MEXICO’S CACTI BIOSPHERE

In Southern Mexico, the States of Oaxaca & Puebla share 490,000 Hectares (Aprox 1,200,000 Acres) known as the Cuicatlan – Zapotitlan Cacti Biosphere.  

This Biosphere has 78 species of reptiles, 336 species of birds, 26 species of amphibians, 36 species of bats, 131 species of mammals & over 3,100 species of plants distributed over Zapotec, Mixtec, Nahua & Popoloca Indian territories.  

There are over 1,600 medicinal & nutritional plants that locals prepare into many health products that are sold in health & nutritional stores in presentations of shampoo’s, cremes, pills, soaps…etc.  There are various areas to visit in this vast area as well as a National Park named after professor Helia Bravo Hollis who was the first Mexican Biologist and identified multiple species of cacti & other plants…better known to us all in our national university as the cactus woman!  

We do a long full day tour from Oaxaca City to explore several off the road special areas as well as overnight tours to see more of that amazing & beautiful region. You will be able to see spectacular and gigantic species of cacti such as Candelabras (Pachicereus Weberi), Sotolines (Beaucarnea Grasilis), Columnar Cacti (Cefalocereous Columna Trajani)…etc…etc 

In 2018 UNESCO named the Biosphere World Heritage due to its unique biodiversity & ecosystems.  

If you like botany, hiking and nature, this is a great place to visit. Hope to see you soon! 

“Mexico’s Cacti Biosphere” by Florencio Moreno.