My name is Eric Ramirez, and Oaxaca is home.

I grew up here, surrounded by my grandparents, my family, and the landscapes that have always been part of my life.

My parents migrated to the United States, and growing up between different worlds gave me a different perspective on Oaxaca and on what it means to leave home and come back.

When I returned, I began to see Oaxaca differently.

I saw incredible mountains, villages, traditions, food, agriculture, and communities — but I also saw how much of the tourism economy was concentrated outside the communities themselves.

I began to ask a simple question:

What if tourism could create better opportunities for the people who live here?

That question became Zapotrek.

We started with hiking and cycling, but the idea has always been bigger than tours.

We want to build relationships with Indigenous communities in the Tlacolula Valley and surrounding mountains and create experiences where travelers can discover Oaxaca while contributing to the people and places they visit.

We are still learning, growing, and building.

But our direction is clear:

Tourism should not simply pass through a community. It should have a reason to be there, and the community should have a voice in how it develops.

— Eric Ramirez
Founder, Zapotrek Hike & Bike