Join us for MyComida: Rupestre in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca.
Absolutely fantastic trip! With breathtaking sceneries—every view felt like a postcard. The accommodations were comfortable and well-located, making it easy to explore the area. We had the chance to try some local cuisine that brought the culture to life." |
2022 Cuajimoloyas Mini-Mycofest
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Key Trip DetailsLength: 8 nights
Average Foray Distance: 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. Cost: $3100.00 |
Boletus edulis in the field. This time of year is the season for porcinis!
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Take the deepest dive into the regional cuisine and lifestyle of the Sierra Norte Mountains that you can. You will be foraging and enjoying mushroom cooking with our Zapotec partners in Cuajimoloyas; learn how barbacoa is made overnight from start to finish & participate in the making of Pan de Horno with locally grown, donkey-threshed and stone-ground wheat that the villagers bake into delicious empanadas in massive wood-fired mud ovens with our hosts in El Carrizal; join a personal tour of the 12,000 year old caves of Mitla where the earliest evidence of corn and pumpkin cultivation was found; and, of course, dine at some of the best restaurants in Oaxaca City! This full-contact adventure is an exploration of Oaxacan cuisine from village to city, from prehistoric to modern fine-dining. See our day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
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Watch our 2025 INFO CALL with Chef Chad Hyatt...
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Day-by-Day Itinerary
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July 15th --Day 1: Dinner together in Oaxaca city at one of the many celebrated restaurants.
July 16th --Day 2: Visit 2500 year old Monté Albán; ascend to 10,000ft for a birds eye view of the Central valleys and our first night in the mountains in Cuajimoloyas July 17th --Day 3: First Foray, destination hike between Cuajimoloyas and Llano Grande, 10km. Lunch at a trout farm; Settle into Llano Grande Cabañas! July 18th--Day 4: Second Foray: Hike around Llano Grande and collect edible mushrooms; Stay in Lllan Grande Cabanas for a 2nd night. July 19th--Day 5: Hike from Llano Grande to El Carrizal Foray; Lunch upon our arrival in El Carrizal; settle in our Cabañas; Settle in to our final location in the mountains. Eat with our host family. |
A haul of porcini (Boletus reticulatus group).
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July 20th--Day 6: Gorgeous hike (pun intended) to a swimming hole (your choice, of course), mushroom hunt, outstanding geology aCooking mushrooms together until dinner with Host Family; option to help prepare the 24-hour traditional barbacoa.*
July 21st--Day 7: Second El Carrizal Foray with la Honguera Reina; Lunch in the field; optional waterfall hike; Cooking our edibles and a MicroMycoFest with Community; barbacoa goodbye dinner. July 22nd --Day 8: Visit the 12,000 year old Mitla Cave site, where corn and pumpkin seed progenitors were found. head back to Oaxaca City Final group dinner at a Special Restaurant, to seal the incredible experience we’ve had together with unparalleled food. Return to hotel (final covered night). |
July 23rd--Day 9: Check out of Hotel. Adventure is officially over!
Events on the itinerary are approximate and based on the availability of our partners or the weather. Some of these events may switch days, or be traded for other similar or even better experiences based on things like where the mushrooms are coming up!
Events on the itinerary are approximate and based on the availability of our partners or the weather. Some of these events may switch days, or be traded for other similar or even better experiences based on things like where the mushrooms are coming up!
The table display for El Carrizal's micro mico fest, the culmination of our rupestre experience!
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The Guelaguetza (Zapoteco: "To give and to get") showcases the eight regions and indigenous groups of Oaxaca through dance, traditional dress, and food!
In 2026, the Guelaguetza festival officially runs from Monday, July 20th to Monday July 27th! This event encompasses specific festivals as well: molé, chocolate, coffee, artisans, mezcal, with constant parades, parties, fireworks, dancing, costumes and city-wide decorations. We highly recommend joining the festivities after our trip... the context you will have for the state of Oaxaca and our adventure will be outstanding! |
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WHAT PAST MYCOMIDA ADVENTURERS SAID
Reina, El Carrizal's honguera, with Amanita basii, a favorite edible here.
"Expert local knowledge, confident backwoods hiking, and commitment to sustainability and the importance of mycology for mult-disciplinary learning (and progressive social change): all this adds up to a deeply fulfilling way to experience Oaxacan/Zaptec culture and natural history. A rare opportunity not to be missed!" - Jonathan, Boston, MA, 2025 attendee
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"First, the trip exceeded my expectations. I was blown away by being able to really interact with the villagers and learn the local culture."
- Chad; Bay Area, California, 2025 attendee "Everything I hoped for and more! A taste of authenticity and humanity."
- Lara; Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2023 attendee 
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"One of the best trips I have been on."
- Adam; Jacksonville, Florida, 2023 attendee
- Adam; Jacksonville, Florida, 2023 attendee
This is not the adventure for everyone. Some of our days of trekking really put us all to the test. And that's why it is so amazing! The dramatic hikes through the Sierra Norte will take your breath away--in both their beauty and their altitude. This is an adventure for the hikers!
UPDATE WITH 2026 - 2025 was such an indescribably awesome time, that we are increasing our capacity for this epic adventure. To tell the truth, we had so much fun during this week that we are bringing it back for a fourth season with the same amazing crew, including the venerable Chef Chad Hyatt and his wonderful wife Rosa, too!
We also welcome back our renowned and awesome trekking guide Celestino Mendez, our fearless leader and facilitator from Walk with Celestino. Celestino is local to the Sierra Norte, and works with various institutions to explore and canvas the natural abundance of species in Oaxaca and elsewhere.
ALL of our adventures are unique, special, and filled with the life and magic found in abundance in Mexico, but this one hold a very dear place in our heart for their raw hiking and trekking through the wilds of the Sierra Norte. With only 12 spots total, we expect it to continue to fill up quickly! We will process applications as we receive them, so don't hesitate to get yours in ASAP!
UPDATE WITH 2026 - 2025 was such an indescribably awesome time, that we are increasing our capacity for this epic adventure. To tell the truth, we had so much fun during this week that we are bringing it back for a fourth season with the same amazing crew, including the venerable Chef Chad Hyatt and his wonderful wife Rosa, too!
We also welcome back our renowned and awesome trekking guide Celestino Mendez, our fearless leader and facilitator from Walk with Celestino. Celestino is local to the Sierra Norte, and works with various institutions to explore and canvas the natural abundance of species in Oaxaca and elsewhere.
ALL of our adventures are unique, special, and filled with the life and magic found in abundance in Mexico, but this one hold a very dear place in our heart for their raw hiking and trekking through the wilds of the Sierra Norte. With only 12 spots total, we expect it to continue to fill up quickly! We will process applications as we receive them, so don't hesitate to get yours in ASAP!
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Our Rupestre Team
Zachary &
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Chad Hyatt
Mushroom Chef
Chad Hyatt has made a name for himself in Northern California and beyond by sharing his delicious spin on wild mushroom cookery at public and private events. Both an expert forager and classically trained chef, he has cooked in a variety of restaurants and private clubs around the San Francisco Bay area, where he can often be found putting on wild mushroom themed dinners and teaching mushroom related classes.
He still has a reputation for eating all of the weird mushrooms, though these days people often pay to share the experience. He was so enthusiastic about 2026 after last year, that we couldn't NOT have him back! You can find Chad's work on his website The Mushroom Hunters Kitchen. |
Celestino Mendez
Guide & Orchid Expert
Celestino Mendez is a local Zapotec member of the Mancomunados of the Sierra Nortes, 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 Sierra Norte tours since 2021. He is passionate about orchids, and has a deep knowledge of the forests & ecological diversity in the Sierra Norte. In 2025, Celestino embarked on an ambitious project of mapping the biodiversity of the entire Mancomunados, and was elected by his community as manager of the Flora, Fauna, and Funga project of the nine community collective. Celestino will be with us for all of our Sierra Norte adventures in 2026: Wild Orchids, MyComida: Rupestre, and NAMA_MX26. |
How to join, the cost and what's covered:
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What is Covered on Trip
The cost for this trip, before applicable discounts is $3100.00. Double occupancy is assumed for our available accommodations. If you are traveling with someone, be sure to let us know if you need ONE bed or TWO beds. 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). Once you sign up, we have detailed information for all logistics. 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 this trip is canceled completely for any reason, you will get your payment back, minus unrecoverable credit card processing fees. |
Payment Policy, Non-Refundable Deposit and Refund Schedule
Payments for the trip shall be made in full, and includes the NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT (NRD) of 20% which helps us secure accommodations, reserve transportation, book restaurants, and secure the tour. Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule, minus Stripe processing fees (~3%):
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How to Join
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, payment 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 already this year. 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 arrange for someone else to take your place. Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send info@thefungivore.com an email to explore this option. |
YOUR FLIGHT TO & FROM OAXACA is not included. Please make travel arrangements to be able to join us in Oaxaca for dinner on July 15th!
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