El Árbol del Tule (The World's Largest Tree) - Mexico
Rewritten: November 27 2023 | Tagged: MexicoMexico
After backpacking the archaeological sites of Monte Alban and Mitla, I went to the small town of Tule and backpacked the world's largest tree, El Árbol del Tule.
I went to Tule and backpacked the world's largest tree during the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing full well that I would not be able to get anywhere near it.
Tule is 10km from Oaxaca. I decided to walk there. I needed an excuse to get some exercise, not to rid my self of excess weight from drinking beer but I needed a darn good stretch.
The #NewNormal means a slower pace of life and lots of downtime. I have had bad posture for too many years. My pelvis gets twisted and my back goes into spasm and stagnating in a hammock in Zipolite, did little to help.
I wanted to walk. I wanted to warm my body up and stretch my hip and back out.
There is a convenient cycle path which runs between the 2 lanes of the dual carriageway which runs parallel to the quieter highway.
Tule is 10km from Oaxaca. I decided to walk there. I needed an excuse to get some exercise, not to rid my self of excess weight from drinking beer but I needed a darn good stretch.
The #NewNormal means a slower pace of life and lots of downtime. I have had bad posture for too many years. My pelvis gets twisted and my back goes into spasm and stagnating in a hammock in Zipolite, did little to help.
I wanted to walk. I wanted to warm my body up and stretch my hip and back out.
There is a convenient cycle path which runs between the 2 lanes of the dual carriageway which runs parallel to the quieter highway.
Turning right out of the door of the Andaina Hostel then left on Calle Las Cases and keep walking east for 2 hours.
So I arrive at the cute town of Tule, full name, Santa María del Tule:
Where is the Arbol del Tule, the world's largest tree?
The Arbol del Tule is in the middle of the Explanada Municipal, which is sadly taped off in the town of Santa Maria del Tule, in the State of Oaxaca:
But you can see the "Letras Turisticas":
And the Palacio Municipal aka the town hall:
And behind the town hall is the tree, viewing restricted beyond anything I have seen:
So you are not allowed to stand in the fresh air and gawp at the world's largest tree but you can sit, in the admittedly, almost empty local market and enjoy a Tlayudu with queso and chorizo washed down with a bottle of Corona:
So some facts about the tree, which is a Montezuma cypress and has been classified as the world's largest tree, ie the stoutest tree or the tree with the largest girth. This was measured at 42m but it is heavily buttressed, and ignoring that, it is still the tree with largest diameter: 9.38m.
How to get from Oaxaca to Tule:
I walked the 10km in 2 hours. Coming back, I took a local bus. 8 Pesos. There are also 'taxi colectivos' which cost 12 Pesos, as informed by the ladies in the local market. The bus terminates in Centro, on the Periférico, near the Zadapi Hotel, which is not far from the Andaina Hostel.
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