¡El Tour
Budget Bicycle Tours in Mexico
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Cycling the Valleys of Oaxaca 2018
Season 2018–2019 · all tours that season
This is a regular difficulty tour in central high valleys of the state of Oaxaca during the Day of the Dead celebrations, starting and ending in Oaxaca city. There are 8 days of cycling, averaging 45km a day, with some climbing and some dirt roads. We'll visit several colonial towns and cities, major weekly markets, Zapotec ruins, artisanal mescal makers, and various centers of Oaxaca crafts.
Archive note: Final run of Cycling the Valleys of Oaxaca.
| Dates: | Fri Oct 26, 2018 to Tues Nov 6, 2018 (1½ weeks - 8 cycling days) |
| Distances: | Average/day: 45km Maximum/day: 64km Total Approx: 362km Dirt Road Approx: 41km Total Climbing: 3133m |
| Route Type: | REGULARRegular 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.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. |
| Highlights: | Big weekly markets, colonial cities, Zapotec ruins, a multitude of Oaxaca crafts, the best mescal in the world, spectacular rock formations, great mountain scenery, |
The Route
Altitude Profile
Itinerary
Click any day for the full description. Itineraries were always subject to minor changes.
WhenWhereDistanceHighlights
Day 0 — Fri Oct 26, 2018Meet 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 — Sat Oct 27, 2018Oaxaca to Tlacolula57km
353m ꜛ
353m ꜛ
El Tule, Dainzú archaeological site, Teotitlan weaving town, San Marcos pottery town [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 2 — Sun Oct 28, 2018Tlacolula to Hierve el Agua44km
(8km dirt)
614m ꜛ
(8km dirt)
614m ꜛ
Check out the weekly Tlacolula market before we ride, then up into the hills, quiet roads [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 3 — Mon Oct 29, 2018Hierve el Agua to Mitla27km
(8km dirt)
445m ꜛ
(8km dirt)
445m ꜛ
Morning hike around Hierve el Agua [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 4 — Tues Oct 30, 2018Mitla-
Explore Mitla archaeological site, check out the handicrafts and rest up for a longer day tomorrow [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 5 — Wed Oct 31, 2018Mitla to Ocotlán64km
544m ꜛ
544m ꜛ
The backroads Mezcal tour! [more]
Make sure to snack lots today because mezcal tasting isn't like wine tasting. We'll pass up where most tourists stop for their mezcal and head into the back country where the lesser known producers are making world renouned mezcal.Day 6 — Thurs Nov 1, 2018Ocotlán to Ejutla61km
(21km dirt)
226m ꜛ
(21km dirt)
226m ꜛ
Back country riding, Ejutla weekly market [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 7 — Fri Nov 2, 2018Ejutla to Ocotlán30km
133m ꜛ
133m ꜛ
Short ride to Ocotlán - market day! [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 8 — Sat Nov 3, 2018Ocotlán-
Explore museums and handicrafts [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 9 — Sun Nov 4, 2018Ocotlán to Zaachila29km
44m ꜛ
44m ꜛ
Visit Zegache and Zimatlán. Zaachila archaeological site [more]
...more info coming soon...Day 10 — Mon Nov 5, 2018Zaachila to Oaxaca50km
(4km dirt)
774m ꜛ
(4km dirt)
774m ꜛ
Day 11 — Tues Nov 6, 2018Oaxaca 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.Photo Album
