¡El Tour
Budget Bicycle Tours in Mexico
www.BikeMexico.com
The Complete Archive · 2000–2020
Pilgrimage in Oaxaca 2006
Season 2006–2007 · all tours that season
This extreme CHALLENGE difficulty and extremely popular tour in the state of Oaxaca starts and ends in Oaxaca city. The route to the coast will take us through a major Mexican pilgrimage destination, Juquila. People come from all over Mexico by foot, bicycle and motorized vehicle. After a brief stay on the coast in the surfer town of Pto. Escondido we head back into the hills and mountains to loop back to Oaxaca. The mountain scenery here is absolutely spectacular. This area is rich in indigenous culture, mainly Mixtec, Triqui and Amuzgos. We end the ride along an ancient trading route winding it's way along the top of a high ridge.
Archive note: Itinerary and daily distances reconstructed from the guide's cycle-computer (Ciclomaster) logs and route sheet for the December 2006 ride; total climbing over 14,000 m (per the season's own presentation).
| Dates: | Tues Dec 5, 2006 to Tues Dec 19, 2006 (2 weeks - 10 cycling days) |
| Distances: | Average/day: 87km Maximum/day: 117km Total Approx: 870km |
| Route Type: | 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. |
| Highlights: | 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. |
| Price: | US$1,065 (that year's published approximate total land cost) |
| Riders: | 8 cyclists (from the company client database) |
The Route
Itinerary
Itineraries were always subject to minor changes.
WhenWhereDistanceHighlights
Day 0Meet in Oaxaca-Gather in the city of Oaxaca; markets, Zapotec ruins and the best mezcal in the world.
Day 1Zimatlán → Sola de Vega66 kmClimbing south into the Sierra Sur (1,340–1,820 m).
Day 2Sola de Vega → Juchatengo51 kmUp over a high pass and down (895–2,140 m).
Day 3Juchatengo → Juquila54 kmTo the mountain pilgrimage town of Juquila (880–2,145 m).
Day 4Juquila → Puerto Escondido117 kmThe big descent to the Pacific — from 2,130 m down to the sea. The longest day.
Day 5Puerto Escondido (rest day)-Beach day on the Pacific coast.
Day 6Puerto Escondido → Santiago Jamiltepec112 kmCoastal riding near sea level.
Day 7Santiago Jamiltepec → Cacahuatepec76 kmRolling country inland (50–450 m).
Day 8Cacahuatepec (rest day)-Rest before the climb back into the sierra.
Day 9Cacahuatepec → Putla84 kmBeginning the long climb inland (275–940 m).
Day 10Putla → Tlaxiaco88 kmBack up into the high Mixteca, topping out at 2,410 m.
Day 11Tlaxiaco (rest day)-Rest in the Mixteca highlands.
Day 12Tlaxiaco → Nochixtlán87 kmHigh plateau riding (2,025–2,440 m).
Day 13Nochixtlán → Oaxaca105 kmThe final run back down to Oaxaca city (1,580–2,315 m).
What it cost that season
| Guides' Fee | + Accommodations | + Food & Drink | + Misc. | = Approx. Total Land Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $550 | $215 | $180 | $120 | $1,065 |
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 Pilgrimage in Oaxaca through the years.
Photo Album
