¡El Tour
Budget Bicycle Tours in Mexico
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The Complete Archive · 2000–2020
Journey to Ixtlan Tour 2011
Season 2010–2011 · all tours that season
This is a challenge difficulty tour in the northern part of the state of Oaxaca starting and ending in Oaxaca city. There are 9 days of cycling, averaging 62km a day, with lots of climbing and some steep sections. We will ride a counter clockwise loop, riding high up into the misty Sierra Juarez before descending an epic downhill to Tuxtepec. We'll explore some forgotten areas of Oaxaca and loop back through the Teotihuacan-Cuicatlan desert, and back up into the cool pine forests.
| Dates: | Fri Feb 11, 2011 to Thurs Feb 24, 2011 (2 weeks - 9 cycling days) |
| Distances: | Average/day: 62km Maximum/day: 120km Total Approx: 624km Total Climbing: 10 455m |
| Route Type: | 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. |
| Highlights: | High misty mountains and deep valleys make for some outstanding scenery and challenging riding. There are Zapotec ruins as well as indigenous Zapotec, Chinantec, Mazatec and Cuicatec people and settlements. The roads here are very quiet, most with very little traffic. There are some steep climbs, and a massive spectacular downhill, as well as colonial towns, high mountain nature hikes, pine and cactus forests, and the Miguel Aleman dam reservoir. |
The Route
Itinerary
Click any day for the full description. Itineraries were always subject to minor changes.
WhenWhereDistanceHighlights
Day 0 — Fri Feb 11, 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 — Sat Feb 12, 2011Oaxaca (1500m) to El Punto (2370m)36km (1125m climbing)
Short but steep day. Cabañas in the mountain wilderness [more]
Our first day is short, but as we climb very steeply out of the central valley you will appreciate the lack of km's today. There are stunning views as we gradually cycle high into the cool pine forests. We will eat the simple satisfying food of the mountains and sleep in wooden cabañas in the misty mountain forest tonight.Day 2 — Sun Feb 13, 2011El Punto (2370m) to Ixtlan Cabañas (2000?m)~39km (~800m climbing)
Guelatao - Benito Juarez' birthplace. More Cabañas in the mountain wilderness [more]
We start with some downhill, but that only means that we will have to uphill again later. There's more beautiful mountain scenery today and more quiet roads as we visit Guelatao, Benito Juarez' birthplace. Benito Juarez was Mexico's favorite president and there's an interesting museum to visit. Onwards then to Ixtlan.Day 3 — Mon Feb 14, 2011Ixtlan Cabañas (2000?m)-
Rest day. [more]
A rest day is in order to recover from our steep climbing of the first two days. If hiking is your idea of fun, there are some beautiful trails in the mountains here to explore. Mountain biking is also an option. Of course you could also just rest too.Day 4 — Tues Feb 15, 2011Ixtlan Cabañas (2000?m) to Valle Nacional (95m)~115km (1480m climbing)
Tour high point near 3000m, beautiful mountain scenery, the most epic downhill you've EVER done [more]
There's a HUGE downhill today, but first we have to get to it, and that's no easy task. The roads climbs and drops, gradually reaching our high point near 3000m. After that, hang on to your hat, and check your brakes.Day 5 — Wed Feb 16, 2011Valle Nacional (95m) to Tuxtepec (20m)53km (160m climbing)
Lush tropical lowlands. Pineapple juice. Rolling, almost flat for a change. [more]
It almost an easy day as we leave the mountains behind temporarily. Of course it's not completely flat, there are still some hills. We wind our way through the lush tropical lowlands, and if we're lucky we'll come upon some fresh squeezed pineapple juice by the roadside. Tuxtepec is a big town with lots going on and it is home to Mexico's largest brewery.Day 6 — Thurs Feb 17, 2011Tuxtepec (20m) to San Pedro Ixcatlan (110m)62km (520m climbing)
Flats give way to hills. Presa Miguel Aleman reservoir. Charming little Ixcatlan. [more]
Our ride starts flat today, and as we wind between the hills, we finally climb over a hill to see the large reservoir created by the Miguel Aleman dam. The rest of the ride pokes in and out of this wetland region and we end up in Ixcatlan which is perched on a small peninsula in the reservoir.Day 7 — Fri Feb 18, 2011San Pedro Ixcatlan (110m)-
Rest day. Charming Mazateca village surrounded by water. [more]
A relaxing rest day in this charming Mazateca indigenous village. Surrounded by water, the obvious choice is the good seafood for lunch, and a boat trip to a nearby island village is also possible.Day 8 — Sat Feb 19, 2011San Pedro Ixcatlan (110m) to Huautla (1630m)78km (2350m climbing)
Back to the mountains. [more]
We had a break from the mountains, now they're back with a vengeance. Challenging climbing is the theme of the day, and the quiet roads and beautiful scenery helps to motivate us along. We end up in Huautla, a town made famous by Maria Sabina and her magic mushrooms.Day 9 — Sun Feb 20, 2011Huautla (1630m) to Teotitlan (1190m)65km (1050m climbing)
Beautiful mountain roads. Cactus. Puebla. Colonial Teotitlan. [more]
More mountain roads take us up and down and we briefly peek into Puebla state before returning to a dry region of Oaxaca state, punctuated by many different cactus. Our resting place for the day, Teotitlan is a charming little colonial town.Day 10 — Mon Feb 21, 2011Teotitlan (1190m) to Cuicatlan (610m)56km (690m climbing)
Easier day. Tehuacan-Cuicatlan biosphere reserve. Colonial Cuicatlan. [more]
We enter into the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan biosphere reserve today and we'll see quite a variety of cactus in this unique corner of Oaxaca state.Day 11 — Tues Feb 22, 2011Cuicatlan (610m)-
Rest day. Interesting market. [more]
Rest up and get ready for the final long haul back to Oaxaca city. Cuicatlan is another charming little colonial town with an interesting market, and a nice lookout that you can hike up to to get a good view of the surrounding mountains.Day 12 — Wed Feb 23, 2011Cuicatlan (610m) to Oaxaca (1500m)120km (2280m climbing)
Grand finale. Lots of climbing, but not steep. [more]
Today we'll gradually climb up out of the cactus region and back into pine forest country. It's a long day with lots of climbing, but in contrast to the start of the tour, the climbing is much more gradual.Day 13 — Thurs Feb 24, 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.What it cost that season
| Guides' Fee | + Accommodations | + Food & Drink | + Misc. | = Approx. Total Land Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $700 | $215 | $180 | $120 | $1,215 |
All figures in US dollars, as published at the time. Riders paid their own accommodation, food and entrance fees on the road — the Guides' Fee was the only charge from ¡El Tour. Full history: price of Journey to Ixtlan through the years.
Photo Album
