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Circuits à vélo à petit budget au Mexique
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Pilgrimage in Oaxaca 2011
Saison 2011–2012 · tous les circuits de cette saison-là
Les documents préservés sur cette page — descriptions d'itinéraires, programmes jour par jour, légendes de photos, dépêches et avis de cyclistes — sont reproduits tels qu'ils ont été rédigés à l'origine : en anglais.
Ce circuit extrêmement populaire, d'une difficulté sportive à l'extrême, dans l'État d'Oaxaca, commence et se termine dans la ville d'Oaxaca. La route vers la côte nous fera passer par Juquila, haut lieu de pèlerinage mexicain. On y vient de tout le Mexique à pied, à vélo et en véhicule motorisé. Après un bref séjour côtier dans la station de surf de Pto. Escondido, nous repartons vers les collines et les montagnes pour boucler la boucle jusqu'à Oaxaca. Les paysages de montagne y sont absolument spectaculaires. La région est riche en cultures indigènes, principalement mixtèque, triqui et amuzgo. Nous terminons le parcours le long d'une ancienne route commerçante qui serpente au sommet d'une haute crête.
Note d’archive : Dernière édition de Pilgrimage in Oaxaca en tant que circuit de décembre.
| Dates: | Tues Dec 6, 2011 to Tues Dec 20, 2011 (2 weeks - 10 cycling days) |
| Distances: | Average/day: 84km Maximum/day: 117km Total Approx: 838km Total Climb: 14000m+ |
| Type de parcours: | Extreme CHALLENGEChallenge DifficultyYou need to have excellent fitness and good cycling experience. Distances generally average about 70 - 110 km per day (depending on hills), and are always less than 150 km. Roads range from flat to Sierra Madre (mountainous!). We may climb up to 3000 metres in a day.WeatherThe Weather: MountainsLate fall and winter in the Mexican mountains is dry and cool. The sun warms things up during the daytime, but expect freezing temperatures overnight. High volcanoes can be snowcapped around this time.Spring is warmer, and in the summer it will often rain in the afternoon. RoadThe Road: MountainsThe road is generally in excellent condition. There are some sections of dirt road, and rough pavement. In the mountainous areas, the road rarely flattens out and occasionally climbs at more than a 10% grade, however in the high plateaus the road can be fairly flat to rolling. Traffic is generally light to non-existent, except of course close to larger towns and cities. The surface is generally wide and the drivers are courteous.LandThe Land: MountainsAltitudes generally range between 1500 and 2500m, however on some tours we may climb up over 4000m. The high volcanoes are snow-capped in the winter. The mountain vegetation varies greatly from humid cloud forests to cool dry pine forests or dry desert shrub. |
| Temps forts: | High mountains and deep valleys make for some outstanding scenery and challenging riding. There are Zapotec ruins as well as indigenous Zapotec, Mixtec and Triqui people and settlements. The roads here are very quiet, most with very little traffic. We will make the famous pilgrimage to Santa Catarina Juquila, then head down to the famous surfer town of Puerto Escondido on the coast. There are more challenging climbs ahead, as well as colonial towns, little Paris, the biggest Dominican church in all of Mexico and a spectacular almost 50km long stretch of road along an ancient trading route that meanders atop a high ridge offering views on both sides. |
| Prix: | US$1,315 (le coût terrestre total approximatif publié cette année-là) |
| Participants: | 3 cyclistes (d’après la base clients de la compagnie) |
Le parcours
Itinéraire
Cliquez sur n’importe quel jour pour la description complète. Les itinéraires ont toujours été sujets à de légères modifications.
QuandOùDistanceTemps forts
Day 0 — Tues Dec 6, 2011Meet in Oaxaca city-
Mountain colonial city. Markets, museums, shady plazas, nearby Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban. [more]
We meet in the capital of Oaxaca state, Oaxaca city, commonly known as just Oaxaca. At about 1500m elevation, It'ss fairly cool and dry. The center is colonial with straight narrow cobbled streets, stone buidlings and many pedestrial walkways. This is the perfect place to sample some of Oaxaca's famous culinary delights, including several varieties of mole, hot chocolate (did you know that chocolate originated in Mexico?), quesillo (Oaxacan stringy cheese, much like good mozzarella), tlayudas, chapulines (grasshoppers!) and much, much more. There are many interesting markets, pleasant shaded plazas, restaurants and cafes, museums, galleries and churches. The nearby Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban are a must. Besides the archeological wonders, they offer a stupendous view of the surrounding countryside and mountains.Day 1 — Wed Dec 7, 2011Transfer to Zimatlan and cycle to Sola de Vega66km
Big market. Starts flat, end in the mountains [more]
This is the pilgrimage route for many people. We will very likely come across many pilgrims walking and cycling towards the town of Juquila just like us. We will be transferred by car or van to Zimatlan, check out the big weekly market, have breakfast, and then get on our bikes and ride! The day starts out quite flat, the flat becomes rolling and the rolling becomes mountainous. We go over our first mountain pass before dropping down to Sola de Vega.Day 2 — Thurs Dec 8, 2011Sola de Vega to Juchatengo51km
Morning market, challenging climb, spectacular descent, in the thick of the pilgrimage [more]
We're just starting off, so we'll keep the distances in the mountains short. Today is our first challenging pass as we climb up from about 1400m to 2200m. The view opens up to a wonderous collage of mountains and valleys and we start on a beautiful 34km descent down to 900m elevation and the cute little town of San pedro Juchatengo.Day 3 — Fri Dec 9, 2011Juchatengo to Juquila53km
Amazing views, challenging climbing, pilgrimage destination [more]
Well, in the mountains, what goes down, must come up again... We climb our way out of this warm valley back up into the pine clad mountains to about 1800m. The sideroad to Juquila rolls along before dropping at an impossible grade. Santa Catarina Juquila is know all over Mexico as one of the many famous pilgrimage sites. People come to Juquila from far away, and once you're here you'll realize what a feat that really is. They come with prayers and a promise that they will keep coming every year for a certain number of years. In exchange the virgin of Juquila is to grant them a miracle; perhaps their sick relative will get well again. In the church there are no pews because some of the pilgrims will get down on hands and knees to crawl the remaining distance into the church and up to the tiny statue of the Virgin.Day 4 — Sat Dec 10, 2011Juquila to Puerto Escondido117km
Up, and dooooooowwwwwwwwwwnnn... the Pacific ocean [more]
We finally make it to the ocean and are welcomed by Puerto Escondido after a long hard day of cycling. This small sea-side resort offers miles and miles of great beaches, body surfing and of course boogie-boarding and proper surfing if you're up for it. The nightlife is exciting yet intimate mixing an international surfer and backpacker croud with Mexican tourists.Day 5 — Sun Dec 11, 2011Puerto Escondido-
Rest Day. Small Resort Town. Surfer Beach, Mexican Resort Beach, Seafood, Nightlife. [more]
Take a well deserved rest in this small sea-side resort offers miles and miles of great beaches, body surfing and of course boogie-boarding and proper surfing if you're up for it. The nightlife is exciting yet intimate mixing an international surfer and backpacker croud with Mexican tourists.Day 6 — Mon Dec 12, 2011Puerto Escondido-
A second rest day. You've rested, now check out the local attractions [more]
Things you might like to do today include surfing or surfing lessons, scuba diving, exploring nearby sheltered beaches such as Bahía Puerto Angelito or Playa Carrizalillo, exploring the splendid market, deep sea fishing or turtle and dolphin spotting. You can also take a bird watching tour to the Laguna Manialtepec or the Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua.Day 7 — Tues Dec 13, 2011Puerto Escondido to Santiago Jamiltepec110km
Beautiful foothills and distant mountains. Colonial mountain town. [more]
Today we meander up along the coast with the occasional view of the ocean, then veer inland a little behind a massive series of lagoons. Finally we make a decisive turn inland over gently rolling land and a final challenging climb delivers us to Santiago Jamiltepec.Day 8 — Wed Dec 14, 2011Santiago Jamiltepec to Cacahuatepec80km
gentle climbs, Pinotepa market, foothills [more]
We head more towards the mountains today, but the real climbing doesn't start again yet. We'll still be in the foothills with gentle climbs meandering around and between hills. In the middle of the ride, we will check out the large weekly Pinotepa Nacional market.Day 9 — Thurs Dec 15, 2011Cacahuatepec to Putla87km
more climbing, small towns, gentle mountains [more]
Further inland we go. Putla while still not too high at 810m is definately in the mountains now and at the base of our biggest climb, coming tomorrow. If we arrive in Putla early enough you will also have a chance to take in the great market here.Day 10 — Fri Dec 16, 2011Putla to Tlaxiaco88km
serious climbing, breath-taking views, little Paris [more]
We have a 50km climb from 810m up to 2500m, the highest point on this tour. This is a big one and it delivers us into indigenous Triqui country. After the big climb we still have a series of shorter climbs and descents that eventually deliver us down to Tlaxiaco at 2050m.Day 11 — Sat Dec 17, 2011Tlaxiaco-
Rest day. Little Paris. Huge weekly market [more]
After yesterday's climb, we'll need a good rest! Tlaxiaco is a beautiful little colonial town known as little Paris. Around the 1850's Europeans would frequently travel through and to Tlaxiaco, a theater was erected in French architectural style, the town's wealthy began to dress in French fashions and pretty soon the town became known as little Paris. Little remains of this trend now, but the name has stuck. Our rest day is planned to coincide with the huge weekly market here, it is well worth exploring as the indigenous people from all around come to town today to sell their produce and wares.Day 12 — Sun Dec 18, 2011Tlaxiaco to Nochixtlan83km
small towns, rolling countryside, huge church [more]
Today will take us through some rolling countryside reminiscent of Castille in Spain, then up into bigger climbs and down to Yanhuitlan. In Yanhuitlan is the largest Dominican church in all of Mexico. It was started in 1548 during a time of terrible disease. Between the years 1520 and 1620, the population of this area of the Mixcteca Alta dropped from 350,000 to 35,00. Now the church stands as an almost abandoned monument to the labour of many of those people. Years of neglect have caused severe damage and errosion and today they are trying to slowly preserve and rebuild. If we arrive early enough in Nochixtlan, you can check out the end of the big weekly market.Day 13 — Mon Dec 19, 2011Nochixtlan to Oaxaca city103km
Hard day, 50km along a high ridge, great views on both sides [more]
We end this tour with a kick. There's nothing easy about today's ride, while we will end up at lower elevation than where we started, there is still plenty of climbing in between. The main big climb takes us up to a high ridge, and ancient trading route. The road meanders for almost 50km along this ridge, rising and dropping but always coming back to ride the top of the ridge. There are spectacular views of the mountains and valleys on boths sides. Finally we are treated to a 20km long descent and the final section, now in the central valleys of Oaxaca is much flatter.Day 14 — Tues Dec 20, 2011Oaxaca city-
Stay a bit longer or fly back home [more]
The capital of Oaxaca state, Oaxaca city, is commonly known as just Oaxaca. At about 1500m elevation, It's fairly cool and dry. The center is colonial with straight narrow cobbled streets, stone buidlings and many pedestrial walkways. This is the perfect place to sample some of Oaxaca's famous culinary delights, including several varieties of mole, hot chocolate (did you know that chocolate originated in Mexico?), quesillo (Oaxacan stringy cheese, much like good mozzarella), tlayudas, chapulines (grasshoppers!) and much, much more. There are many interesting markets, pleasant shaded plazas, restaurants and cafes, museums, galleries and churches. The nearby Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban are a must. Besides the archeological wonders, they offer a stupendous view of the surrounding countryside and mountains.Ce que ça coûtait cette saison-là
| Forfait des guides | + Hébergement | + Repas & boissons | + Divers | = Coût terrestre total approx. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $800 | $215 | $180 | $120 | $1,315 |
Tous les montants sont en dollars américains, tels que publiés à l’époque. Les participants payaient eux-mêmes l’hébergement, les repas et les droits d’entrée en cours de route — le Forfait des guides était la seule somme facturée par ¡El Tour. Historique complet : le prix de Pilgrimage in Oaxaca au fil des ans.
Album photo
