ADVC El Gavilan

I visited this location with a group of college students for a conservation and service trip. The guides that took us through the mountains of El Gavilan were amazing people who harbor so much knowledge of the areas flora and fauna. The trip included a ride from the town at the base of the mountain to the area where the hike was to be completed. We rode up in the back of a truck since not all vehicles can make the journey up. The students were excited about this part of the journey and added so much excitement to the trip. We stopped at a high point in the mountain to take a 30 minute hike through the jungle where we helped to dismount trail cameras to later monitor the local wildlife. Along the way, the guides provided helpful insight into how the area came to be protected land, how different plants can be used for medicine, how the wildlife interacts with the plants and ways for the preservation of this land can continue. Our trip even included locally made tamales for lunch, which were delicious! The guides also took us to an area where there are several mandarin trees and picked some fresh for us to snack on. Hiking through the jungle was an experience unlike any other, the views were amazing and you can spot indigenous communities living higher up in the mountains. It was an educational and impactful part of our trip that I will never forget. Make the time on your trip to experience it!

5/5

Of all the places I have visited on the coast of Oaxaca, this is unique. A mix between traditional medicine taken directly from the earth, with the great wisdom of those who were born and raised among jaguars, with views of the Sea from the top of the slopes and then getting into endless different shades of green and fresh smells . There are 1130 hectares protected by 70 owners. Cataloged as ADVC (Area Destined Voluntarily for Conservation), El Gavilán officially becomes a protected, monitored area. and studied by its owners. Thanks to your visit, they make this great work of restoration and protection possible 🐆🌱. They took us in a van from San Francisco Cozoaltepec, and, after a half hour of walking, the ecosystem changes. You can go on walks through different places, we accompanied them to clear a stream so that the wildlife could drink and to place some photo-trapping cameras to monitor the wildlife. Camping is possible and it is an ideal place for early bird watching. AWESOME🏞️

5/5