One of the oldest eco-tourism outfits in Oaxaca, Bicicletas Pedro Martinez gives hiking and biking tours of nearby natural attractions. Day-long hiking tours march through ancient trails of the Sierra Juarez mountains, while bike tours may last between a half day and four days. The four-day-long adventures take cyclists to the coast as far as Puerto Escondido. Legend has it that one of the company’s managers and guides was one of Mexico’s most accomplished athletes in the 1980s, a master cyclist and triathlon champion.
Wedged between stark elemental features – blue skies and an ochre, parched terra – Monte Albán sits on a flattened promontory, exemplifying nearly 1500 years of pre-Columbian civilization. Monte Albán rises 400 meters (1300 feet) above the valley floor of Oaxaca, and a wave of history, dominated by the cultures of Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs sweeps through its pyramidal structures. Shrines, palaces, terraced platforms, tombs and mounds are scattered across this significant archaeological site, each pointing to Monte Albán's central role in Mesoamerican civilization. At the core of this complex is the Main Plaza, a monumental structure that is dominated by a series of stairs that amble up its southern platform, while small temples, residences and ballcourts are strewn across its surroundings. Several stone structures indicate that morbid sacrificial activities and ceremonies were conducted here. One of the earliest examples of these structures are the Danzantes, a set of figures that harken to the Olmec culture. A few important stone etchings and carvings found on the site have been encased within an on-site museum.
When the weather becomes a bit too hot, many Oaxacan families and their children head to Balneario Las Brisas, a water park just north of the main city. The facilities include a junior Olympic pool, a smaller family pool, and several covered wading pools with ornamental bridges and trees. Children tend to go right for the water slides and waterfalls. Meadows, palm trees, and covered seating are great for adults looking to relax. Poolside ponies have been spotted from time to time playing with children.