Category: Countryside

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Mitla

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The ride east from Oaxaca city to Mitla through the Tlacolula valley is an archeologist’s dream. The Zapotec palace ruins in Mitla are second in importance only to Monte Alban, and include some of the finest and most complete palaces found anywhere in Mesoamerica. And on the way to Mitla the rider may well want to stop to investigate the ruins at Dainzu, Lambityeco and Yagul — all well worth a visit, and just minutes off the route. Since this ride is lengthy, be sure to allot plenty of time – like the whole day! – to enjoy both the countryside and the archeological sites.

The route shown on the map below begins and ends in the Zocalo in central Oaxaca. It requires pedaling 60.7 miles (97.7 km) along a dedicated bike path, secondary dirt roads, some bushwhacking on singletrack, and a limited amount of riding on the shoulder of the principal highway. The route is remarkably flat, entailing an elevation gain/loss of just 1780 feet (542.5 meters) along the way.  The Zocalo sits at an elevation of 5124 feet (1562 meters), while the main palace complex in Mitla is the high point, registering 5594 feet (1705 meters) above sea level.

Be sure to use sunscreen and carry plenty of water. There are numerous places enroute to stop for snacks, lunch, a cold drink, some ice cream or a snowcone.  Invite some friends to ride along, make a day of it and have an enjoyable time!

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Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Cuatro Venados Loop

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This loop ride is a cousin, of sorts, to the “San Pablo Cuatro Venados” ride which appears later on this page. Both versions of the ride begin and end in San Felipe del Agua, and both feature the very formidable climb up the mountainside to the tiny village of San Pablo Cuatro Venados. What sets this ride apart, though, is that it continues past 4 Venados, crossing through the high country at over 9000 feet elevation, then descends steeply through Santa Ines del Monte to Zaachila before returning to Oaxaca city (on mercifully level ground!). This is one of the epic rides around Oaxaca, and should not be taken lightly. The loop can be ridden in either direction, and is equally difficult either way. Pick your poison! If you can arrange a shuttle, you can eliminate the pain of the huge climb to Cuatro Venados and concentrate on the much more thrilling screamer of a downhill run back to Oaxaca.

The loop ride, start to finish, will take you 56.3 miles (90.6 km). The high point of the adventure is 9281 feet (2829 meters) in elevation. The uphill climb clocks in at 6219 feet (1895 meters). The ride is rated “Difficult” because of the length, steep gradients and altitude. There are no technical sections of trail (the entire route is on paved or dirt roads), but the unpaved sections can be quite rough in places and you will be moving at high speeds coming downhill.

Options for a shorter ride include starting and ending at the Zócalo in the center of Oaxaca rather than in San Felipe. This alone will take 7.0 miles (11.3 km) off the total distance. Using a shuttle to get to Cuatro Venados and riding just one way will cut the route in half. The segment from Cuatro Venados through Santa Ines to Zaachila amounts to just 11.3 miles (18.2 km), is mostly downhill and should take just 3 hours.

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Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing

San Pedro Ixtlahuaca Loop

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Another of the great rides in the rolling hill country of the western Etla valley, this particular loop is certainly one of the most intimidating, as the climb up through San Cristobal is steep and unrelenting. If you want even more pain, continue up the mountain to Cuatro Venados before reversing direction for a screamer of a downhill run. Your legs and lungs are guaranteed a real workout!  Just be careful to moderate your speed coming down or you may wipe out in the loose scrabble of the dirt roadway.

Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Ride Routes

Tlacolula Loop

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This loop ride comprises a tour through the open country on the southern side of the Tlacolula valley, linking Oaxaca with Tlacochahuaya and Tlacolula and skirting the mountains that form the southern rim of the valley.

Countryside, GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Oaxaca to Juquila Pilgrims’ Route

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The notion of making a religious pilgrimage is an ancient tradition. In contemporary Mexico, the concept of making a pilgrimage to a religious shrine is very much alive and well. Almost two million people flock to the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on her feast day (12 December). Here in Oaxaca state there is a lesser-known shrine to the Virgin Mary in the small mountain community of Juquila, 203 kilometers (126 miles) southwest of the capital. People from all parts of the state go there – many by bicycle or on foot – to lay petitions before the Holy Mother. Whether you want to visit Juquila out of religious fervor or just because it is a worthy destination for an epic bike ride, here is how to get there.

Be aware that this route is on the shoulder of the secondary highway linking Oaxaca city with the Pacific coast. The road is narrow, steep, very sinuous and has little or no shoulder. Vehicle use is light most of the time,  and speeds are rarely higher than 30 miles per hour. There is a fair amount of pedestrian and bicycle traffic all along the way. Nevertheless, this is a hazardous route for cyclists, so be exceptionally vigilant.