Tour Type
Explorer
Riding Level
Leisure
Location
Central Mexico - Mexico City
Duration
9 Days | 8 Nights
Length
35 - 100 km daily
Climb
200 - 1,500 m daily
Mexico is a country of magical towns, incredible colors and delicious flavors. Definitely a heavenly place worth venturing out and discovering by bike! The expert guide and travel designer of our Grand Tours Project is originally from Mexico and together with the GTP team we have designed the best possible tour, tasting Mexican food, traditions, exceptional places full of culture and art and above all landscapes in which you won't believe until you see it with your own eyes.
So we decided who could be better than Uri, a former pro cyclist, and now CEO of Grand Tours Project, to design an epic explorer tour of his home in central Mexico. This tour has everything for everyone: keen climbing cyclists, easy going cycling, and non-cyclists welcome too. You will see the stunning volcanic scenery and various climatic landscapes resulting from these massive landforms; the vibrant colours and flavours and heavy dollops of Spanish influence over laying the pre-Columbian cultures; the awe inspiring pre Columbian pyramids and ruins that attest to the grandeur of former civilisations; and of course the pleasure of riding beautiful routes at a pace that suits you. The October-November tour allows you to experience the fabulous Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead festival – an unforgettable experience!
Uri has designed this tour to offer you a luxury escape and to showcase his home. Join us for a Grand Tours Project in Mexico!
We will welcome you at Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, and transfer you to our charming hotel in old Nahuatl (Aztec) town of Jiutepec.
We’ll help you assemble your bikes and test ride them in the tranquil garden outside the hotel.
Once we have completed the bike setup, we’ll head into luxuriant Cuernavaca, the City of Eternal Spring. At an altitude of 1510m, Cuernavaca has been home to Aztec and European royalty and the rich and famous. We’ll visit the Palacio de Cortes and La Catedral before heading to La Plazuela del Zacate for an aperitif and dinner and ‘Mariachis’ singing nearby.
First stop is Ocotepec with a beautiful view of the valley and volcanoes and has a cemetery famous for it’s elaborate and painted tombs. We continue on to Tepoztlan and ride the epic San Juan Tlacotenco, the hardest climb in central Mexico with a 7 km climb from 1,770 m to 2,327 m and gradients up to 21 and 23 percent! In the centre of Tepoztlan, we will have a light lunch before heading to the 2nd epic climb of the day – the world famous Tepozteco Pyramid …on top of a mountain. At the top, you’ll be reenergised… the legend that claims you will receive a lot of energy! After the descent, we can wander the artisan marketplace, taste the delicious flavours of Mexico and perhaps dance with the traditional ‘Chinelos’.
Today you and your bags will be transferred to our next hotel, Hacienda Vista Hermosa. Our day will start in Xochicalco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First up, we have arranged a private guide to take us to the substantial and monumental pre-Columbian ruins including the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. The museum will finish our private tour and we will mount our bikes and start the descent to the Rodeo and Coatetelco Lagoons and finally to Tequesquitengo Lagoon, the main water storage for the region. You can opt to ride around the lagoon or go directly to our hotel, a former Hacienda founded in 1529 by the infamous conquistador Hernan Cortes.
Enjoy the amazing Mexican breakfast – when everyone is ready, we’ll set off into the hills and roads of the Morelos, past the hacienda and ranch of famous singer Juan Sebastian, and then into the village of Amacuzac. After a short stop, we’ll climb to famous KM 138, a cycle meeting point and intersection for many races including the Tour of Mexico. Then it is a gentle easy ride to the historic silver mining town of Taxco. At our hotel we’ll change and then explore Taxco, a city famed for its Spanish Colonial architecture and its silver jewellery production…an opportunity to buy silver trinkets for loved ones…or yourself!
The following two days, we will experience the festivities of “Dia de Muertos” (October-Novenber tour only). the first day is in remembrance of the children. After breakfast, we will transfer to Jardines de Mexico for a quick spin around the garden before hitting the road for Balneario Las Estacas, a mineral spring and day spa in a protected nature reserve. Here we’ll have an delicious picnic and then enjoy the crystal clear waters of the reserve before riding to Cocoyoc. There is a return detour option to Tepoztlan for those seeking a longer ride. Back at our hotel, we can relax until the Strava riders return before going to Tlayacapan to explore the impressive monastery, old mansions and streets of paved stone. This town is also a film location for many Mexican and American films.
For the October-November tour, today is Día de Muertos, the adult Day of the Dead and a day of festivity and one you will never forget! But first we’ll ride towards two of Mexico’s most emblematic volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl – the Smoking Mountain and the White Woman. We’ll stop at the imposing monastery, Ex Convento Agustino San Mateo Apostol, before reaching San Juan Tehuixtitlan where you can choose to cycle to the top of Paso de Cortes, an ascent of 20 km & 1,200 m gain! At Paso de Cortés, we will regroup to enter Iztaccihuatl National Park and take the bus to Altzomoni (3,985 m). Here, we’ll devour our picnic lunch in front of the magnificent volcanic view. If you have the energy, there is about one hour to hike in the area before we depart for our hotel in Mexico City and the festivities.
Today we have an early breakfast and transfer to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan! We will explore Teotihuacan, the largest and most significant of the Mesoamerican cities of the Americas and dominated by the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. A guide has been arranged so we can better appreciate the grandeur and history of this archaeological site.
Back at the hotel for lunch and you can choose to relax or to explore Mexico City and delve into the colours and flavours of real Mexico.
This morning, we recommend a leisurely sleep in and enjoy a delicious breakfast. A special tour has been arranged so you can maximise your time in Mexico City. We will visit and explore Castillo de Chapultepec, Zocalo de Mexico, Palacio de Bellas Artes and visit the old markets.
After the tour, Uri recommends a bit of cultural time visiting museums such as Museo Soumaya, Frida Kahlo Museum or The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
A day of walking, exploring and museums can be as exhausting as a day on the bike, so back at the hotel, relax with a “Agua de Jamaica, Palomita or Michelada”, a classic Mexican drink before our final dinner at Roma & Condesa.
Every tour ends this way but sadly we bid you farewell today.
GTP hope that this special tour designed from the heart by Uri, has fulfilled your expectations and opened you to the wonders of central Mexico.
You will be transferred to Benito Juarez International Airport for your destination flight. If you wish to extend your stay, please let us know and we are happy to assist you.
Until next time, Uri and the GTP Team
What’s not included ?
These are all legitimate associations – but Mexico’s natural and cultural diversity includes much more than that.
1. Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid.
Not Egypt, but Mexico – The pyramid of Cholula in the Mexican Federal State Puebla happens to be the largest pyramid in the world.
2. 69 different languages are spoken in Mexico.
This makes Mexico one of the countries with the richest linguistic diversity in the world.
3. Mexico City is the second city of the world with the largest number of museums.
4. Mexico is the country with the largest number of taxi cabs in the world. 60,000 registered taxis ride Mexican streets, and most can be found in the Capital City.
5. Mexico is a big time Coca-Cola consumer.
163 liters per individual annually – this consumption rate is not seen in any other country in the world.
6. Mexico is Latin America’s most visited tourist destination.
7. The meteorite that wiped-out dinosaurs struck Mexico.
The meteorite that wiped out dinosaurs 65 million years ago hit the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán.
8. Colour TV was invented by a Mexican.
9. Mexican cuisine is officially World Cultural Heritage.
Tacos, enchiladas and of course picante – traditional Mexican cuisine is unique in its diversity and is appreciated far beyond national borders.
10. Mexico City was built on a lake – The city sinks around 12cm annually!
