Yucatan One Week Tour 2011

Season 2010–2011 · all tours that season

We start and end this regular difficulty tour in Valladolid. The loop ride will highlight some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in the Yucatan, including Chichen-Itza, Coba and Ek-Balam. We will also visit several cenotes and ride some of the quietest roads around. Besides Valladolid, Izamal is another colonial gem and we will also delve into some beautiful natural places.

Dates:	Sun Feb 6, 2011 to Sun Feb 13, 2011 (1 week - 5 cycling days)
Distances:	Average/day: 80km Maximum/day: 110km Total Approx: 402km
Route Type:	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.
Highlights:	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.

The Route

Itinerary

Click any day for the full description. Itineraries were always subject to minor changes.

WhenWhereDistanceHighlights

Day 0 — Sun Feb 6, 2011Meet 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 — Mon Feb 7, 2011Valladolid 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 — Tues Feb 8, 2011Coba 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 — Wed Feb 9, 2011Ek 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 — Thurs Feb 10, 2011Izamal-

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 — Fri Feb 11, 2011Izamal 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 — Sat Feb 12, 2011Pisté 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 — Sun Feb 13, 2011Fly 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.

What it cost that season

Guides' Fee	+ Accommodations	+ Food & Drink	+ Misc.	= Approx. Total Land Cost
$470	$110	$95	$120	$795

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 Yucatan One Week Tour through the years.

Photo Album

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.

This tour in other seasons: 2008–2009

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