Guanajuato Mexico Tours (Off the Beaten Path)

Antonio Ojeda and his Daughter Susanah both have a smile that reels you in. Antonio, an ex-Mining Engineer (Guanajuato is a silver and gold mining mecca) knows every inch of the rural backcountry in and around Guanajuato, Mexico in his company named Cacomixtle Group. They offer tours of Guanajuato Mexico and the surrounding area. Both speak excellent English or Spanish and their vehicles were clean and well maintained. We visited terrific overlooks and beautiful little villages. I would have not seen this stuff without his help. Most tourists stay in town their whole trip. But that, I’ve learned is a mistake.

There are large wetlands for the observation of aquatic birds , such as the dams of the region : La Esperanza, La Soledad; Mata, La Purísima and others . As a cultural manifestation , Guanajuato as a famous national and international mining center has historic mining towns in the same mountain range like : La luz , El Monte de San Nicolas , El Cubo , Pere grina , Calderones , ect. Without exception , the [most] famous one [is] Veta Madre which gave life to big emporiums like : Valenciana , Cata , Mellado, Tepeyac , Sirena , etc, just to name a few , which will invite you to meditate about the greatness of our Mexico and why Guanajuato was named a “ World Heritage Zone “ Our Mexico nature tours coexist with the locals and their customs, discovering beautiful spots , abandoned towns and mines , animals , birds , vegetation and mineral.

While we took a 4-wheel variety of vehicle, the “fire roads” we traveled were incredible mountain biking routes and I found myself wishing I had my Cannondale with me. You’ll want to bring water but you can go from village to village and there will be food available at just about any of them in small storefronts - Antonio can also give you a map showing where you can find meals along the way. I’m told that September is the greenest time to go, but Antonio says that every season has good qualities.

If you choose the biking/hiking routes, as with any mountain outing, acclimate yourself to the altitude (9000-10000ft) before striking off on any major solo excursions. Some people need 2-3 days acclimation to avoid AMS (don’t worry, there’s plenty to do in the area for that long.) You’ll be using a lower gear than usual, but don’t beat yourself up…your body is working with 30% less oxygen than it’s used to. I took Acetazolamide (1000mg per day) to reduce the effects and speed acclimation. I advise taking it starting 3-4 days before your trip into the mountains if you’re prone to altitude related ailments. Of course check with your doctor, but Acetazolamide was available over-the-counter in Mexico. Just get it your first day if you plan to buy it down there.

Antonio will customize your Mexican “eco-tour” any way you like. His website has a few English errors, but shows his specialties as

Birding , flora and fauna, hiking , excursions , camping , Ethnography and mountain biking . It is dedicated to travelers from all age groups with intelligence , sensibility and responsibility . Come to a beautiful chance to learn , rest , have fun and develop personally .

I recommend that you get off the beaten path in Mexico, and Antonio’s Guanajuato tour company is a solid choice.

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