 BICYCLING THE ROUTE OF THE MAYAS
BICYCLING THE ROUTE OF THE MAYAS
(YUCATAN and CHIAPAS)
November November 1-13 2007
$1950 per person
Single supplement $485
Experience cycling in the peaceful tranquility of the Caribbean Maya history and culture along with visits to coastal biosphere reserves, cenotes, and parks in the Yucatan Peninsula, followed by an expedition into the Maya World of Chiapas, where we will visit remote jungle areas consisting of mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and both contemporary and ancient Mayan villages and towns.
Meet in Cancun, Mexico for a van transfer to Playa del Carmen and Tulum area. We cycle on Cozumel Island, to the Sian kaan Reserve, and Tulum with visits to the archeological sites, cenotes (limestone pools), and beaches where there are opportunities to snorkel and kayak, or just relax. Included are visits to Xcaret Park and Xel-Ha where we learn about the plant and animal life of this part of the world, plus view presentations of Maya culture and Mexican Folklore. During our trip, professional guides will explain the architecture, history and cultural significance of the sites.
From the Yucatan Peninsula, we move by van west for two days to Chiapas, stopping along the way to visit more archeological sites of the Maya and bio-preserves with some opportunities to cycle early or late in the day. We begin our cycling again in Chiapas, riding from the cooler highlands of San Cristobal to the lowlands with more scenic and longer rides as we visit Comitan, the Lakes of Montebello, Ixcan Preserve, Frontera Corozal and Palenque. Some riding days are short, 20 or 30 miles, while others are more challenging, 50 or less. Included are several short boat trips in scenic areas. This trip is conducted by Ecocolors, a Mexican tour company which has much experience in this area and has conducted several BAC tours. There will be two vans in support of a full trip of 20 which will be able to transfer bikes and luggage easily.
For comfort and safety in riding, tires greater than one and a half inches in diameter are strongly recommended as there are a few rough roads, speed bumps, and unpaved areas. The hotels are four star in Yucatan, and three star in Chiapas with one night in rustic cabins and one night in a jungle research station accessed by boat. The cuisine is unique to the Yucatan: marinated pork or chicken baked in banana leave and chicken lime soup, with seafood dishes available also.
There will be many opportunities to view exotic birds and monkeys as we travel through the area. The trip includes beginning and end, airport transfers, hotels, breakfasts and evening meals, snacks and water while biking, entrance fees, and guides. Lunches and alcoholic beverages are not included.
Itinerary
Day 1.
Participants will arrive at the international airport of Cancun.
They will be greeted by an EcoColors representative. Guests and any bike baggage will be transferred to Playa del Carmen, the resort area one-hour south of the airport. Bungalows are reserved in adjacent first class beachfront hotels: Shangri La Caribe. Dinner, welcome, orientation to the area's attractions, climate, and customs, and briefing on the tour -- routes/roads, rules, support facilities, food, lodging & entertainment/diversions.
Day 2.
Cozumel Island ride (40miles/ 64 km)
Early breakfast. Bike from you hotel to the ferry in Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. Bike 20 miles to a coast rode, looking at the great turquoise water of the Mexican caribbean, arrive to the rest stop, where water and fruit will be available. Enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in amazing reefs of Cozumel. Lunch in the island, bike back 20 miles to the ferry, take the ferry back to Playa del Carmen and then from Playa bike back to your hotel. Dinner in your hotel.
Day 3.
Short ride to enjoy all day in Xcaret eco park (5 miles)
Xcaret is famous for its water fun, its educational sections, and its entertainment.
Highlights are the park's two rivers, one with passages underground, the aviary, butterfly and mushroom farms, aquarium, turtle breeding and releasing area, and the outdoor entertainment. Between the activities, have a midmorning or a late afternoon snack on your own at any of the park's various restaurants or snack stands. The evening entertainment is included in the admission and not to miss is the Mexican horse show at 5:30PM, the re-enactment of an ancient Mayan ball game, at 6:30PM, and at 7:45PM, the fabulous folkloric night show of Xcaret in the amphitheater. Bicycles will be sent by van to the hotel. The night show ends up at 8:30 Pm. Back by van then to take dinner in the hotel.
Day 4
Playa del Carmen - Tulum (44 miles / 71 km)
Early breakfast in your own hotel. Bike to Tulum, laid back resort town and beach that forms the axis of the zone known as the Riviera Maya. On the way stop in Puerto Aventuras, first rest stop (fruit and drinks available). Follow to stop in Puerto Aventuras, second rest stop (fruit and drinks available). Enjoy Xel-Ha, "Shell-Ha," park (15 miles from the Tulum hotels), considered the largest natural aquarium in the world. Snorkel gear is available for rent in the park; or you may simply swim (your admission entitles you to a towel) in the park's numerous caves and pools. Have lunch, or a snack, on your own in one of the park's three quick order restaurants featuring international and Mexican dishes. Bike from Xel-Ha to Tulum. Make your way to the beachfront hotels. Check in Los Lirios and Ana y Jose Hotels. Dinner in the designated hotel. Rest stop in Puerto Aventuras and Xel- Ha.
Day 5
Tulum- Siankaan (30 miles / 48 km)
Early riding to Sian Ka`an Visitor Center where people can choose from either kayaking in the wetlands or taking a boat trip through the wetlands. Enjoy lunch in the visitor center and learn about the research projects been done in the area. Back to Tulum on your bikes.
Day 6
Van Transfer to Chicanna (4 to 5 hours)
On the way to Chicanna stop in Muyil archeological site and learn about this important site inside Sian Ka`an Biosphere Reserve. Follow then to Chicanna by van stopping for lunch in Bacalar. Finally arrive to Chicanna. Optional biking to Chicanna archeological site. At night optional van trip to bat cave that has more than 25 million bats or just decide to relax in the jungle hotel.
Day 7
Van transfer Chicanna to Palenque.
Early in the morning optional biking to Becan or Chicanna. (Also optional van transfer to the beginning of Calakmul reserve to then bike inside the reserve. This is an impressive reserve with much wildlife to see on the road, specially if we enter early in the morning ). Follow to Palenque by van. (AROUND 5 hours). Check in Maya Tulipanes Hotel.
Day 8
Bike to Palenque archeological site and discover the lush tropical jungle in Chiapas. Explore the fantastic temples of the Mayas. Back to your hotel by bike. Depart towards San Cristobal, on the way stop to visit the turquoise blue waterfalls. Check in Casa Mexicana..
Day 9
Hotel Casa Mexicana - San Juan Chamula (20 miles)
Start the day biking downhill to Zinacatan Maya community town, whose people work at flower farming. Enjoy visiting the town. Follow steep uphill to San Juan Chamula town which has all the flavour of the old Mayan villages with rituals of last century still in practice. Back to the hotel by van. Then follow to visit by van the unique and great Sumidero canyon where we will take a boat ride. Rest stop in Zinacatan (8 miles). A guide will be available at 11:00 AM to explain to the group about San Juan Chamula (11 miles more).
Day 10.
San Cristobal - Comitan (54 miles)
Bike downhill to the city of Comitan where you can enjoy a visit to the many temples the city has (Comitan is the origin of independence of Chiapas). Check in at the Hotel Internacional.
Rest stop in Teopisca town (20 miles). A guide will be available to do a city tour at 4:00 PM in Comitan.
Day 11
Comitan - Montebello Lagoons (38 miles)
Today enjoy biking and arriving at an area which has fantastic scenery, the Montebello lagoons, which have more than 50 lagoons with green and blue colors. Check in at Tzicao hotel by one of the lagoons. Rest stop in bridge with tubes (23 miles). A Guide will be available for the group to visit some of the lagoons.
Day 12
Montebello Lagoons - Ixcan (64 miles)
Begin the day with an optional birdwatching hike. We are in the land of the Quetzal (very unique and interesting bird of the trogon family) and early in the morning we get to see them sometimes. This is the longest day biking but a good part of it is going downhill. Check in at Ixcan Conservation International Research Station. Optional night hike in the jungle. Rest stop in viewing point (8.9 miles) area where sometimes we see Quetzals.
Rest stop in Nuevo San Juan Chamula (26 miles). Take a look at the church.
Rest stop in the town of Santo Domingo (38.8 miles).
Day 13
Ixcan - Frontera Corozal (By van)
Van Transfer crossing the Montes Azules reserve. Brief stop in Scarlet macaw reserve inside Montes Azules. Follow to Frontera Corozal. Check in Escudo Jaguar hotel.
Day 14
Escudo Jaguar Hotel - Palenque (Option A - 41 miles. Option B - 61 miles)
Optional birdwatching hike in the jungle. Begin the day with a boat ride to Yaxchilan Archeological site. This will take us 2.5 hours in the morning. After visiting Yaxchilan start biking towards Palenque. Option A - 41 miles riding. Option B - 61 miles riding. After biking we are transfered by van to Palenque. Check in Maya Tulipanes hotel. Rest stop in Corozal crossing point (10.75 miles). Rest stop number 2 in military check point (28 miles). Pack bikes for departure back to Cancun
next day.
Day 15
Palenque - Campeche (6 hours).
Palenque - Merida (8 hours).
Palenque - Cancun (11 hours).
Palenque - Cancun for those persons interested.
Day 16.
Departure to the airport depending on flights back.
Bicycling the Route of the Maya INCLUDES:
Hotels (15 nights of lodging) (Shangri La, Las Palapas, Los Lirios,
Chicanna Ecovillage, Maya tulipanes, Casa Mexicana, Hotel Internacional,
Tzicao cabins, Ixcan cabins, Escudo Jaguar cabins and either Campeche hotel or Merida hotel or Cancun hotel to be determined ).
All breakfasts, dinners.
All entrance fees (archaeological sites, the parks Xel-Ha and Xcaret).
Supporting vans, trailers, sag wagon during the biking. Buses and trucks/trailers for special transfer of participants and bikes.
Bottled water and sport-drinks in the support vans, rest stop drinks, fruit and sanitary facilities in several places each day.
Professional bilingual guides for explanations of sites visited.
Airport transfers to first hotel and from final hotel.
Bicycling the Route of the Mayas does NOT include:
Airfare, lunches, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, laundry, or gratuities for your guides, early arrival or late transfers.
Extensions: In the registration application, participants interested in arriving or staying over additional nights may request the special EcoColors tour rates, and these will be reserved based on availability. Mid December is high season in the Mexican Caribbean and the hotels of the tour are in demand, thus travelers are urged to reserve early, whether for the tour or for optional extra nights
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