3 parks and reserves · within 60 km
There are 3 parks and reserves within 60 km of Oaxaca in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Parque Nacional Benito Juárez, 6 km away; the farthest, Hierve el Agua, is 52 km. They are listed under the Pueblos Mágicos of Capulálpam de Méndez and Mitla, which make good bases.
Parks and reserves are best on weekdays and early in the day. Bring water, and check the opening hours, since some close one day a week.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
The Nature Parks 3
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Parque Nacional Benito Juárez · Nature reserve · 6 km from Oaxaca · Oaxaca
A national park of pine-oak forest on the hills just north of Oaxaca city, with marked trails, birdwatching, zip lines and views over the valley. -
Pueblos Mancomunados · Nature reserve · 30 km from Oaxaca · Near Capulálpam de Méndez
Eight Zapotec villages that run their pine and cloud forests together, linked by guided trails, with cabins, viewpoints and trout. -
Hierve el Agua · Nature reserve · 52 km from Oaxaca · Near Mitla
Mineral springs that have built white rock "waterfalls" down a cliff, with pools to swim in and huge views of the sierra.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More around Oaxaca
Nature Parks elsewhere
Names and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.