Medicine Plant Walk

Medicine Plant Walk in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca

High in the mountains of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, we walk through pine forests, meadows, and ancient landscapes where healing knowledge is still deeply rooted in the relationship between people and the land.

Our guide is Ester — a local healer from the community of Cuajimoloyas and also our goddaughter, a connection that reflects the long relationships and trust that have grown over many years of walking this land together. Through her eyes, the mountains become a living pharmacy and a place of remembrance.

As we hike, Ester introduces us to medicinal plants of the region, sharing their traditional uses, stories, and the way they are harvested and worked with in everyday life. This is not a botanical lesson, but an invitation into another way of relating — one based on listening, respect, reciprocity, and presence.

And one of our personal highlights of the day awaits us afterward: a fresh meal prepared by Marta Contreras, a traditional cook of the community. Her food is seasonal, rooted in local ingredients, and prepared with the same care and wisdom that guide the healing traditions of the Sierra. Around her table, nourishment becomes part of the experience — because here, food is also medicine.

The Medicine Plant Walk offers a chance to experience the Sierra not only through its beauty, but through the wisdom carried in its plants, its kitchens, and the people who continue to keep these traditions alive.

Medicine Plant Walk