All in Oaxaca Mexico

Cycling the Chiapas Highlands: Arriaga to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico

Cycling the Chiapas Highlands: Arriaga to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico

Pedals and Puffins
Bike Touring, Bike Travel, Bikepacking, Cycling, Ecosystems, Oaxaca Mexico, Pueblos Mágicos, Sierra Madre del Sur, Wildlife, Missions and Churches, Central American Highlands

Departing Arriaga, Mexico we had nowhere to go but up. First, we cycled upwards from the hot and humid coastal plain through the gorgeous Sierra Madre del Sur, where a close encounter with wild coatis boosted our spirits. Next we crossed a broad, highland valley that took us to the state’s bustling capital city. But it was the second big climb, up onto the high Chiapas Plateau that nearly did us in. After gaining a mile and a half in elevation in a single day, we cycled into the magical town of San Cristóbal de las Casas - exhausted but victorious. San Cristóbal ended up being a wonderful place to hang out, becoming one of our favorite cities in Mexico.

Mezcal Mountains and Windy Lowlands: Cycling from Oaxaca to Arriaga, Mexico

Mezcal Mountains and Windy Lowlands: Cycling from Oaxaca to Arriaga, Mexico

Pedals and Puffins
Bike Touring, Bike Travel, Bikepacking, Cycling, Ecosystems, Missions and Churches, Oaxaca Mexico, Sierra Madre del Sur, Wildlife, Pan-American Highway

After a wonderful layover in Oaxaca, we saddled up and cycled down the Pan-American Highway towards Guatemala. The road took us eastward through the heartland of mezcal production, then over a series of high mountain passes. After descending onto the Pacific coastal plain, we battled both the fierce winds that blow across the narrowest part of Mexico and a mysterious animal we found in our hotel room in the middle of the night. Our final stop was the bustling commercial hub of Arriaga, where we rested before tackling the big climb back into the Sierras.

TransMexico Norte Part 6: Cycling from Izúcar de Matamoros to Oaxaca, Mexico

TransMexico Norte Part 6: Cycling from Izúcar de Matamoros to Oaxaca, Mexico

Pedals and Puffins
Bike Touring, Bike Travel, Bikepacking, Cycling, Ecosystems, Missions and Churches, TransMexico Norte, Wildlife, Oaxaca Mexico, Sierra Madre del Sur

The final leg of the TransMexico Norte bikepacking route took us across high ridges in the Sierra Madre del Sur. Daily thunderstorms ensured that we started our days early, and sought shelter in the afternoons. We traveled through the cradle of the Mixtec civilization, whose people have inhabited the high mountain valleys for thousands of years - and whose descendants remain to this day. On the final day of cycling, we dropped down into the Valley of Oaxaca for an extended layover, where we celebrated Mexico’s Independence Day.