim Hunter
Your Tour Leaders
Zachary and Kimberly shared their first hosted Mexico tour together less than two months after meeting. That love-(and-tourism)-at-first-sight in Fall of 2018 has blossomed into a project far beyond their original dreams.
In 2023, they celebrated their 5th year of hosting mushroom adventures in Mexico, a journey that saw them move to Oaxaca in early 2022, and to dedicate their attention to the cradle of civilization hiding in plain sight; to tap into the both ancient and future wisdom of the people of the clouds. Zachary and Kim will be your hosts for each and every tour in 2024! |
Alissa Allen
Mushroom Dye MasterAlissa is the founder of Mycopigments. She specializes in teaching about regional mushroom and lichen dye palettes to fiber artists and mushroom enthusiasts all over the world. Alissa got her start in the Pacific Northwest and has been sharing her passion for mushrooms for over 15 years.
Alissa uses brilliant colors found in fungal dyes to entice people to take a closer look at mushrooms and lichens and the role they play in our lives. This will be her second season joining us for mycoadventures in Oaxaca. |
Celestino Mendez
Zapotec Nature Guide
Celestino Mendez is a local Zapotec member of the Mancomunados of the Sierra Norte, farming and living in his native village of Latuvi. He leads treks, mountain bike tours, mountain summit tours and more through Walk With Celestino.
We met Celestino in 2019 at the Cuajimoloays Mushroom Festival, and have partnered with him on all of our tours in 2021 and 2022. He is passionate about orchids, and has a deep knowledge of the forests & ecological diversity in the Sierra Norte. Celestino will be present for all of our tours in the Sierra Nortes in 2024. |
How to join, the cost and what's covered:
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Payment Policy, Non-Refundable Deposit and Refund Schedule
Payments for the trip shall be made in full, and includes the NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT of $500 which helps us secure accommodations, reserve transportation, book restaurants, and secure the tour. With this payment commitment, your deposit will be returned to you only on one of two conditions: the trip is completely canceled (all monies will be returned), or you help arrange for someone else to take your place. Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule:
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How to Join & Discounts
We review each application to make sure our mycoadventure is a good fit for all participants and give us insight to create the best experience for each group. Upon review, we're reach out ASAP to offer an info call, deposit information and next steps. We will fill the trip in the order of applications received and deposits secured. Our group size is capped at 12 participants and we have very high interest this year. If you are interested, get your spot on the list for 2024!. Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send info@thefungivore.com an email to explore this option. |
What is Covered on Trip
*Double occupancy is assumed for our available accommodations. If you are traveling with someone, be sure to let us know if you need 1 bed or two. **All meals, lodging, tours, activities, and workshops are included. Alcohol during meals, souvenirs, and some optional activities are not included. Ground transportation to & from Oaxaca International Airport (OAX) to Oaxaca City is not included ($5-20 each way). The deposit is non-refundable IN MOST CASES. We use it immediately to secure transportation, lodging and reservations. However in 2020, the full cost of the trip, deposits included, was fully refunded due to the pandemic. If the trip is canceled for any reason, you will get ALL of your money back, guaranteed.) THE FLIGHT TO OAXACA is not included. Please make travel arrangements to be able to join us in Oaxaca for dinner on August 28th. |
