Santa Catarina Juquila

An hour and a half from Puerto Escondido, in the direction towards the city of Oaxaca , along Route 131, you will find the town of Juquila . It is a special and sacred place for the people of Oaxaca , where the Virgin of Juquila once appeared. The main festival of the year, honoring the Virgin of Juquila, takes place on December 8 th , when large numbers of pilgrims come from all over Mexico to pay homage. Another important place, 7 kilometers from Juquila, is the Pedimento (shrine) where there is a cross. The pilgrims come here and pray for what they desire.

Besides the religious importance, there are also many festivities. At the dances, the bands play fandangos, chilenas, and regional music. At the fiestas you will find regional sweets, enchiladas, hot chocolate along with a special egg bread, mole, and natural fruit drinks.

The sale of religious articles is one of the main activities in this region. The artisans carve wood figures, and make articles out of reed and gourds. They also weave objects and figures out of palm leaves.