Exploring the Pine Mountains of Northern Oaxaca, Mixtec culture, and tradition
Oaxaca is many things, and if one descriptor were to stand out, complicated might be it. Monte Alban, the famed Zapotec City founded in 500BC in Central Valleys of Oaxaca is considered the oldest city in Mesoamerica. There is evidence that a matriarchal line of elders may have had a 1000 year plan for this city, and in fact, it was abandoned by the Zapotec people around 800AD, 1300 years after its initial construction. But this amazing story misses several details: 1) Monte Negro, a settlement built by the expansive Mixteco civilization has been dated to 1500BC, a full 1000 years before the beginning of Monte Alban; and it seems after the Zapotec people left their iconic ruins of Monte Alban, Mitla, Dainzu and others, the Mixtecos from over the mountains came in a continued to build and work on these sites into the Spanish invasion in the early 1500s.
The Mixteco civilization spanned a hug land area, encompassing the modern stated of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla, and constructing a city-state type of expansive civilizationt hat could have had more than 250,000 people throughout at its peak. Today, the Mixteca language is spoken by nearly half a million people, making it one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mexico, but even within this there are several language groups who cannot understand one another, despite shared Mixteco origins. It is these communities dispersed through Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca with whom we will hunt, cook, and learn from during this awesome exploration!
The Mixteco civilization spanned a hug land area, encompassing the modern stated of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla, and constructing a city-state type of expansive civilizationt hat could have had more than 250,000 people throughout at its peak. Today, the Mixteca language is spoken by nearly half a million people, making it one of the most widely spoken indigenous languages in Mexico, but even within this there are several language groups who cannot understand one another, despite shared Mixteco origins. It is these communities dispersed through Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca with whom we will hunt, cook, and learn from during this awesome exploration!
See our summarized day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
We had an amazing experience. We felt immersed in the culture and geography of Oaxaca, and learned a lot about foraging mushrooms and cooking Oaxacan food. Foraging for mushrooms with experts Zack and Kim is really fun, like a treasure hunt, and some of the meals were in our top ten ever." |
Chef Reyna Mendoza demonstrating the proper use of a metate.
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Key Trip DetailsLength: 7 days / 8 nights
Average Foray Distance: 3 miles / day Altitude: 7,000-9,000 feet Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Accommodations: - 2 nights in Oaxaca City hotel - 6 nights in mountain cabins All meals included (8 Dinners, 7 Lunches, 7 Breakfasts) |
Cortinarius eaperatus, a delicious edible Cort in the field and a curious attendee.
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Day-by-Day Itinerary
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Sept 4th - Day 1: Opening Dinner in Oaxaca City!
Sept 5th - Day 2: After breakfast in the city, we will hop in our transport and head toward Tlaxiaco; stopping at the ruins of Huamelulpan to learn more about the importance of the Mixteca culture for Oaxaca and Mexico as a whole! Dinner in Tlaxiaco and settle into our cabins. Sept 6th - Day 3: We will begin our day by visiting the iconic weekend market in Tlaxiaco, where we will forage for food items to cook, as well as peruse the incredible offerings in the mushroom tent! We will head from there to a cooking class where we will prepare our mushrooms into traditional Mixteca dishes. Sept 8th - Day 4: Our first foray: We will start very early today, to head out several hours to our first remote foray with the Nunuma community. We will also learn about their food and traditional farming and dress. We will return for dinner in town. Sept 8th - Day 5: The artisans of Tlaxiaco and the surrounding mountains have played an integral part in the development of Oaxaca since time immemorial. After breakfast, we will explore some of our favorite artisans and see a showcase of the products--textile and food--produced in the region. From there we will hunt in a special forest and finish with a spectacular outdoor dinner of mushrooms and local cuisine. |
Just one of the many mushroom vendors at the Tlaxiaco Mushroom Tent, weekend market. Craterellus tubaeformis and C. lutescens on offer; with a smattering of Ramaria sp., Hydnum sp., and Tricholoma sp. as well.
This itinerary is open to change, based on weather and timing of the various communities involved. At the very least, these are the activities we have planned through our awesome week!
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Sept 8th - Day 6: Foray to Atatlahuca! We will forage on top of the world, on Eagle mountain, and spedn time with some fo the hongueras in the city of Atatlahuca, where we will learn about their mycophilic ways, and see the incredible mushroom murals and letters that make this town so iconic.
Sept 8th - Day 7: Finally, we will foray on the grounds of our cabins, taking our time to explore the full forested area, noting the difference in fungi and what we find. Zack will cook up any mushrooms we have yet to taste, and Kim will demonstrate using mushrooms for dye in the afternoon. Our final dinner in Tlaxiaco. Sept 8th - Day 8: After a leisurely breakfast, we will return to Oaxaca City with some stops along the way for sightseeing and more ruins; after checking into our hotel, we will gather for our closing dinner and final night together to reflect on our experience over the week; Sept 8th - Day 9: You have your hotel room until checkout time (usually 11:00am or Noon); but you don't have to leave Oaxaca! We recommend at least a few nights on either end to explore the city on your own and get to know this incredible city at your own speed. |
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The vast mountainous area of mycophilic Mixteco communities is rich with the wisdom researchers call "Traditional Mushroom Knowledge (TMK)." Distinct from many mushroom-centric communities around Oaxaca and Southern Mexico, within Mixteco, there is documented use of more than 50 medicinal mushrooms, scores of endless edible finds, and even the "ludic" practice of enrolling children in nature-fascination using fungi for play.
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WHAT PAST MYCOMIDA ADVENTURES SAID:
"The trip was a perfect way to visit Oaxaca with great adventures and experiences... Every meal was delicious."
- Donna; Santa Cruz, CA 
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"Unlike most programs that focus on just one thing- I loved the collective cultural experiences we shared as a group and with the communities we stayed in."
- Tay, Los Angeles, CA 
"It was a really magical experience! It somehow met and exceeded my expectations."
- Peter; San Francisco, CA |
Our MycoMixteca 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 2024, they celebrated their 6th season of hosting mushroom adventures in Mexico, a journey that saw them move to Oaxaca in early 2022, and to dedicate their attention to this cradle of civilization hiding in plain sight; to tap into the both ancient and future wisdom of the people of the clouds and the people of the rain. Zachary and Kim will be your hosts for each and every tour in 2025! |
Itahi Belen Bautista
Zapotec Nature Guide
Belén Itahí Bautista--Ñaa Ñuu Sauu--from Ndoyocoyo, Atatlahuca in Oaxaca, descends from a family with a long tradition of gathering wild edible mushrooms. She founded Ruta de Hongos Mixteca and Ethnomycological Group of the Mixteca (GEM), a volunteer organization that has become a cornerstone in educating local producers and artisans through courses, workshops, and training sessions. She has been instrumental in organizing mushroom fairs in San Esteban Atatlahuca since 2016.
With the Intn'l Forum of Indigenous Women (FIMI) she was part in the Guardians of Ancestral Knowledge meeting in Panama; she has facilitated biocultural exchanges in Chile with the Mapuche and Mixteca Alta communities; and contributed to discussions on business, human rights, and environmental justice in Geneva, Switzerland. |
TBD
Mycologist / MycoInfluencer
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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 September 17th. |
