房源位置

(Read on for details about birding, below.)
Eco-tourism: In the hills above the village, visible from the house, is the community-managed eco-preserve. At La Mesita you will find hikes, guided tours, a butterfly garden, ecological demonstration stations, and art by local artisans -- and beautiful vistas from the valley overlooks.
Local activities, outings, and amenities: Two blocks uphill from our house is the Santa Cruz municipal plaza, where the produce market (with cheese, chocolate, and other goods) sets up twice a week. A 20-minute walk down the hill will bring you to the town center of neighboring San Pablo Etla (plaza, church, school, library, corner stores) and to the delicious homemade food of the Mercadito, open seven days a week. (Note: in a village in the foothills, everything is either up- or downhill -- there is very little flat walking!) Driving, we are 20 minutes from the ruins of Monte Albán, 35 minutes from the Oaxaca City center, and 15 minutes from the cultured pueblo of San Agustín, with its beautiful Centro de Artes and public swimming pools.
Birder’s paradise: The mountain chains of two continents converge in the Oaxaca Valley funneling migrating birds through a relatively narrow area, making this central valley a birder’s paradise. On an average day you can spot 20-25 bird species from our front porch, with as many as 40 spotted in one short neighborhood stroll. During the Christmas bird count we have logged 90 species in a day.
The neighborhood encompasses a variety of habitats. The village is still quite rural, with many fields and farm plots; in a ten-minute walk from the house you might see vermilion flycatchers, groove-billed anis, orioles, and even elegant euphonias. Kiskadees, hummers, dusky flycatchers, and the endemic collared towhee abound. A slightly longer walk will take you to one of the local reservoirs to see water birds (herons, dabblers, egrets, sometimes kingfishers, and more). Hike or drive up into the oaks and pines of the mountains to hunt for redstarts, warblers, and more (including a chance to spot the bumblebee hummingbird, if you drive up high!).
You will find information about local bird guides in the Casa Welcome Book. Most years there are monthly opportunities to participate in bird banding, a citizen science initiative led by experts, at the Ethnobotanical Garden in the city.
We have plenty of hummingbird visitors, and we encourage you to keep the hummer feeders filled!
Ambience: Small town life is both tranquil and active. Nights can be clear and starry; or they may be slightly hazed with smoke from agricultural burn piles, turning the sunsets a gilded fuschia. Sunny afternoons you may hear nothing but the hum of the carpenter bees in the rafters and distant burros braying. Other times you’ll enjoy a full symphony of background sounds: roosters; truck gears grinding; vehicles honking to announce the passing of the tortilla seller or the knife sharpener; fireworks; the playing of music, both live and recorded; dogs sharing opinions; and all the sounds of nearby farm life. Be prepared for intermittent noise! It’s a sensory tapestry. We love it and we hope you will too.

Renting a car, hiring a driver, or taking a taxi are probably the most convenient ways to get around, and our house manager or we can provide recommendations. Sometimes our manager himself is available as a driver. (A taxi downtown is around 300 pesos, as of summer 2022.) Within the village everyone takes moto-taxis. It is also entirely feasible and a fun adventure to use public transportation to visit the city or outlying areas. To get from the village to the city, typically you take a moto-taxi down to the highway and then catch a colectivo (shared taxi) into town. We will be happy to provide details.