Geographic Location

 México- Located at the southern end of North America, Mexico is a country famous for its natural beauty and rich cultural diversity. Over the centuries many different cultures have flourished here and they left us with an impressive legacy that, today, we can enjoy in the archeological sites throughout our country.    

 Estado de Oaxaca- This is the fifth largest state in Mexico.  It is in the southwest part of the country, with the states of Puebla and Veracruz to the north and Chiapas to the east.  The southern part of the state is bounded by the Pacific Ocean and to the west is the state of Guerrero.  The area totals 95,364 km2 (36,820 square miles) and is 488 km (303 miles) from Mexico City (6 hours via the highway or a 45 minute plane flight) and is 626 km (389 miles) from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas (9 hours via the highway or a one hour plane flight).  Two chains of mountains cross the state.  One of these faces the Pacific Ocean and the other runs along the Atlantic.  Between these two mountain ranges is a high plain know as the Central Valleys.  The altitude of 1600 meters (5200 feet) creates a temperate climate and this combined with the mountainous landscape creates a unique environment.  The colors at sundown are dazzlingly beautiful and the light shining on the folds in the mountains causes an effect that borders on the sublime.  The skies in the Valleys are clear and blue the majority of the year. At this altitude it seems possible to touch the firmament.  The stars at night have the freedom to shine without having to compete with the lights of the city. Oaxaca is known as the city of eternal spring.  With an average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) the climate is favored with a perfect combination of tropical latitude and altitude.         

The 8 Regions of Oaxaca – The great diversity of the state of Oaxaca has been divided into eight regions due to the diversity of its physical geography and variety of cultural traditions.

Central Valleys – This is the name of the region where Oaxaca and ecological agro-center, Tierra del Sol, are located.  It is characterized by being a wide high plateau about 1600 meters (5200 feet) above sea level.  It is surrounded by mountains that reach 3000 meters (9800 feet) .The valleys, thanks to the mild climate and fertile soil, have been inhabited continuously for approximately 10,000 years.   

City of Oaxaca of Juárez -This is the capital of the state of Oaxaca. It is fondly called the Green Antequera (referring to a city in Spain).  It has about 600,000 residents and is a lively center of regional culture.  There are movie theaters, cafés, museums, festivals with enough events to fill the calendar throughout the year.  It is an exceptionally beautiful colonial town and it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Tlacochahuaya – Located 20 kilometers (12 miles) outside the city of Oaxaca, or 15 minutes on MEX Highway 190, is the town of Tlacochahuaya.  In the language of the Aztecs, náhuatl, Tlacochahuaya means ‘wet place’.  Founded in the year 1100 the town has remained to this day with fields of alfalfa and corn framed by the beautiful mountains of the valley.

Tierra del Sol-  Tierra del Sol is located 3 km (1 mile) to the east of Tlacochahuaya, in a place known as  Languech, less than 2 kms from the archeological  site of Dainzú.  Since 2001, we have worked here to create a place for sustainable living.  Geographers classify this region as one that has a semi-arid with annual precipitation between 600 and 800 mm (24 to 31 inches).