¡El Tour
Budget Bicycle Tours in Mexico
www.BikeMexico.com
The Complete Archive · 2000–2020
Views of the Pacific 2001-02
Season 2001–2002 · all tours that season
One of the five tours on ¡El Tour's earliest surviving price list. Guides' Fee CA$400 for two weeks down the Pacific coast from Puerto Vallarta — the original edition of the route later preserved in the 2002 and 2004 pages.
Archive note: Found on eltour.itgo.com, the company's original domain before bikemexico.com (recovered from the Wayback Machine). Advertised with these exact dates and a full itinerary, but the client database records no riders for this departure that season - it may not have run for lack of signups. Price in 2001 Canadian dollars, from the eltour.itgo.com tours page.
| Dates: | Sat Nov 17, 2001 to Sat Dec 1, 2001 (2 weeks (9-12 cycling days)) |
| Distances: | Total: Approx. 653 km Cycling days: 9 -12 Average 73km, Maximum 118km |
| Route Type: | Hard difficulty. Quite hilly and rolling. |
| Highlights: | Challenging cycling, the intrigue of the Pacific Ocean, small towns, small beach resorts, quiet roads, beaches, surf, camping, mountains, colonial towns, spectacular views. |
| Via: | Puerto Vallarta, Pino Suarez, Chamela, Barra de Navidad, Manzanillo, Tecoman, Maruata, Rio Nexpa, Playa Azul, Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas. |
| Price: | CA$935 (that year's published approximate total land cost) |
The Route
The Road, Weather, Land & People
The Road
The road is generally in excellent condition. Some flat straight sections exist however it is mostly windey and hilly as the road negotiates its way through the foot hills and mountain sides. 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.
The Weather
The winter along the Mexican Pacific sees little rain. It is generally hot and dry, often with a cooling breeze off the ocean. The occasional fall huricane can devastate villages and temporarily cripple resorts, but the season is short. Summer sees more rain, especially in the highlands, and the rivers which may completely dry out in the winter months rage once again.
The Land
Most of the Pacific coast is an abrupt meeting of the mountains and the huge expanse of a turbulent ocean. Beaches are many, surf is big, and the mountains looming. There are areas of dry shrub, while other areas are dense with tropical forests.
The People
There is a mix of cultures along the Pacific. Occasionally almost pure Spanish blood Mexicans, sometimes towns of one of the many different indigenous cultures, but generally it is the mix of blood that makes Mexico that populates the many small towns, cities and resorts along the coast. People are warm and friendly and genuinely curious about the bicycle mounted traveller.
Itinerary
Click any day for the full description. Itineraries were always subject to minor changes.
WhenWhereDistanceHighlights
Day 0Meet in Puerto Vallarta-
Beaches, Night Life, Live Shows, Market. [more]
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico's most picturesque coastal resort, is tucked between the sparkling blue Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags) and spectacular green palm and jungle covered mountains. Although tourism is its only industry, outside of the megaresorts, Puerto Vallarta retains a certain charm with its cobblestone streets and old-fashioned white adobe buildings with red tile roofs. Attractions include the many beaches, water sports, art galleries, and a very diverse nightlife.Day 1Puerto Vallarta to El Tuito44 km
Into the foothills. Spectacular Mountain Views, Waterfalls and Rivers. [more]
This day starts with the spectacular coast south of Puerto Vallarta. Some rolling hills give way to a long climb going inland along a raging river and frequent waterfalls. Chico's Paradise offers us a break from the heat and a chance to swim in some tranquil pools nestled between pastel coloured boulders in the river. After well over 1000 metres of climbing and passing through some high pine forests we end the day in the small town of El Tuito.Day 2El Tuito to Pino Suarez46 km
Flat easy riding, frequent breaks to help get acclimatized. [more]
Our second day of riding gives us a chance to recover from the difficult climb the day before. We can take our time getting to José Maria Pino Suarez, enjoying the views and giving us a chance to acclimatize to the heat and our bikes.Day 3Pino Suarez to Punta Perula54 km
Beaches. Curvy, rolling, very quiet road. Camping on the Beach Possible. Seafood. Our favourite Pacific coast beach. [more]
The quiet road takes us back to the coast and meanders in and out of the foothills. We get many sneak previews of the ocean before turning in to Punta Perula and its near perfect beach spanning several kilometres each way. Being a weekday, we will have this small resort town almost all to ourselves to enjoy the best body surfing waves on the Pacific.Day 4Punta Perula to Barra de Navidad82 km
Beautiful, Quiet, Hilly, Sinuous Roads. Small Beach Resort. Beaches, Night Life, Seafood. What a beach resort should be like. Beach Camping Possible. [more]
The road continues to meander through the hills, peaking at the Pacific ocean and poking into the cactus and forest covered hills. This all but forgotten stretch of road takes us over higher and higher climbs, finally breaking out of the forest to some great views of the many bays and coves below and a long exhilerating descent to Barra de Naviadad.Day 5Barra de Navidad-
Beach time. Surfing, boogie boarding. Nightlife. [more]
Barra de Navidad is a great little beach resort town squeezed onto a sandbar between the Bahía de Navidad and the Laguna de Navidad. This is a great place to try some surfing or boogie boarding - a small predictable wave gives the beginner a good chance to try the sport. Barra's great sunset kicks off an evening of casual but exciting nightlife.Day 6Barra de Navidad to Manzanillo65 km
All the Comforts of Home, Big Resort Town and Bustling Port. Night Life, Beaches, Seafood. [more]
A fairly easy ride gets us back on the road after our rest day. A good portion of the ride is along the beaches at the north end of Manzanillo and ends in the centre of this bustling port town. You can find all the comforts of home here but there's also great fresh seafood, long beaches and exciting nightlife.Day 7Manzanillo to Tecoman60 km
Scenic Inland Roads. Real Mexico. Colonial Architecture. Good Food. [more]
No tourists at all here. This is a cute little colonial town bustling with activity. Several good beaches are only half an hour away by bus.Day 8Tecoman to La Placita60 km
Into Michoacan and the start of the great views and more challenging cycling. Small-Town Real Mexico. Beach. [more]
We now enter the most isolated and beautiful stretch of the Pacific coastal road. There are no phones, banks or internet for the next 300km or so. Infact there are very few towns and the traffic is almost non-existent. We explore many beautiful beaches and get glimpses of many more not accessible through the dense vegetation. The road meanders in and out of the hills - to the sea on high cliffs and back in again. Tecoman is a charming little town, even more so on Sunday evenings when everyone comes out to the zocalo (town square) to eat and socialize.Day 9La Placita to Maruata54 km
More beach. Very Quiet, Scenic, Hilly, Curvy Roads. Spectacular Views of the Ocean. Small Towns. Beach Camping. [more]
If we're lucky, Umberto, the owner of our hotel in La Placita and an ex-bicycle racer, might join us as we ride up the first pass. More quite roads lead us to Maruata, a beautiful, interesting and odd little town. You can sleep in rustic cabañas or camp on the beach. In this area you will meet many Nahuas - the descendants of the Aztecs who ruled the Mexican world before the Spanish conquest.Day 10Maruata to Playa Rio Nexpa/Caleta de Campos94 km
Incredibly Quiet Roads - Challenging Climbs, Rewarding Views of Ocean and Mountains. One of the most spectacular sections of Mexico. Small Towns. Surfer Beaches. Great Beach Camping. [more]
This is a challenging day with almost 1500m of climbing and long stretches between towns and villages along the most traffic-free section of the Pacific coast road. We climb and wind through the breath-taking beauty of the mountains and ocean views. Playa Rio Nexpa is a serious surfer beach known only by word of mouth. Here we have the option of renting cabañas or camping on the beach. More comfortable accommodation as well as telephones and supplies are all available 5km away in the town of Caleta de Campos.Day 11P. Rio Nexpa/Caleta de Campos-
Surfing. Relaxing. Beach and river. [more]
Try your hand at surfing..if you dare! Stroll along the endless beach, swim in the sea or the river, go to town for supplies, or simply relax and let your soul revel in the seaside tranquility.Day 12P. Rio Nexpa/Caleta de Campos to Playa Azul63 km
Small Beach Resort. Seafood, Beach. Beach Camping Possible. [more]
Playa Azul is a small beach resort quiet and peaceful except during Semana Santa (holy week - the week leading up to Easter) and Christmas holidays. Enjoy the beach and the fresh seafood. You can also swim or bird-watch in the estuary at nearby Barra de Pichi.Day 13Playa Azul to Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas to Puerto Vallarta30 km
A short ride to Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas, then relax on the bus back to Puerto Vallarta. [more]
We finish our tour by riding into Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas. There we'll have time for a last meal altogether before you board your bus to return to Puerto Vallarta or prepare to continue with us on to the start of the next tour; Mexico's South Coast.Day 14Puerto Vallarta-
Stay a bit longer or fly back home. [more]
Enjoy Puerto Vallarta before returning home or continuing your travels.Photo Album
