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Yucatan One Week Tour 2009

Saison 2008–2009 · 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 de difficulté moyenne commence et se termine à Valladolid. La boucle met en vedette quelques-unes des ruines mayas les plus impressionnantes du Yucatán, dont Chichén-Itzá, Cobá et Ek-Balam. Nous visiterons aussi plusieurs cénotes et roulerons sur quelques-unes des routes les plus tranquilles qui soient. Outre Valladolid, Izamal est un autre joyau colonial, et nous nous aventurerons aussi dans de superbes coins de nature.

Note d’archive : NOUVEAU circuit d'une semaine.

Dates:	Sat Jan 24, 2009 to Sat Jan 31, 2009 (1 week - 5 cycling days)
Distances:	Average/day: 80km Maximum/day: 110km Total Approx: 402km
Type de parcours:	REGULAR Regular DifficultyA good level of fitness is required. Distances average around 50 - 80 km per day (depending on hills), and are always less than 120 km. Roads range from flat to very hilly. We may climb up to 1500 metres on a hard day. difficulty. Mainly very flat, some gently rolling hills. Weather The Weather: Yucatan PeninsulaThe Yucatan's best weather is during our winter months. From November till March the temperature hovers in the mid 20's to the mid 30's (celcius) with sunny clear skies. Humidity levels can be high as we head inland but a warm steady breeze and the occasional but rare tropical thunderstorm will keep you feeling refreshed. \| Road The Road: Yucatan PeninsulaThe Yucatan's roads are considered the finest in Mexico. They are generally in excellent condition with even, paved surfaces. Some stretches of our route also include a paved shoulder. The route meanders along flat terrain with the occasional rolling section. In most places traffic is light to non-existent. Depending on the time of day, roads may be busy near towns such as Cancun, Valladolid and Merida, however drivers are generally respectful of cyclists and will give you as much room as possible. \| Land The Land: Yucatan PeninsulaThe Yucatan peninsula at the south eastern tip of Mexico is comprised of three states, Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo. The peninsula is a massive, flat carbonate - limestone shelf formed by prehistoric high sea levels. Too porous to support a river system, fresh water accumulates underground forming an extensive subterranean river network. Where the erosive process has broken through the earth's surface, cenotes (se-no-tes; limestone sinkholes or pools) have formed. Erosion has also formed numerous caves, some of them enormous and accessible to tourists. The peninsula's landscape is covered by thorn forest in the north and rain jungle in the south.
Temps forts:	Real Mexican-Yucatecan culture. Flamingos and other birds, mangrove tour. Small towns, ruins, lots of cenotes, fishing villages, quiet roads. Mérida; bustling city, colonial architecture, art, food, market.
Prix:	US$795 (le coût terrestre total approximatif publié cette année-là)
Participants:	7 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 — Sat Jan 24, 2009Meet in Valladolid-

Meet the group. Yucatan cuisine, Colonial Architecture, cenote, market [more]

Arrive early and you can spend the day exploring this beautiful city. You can fly into Cancun or Merida and then take the very comfortable 1st class bus to Valladolid - it's about a 2.5 hour trip. Valladolid is one of the Yucatan's largest and most pleasing colonial cities. The spectacular cenote Zací is a great place to take a dip and cool off. Valladolid's churches, parks, markets and the beautiful zocalo are all worth a visit.

Day 1 — Sun Jan 25, 2009Valladolid to Coba77km

several cenotes, Mayan villages and towns, freshly paved backroads, remote Mayan ruins of Ixhil, Coba Mayan ruins [more]

Today we are truly on the backroads. After getting away from Valladolid, we get on some very narrow, quiet and well shaded rolling backroads. We'll cycle through some little Mayan towns and get onto a freshly paved road taking us into the state of Quintana Roo which is where we will find the little town and huge archeaological site of Cobá.

Day 2 — Mon Jan 26, 2009Coba to Ek Balam85 km

quiet roads, elevated lookout tower, tiny Mayan village [more]

From one set of ruins to another. We ride to the impressive Mayan ruins of Ek' Balam with its unique winged sculptures. We will stay near the ruins at a beautiful eco-hotel in the forest and rest up to enjoy the ruins in the morning.

Day 3 — Tues Jan 27, 2009Ek Balam to Izamal110 km

Cenotes, small towns, quiet roads [more]

We'll pass through many small Mayan towns and visit as many cenotes on the way as you want! There are literally hundreds of them along this route, including Mumondzonot, one of the most spectacular cenotes in the Yucatan, and one that very few people know about. At the end of the day we find ourselves in the splendid colonial yellow town of Izamal.

Day 4 — Wed Jan 28, 2009Izamal-

Mayan Ruins, huge pyramid, Convent, Zocalo, Market, beautiful Izamal, the best tacos in Mexico! [more]

Known as the Yellow Town because of the colour of the colonial buildings that line the zocalo, Izamal is famous for having the largest church plaza in Mexico. It includes an enormous Franciscan convent (built with Mayan stones) and the remnants of the most voluminous Mayan pyramids in the Yucatan. You can also visit the colourful market, or just stroll around the beautiful zocalo observing the daily routines of the local inhabitants.

Day 5 — Thurs Jan 29, 2009Izamal to Pisté (via Stilpech, Tunkas and Dzitas)71 km

Cenotes, quiet roads, small towns [more]

We'll pass through many small Mayan towns and visit as many cenotes on the way as you want! There are literally hundreds of them along this route. In Pisté we can see the light and sound show of Chichén-Itzá, and explore the ruins early tomorrow morning.

Day 6 — Fri Jan 30, 2009Pisté to Valladolid (via Dzitas, Tinum, Uayma)59 km

Chichén-Itzá ruins, caves, cenotes, colonial town [more]

In the early morning we will visit the important Mayan-Toltec ruins of Chichén-Itzá, avoiding all the crowds. After that we have a pleasant ride on quiet backroads to Valladolid which is another splendid colonial gem.

Day 7 — Sat Jan 31, 2009Fly back home, or stay a little longer-

Return home or enjoy more Yucatan cuisine, Colonial Architecture, cenote, market [more]

You can get on a bus back to Merida or to Cancun to catch your flight back home, or else stay a little longer and enjoy the colonial gem that is Valladolid. Visit its churches, parks, markets and beautiful zocalo, cool off in the cenotes and sample the Yucatan's delicious cuisine at one of Valladolid's many restaurants.

Album photo

Cycling past the Valladolid cathedral and main square on the way out of town one misty morning

A profile view of El Castilla at Chichen Itza back when you could still climb it

Looking down at the steep descent to come.

Alix works her way down into Chol Ha cenote near Coba

Watching the sunset from atop the lookout at our home in the jungle in Ek Balam village

Making fresh tortillas for dinner in Ek Balam Village

A family's plaque outside their home in Izamal

The view from atop the main pyramid in Ek Balam

The arches surrounding the enormous ex-convent and it's courtyard in Izamal

With the annual fairs come the annual bull-fights

The little town of Tunkas with it partly built bull ring. This bull ring is built of stick and twine every year, and after the fair it is taken down again.

Ce circuit lors d’autres saisons : 2010–2011

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