If you really want to see the archeological sites visited on this trip, i.e. Chichen Itza, Coba... Lynn Pammett, 2017 See more reviews
If you don't mind the long cycle rides you will be rewarded by the sites you visit on the trip. Denise Hall, 2017 See more reviews
Cycled the Yucatan peninsula in January. Great weather,flat terrain and amazing company. Mike MacRae, 2017 See more reviews
A really interesting and well structured holiday supported by excellent guides. The cycling is... Andrea Barr, 2016 See more reviews
The trip was excellent cycling not too hard but hard enough considering temperatures with a mix... Steven Shuttleworth, 2016 See more reviews
Fast cycling along straight roads (jungle on both sides), passing through interesting Mayan... Francoise- Walker, 2016 See more reviews
This trip has a good mixture of cycling, culture & beach holiday. The cycling scenery is not... Satu Hietanen, 2016 See more reviews
A great week of fast cycling in a flat landscape. Plenty of sightseeing too. Victor Green, 2016 See more reviews
This was an excellent trip to Mayan Mexico. Visiting small villages, colonial towns, Mayan ruins... Frances Galbraith, 2016 See more reviews
Itinerary Expand all Cancun to Cancun Day 1 Start Cancun. Fly to Cancun; transfer to family-run hotel in Cancun. Comfortable Hotel Day 2 Boat to Isla Mujeres and cycle around the island; transfer to Merida; afternoon city tour. The day starts with a bike fitting which will take place adjacent to the hotel. Once everyone is ready to go we set off on a short ride to Puerto Juarez from where we’ll be taken by boat to Isla Mujeres (the Island of Women). We enjoy a leisurely cycle around this beautiful island and have a swim or spend some time relaxing on the beach. In the afternoon we will travel to the bustling colonial city of Merida (approx. 3 hour drive). Our guide will give us an interesting historical overview of the Yucatan region and take us on a tour of the city featuring the markets and the governor’s palace. Many of the buildings in Merida were constructed using stones from the Mayan city which existed on the site and these are still visible in the walls of the imposing cathedral. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Ride from Merida to Izamal. Today is our first proper day on the road and in the saddle! For the next few days we will enjoy cycling down quiet backroads and passing through occasional Mayan villages, plus visits to various cenotes in the coming days (picturesque sink holes to underground rivers). The terrain is flat and the riding is fairly easy going but we will be covering some large distances nevertheless. From Merida we cycle to the delightful town of Izamal, also known as La Ciudad Amarilla (The Yellow City), due to the colour of its buildings. Izamal was an important worship centre for the ancient Mayas. Here we’ll explore the pyramids that were devoted to the gods and take in a 360 degree view across the surrounding jungle. We’ll also have the opportunity to visit the impressive monastery built by the Spanish colonists in the main square. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Cycle to Chichen Itza; tour of the archeological site. Back on our bikes, we make our way across a flat landscape towards one of the largest Mayan ceremonial centres at Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The impressive El Castillo Pyramid sits in the middle of the site and is surrounded by temples, palaces and ball courts. The leader will give us a tour of the whole site. Nearby, we will stop to visit the Cenote Sagrado ('Sacred Well'), dredged in the early 20th Century and found to contain precious gold, silver and jade artifacts as well as the remains of sacrifice victims. Our hotel for the night is located close by. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Cycle to colonial town of Valladolid. Today we ride from Chichen Itza to Valladolid passing through yet more picturesque Mayan villages, where locals still speak their ancestors’ language. We have some time to explore the beautiful colonial architecture of Valladolid before heading to a nearby cenote (natural sinkholes in the limestone bedrock that reveal crystal clear underground lagoons and rivers) to cool off after another day in which we cover a large distance. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Ride to Coba; visit ruins and swim in a cenote (natural sinkhole); drive to Tulum on the Caribbean coast. Continuing eastwards, we ride to the archeological site of Coba and afterwards stop for a refreshing swim in the nearby Tamcach Ha cenotes. Once in Coba, we climb to the top of the tallest Mayan pyramid in Mexico and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding scenery. We then drive to the fantastic beach community of Tulum, which will be our picturesque home for the next 2 nights. Just outside the town lies one of the most photographed sites in the Yucatan; the ruins of an ancient Mayan city that overlook the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Ride Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve coastal path; drive to Tulum ruins. From our beachfront hotel we’ll head towards Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve on a coastal road (there may be sections of unpaved road) in a southerly direction. Along the way we'll learn from our guide the importance of protected areas in Mexico and all about the ecosystems and wildlife of the Sian Kaan Reserve. This area is home to an incredible variety of habitats and over 300 species of birds. Afterwards we will cycle back towards the archeological site of Tulum, where Caribbean and Mayan culture blend into beautiful landscapes. The Tulum site has some impressive buildings. The most famous buildings in the complex are the ruins that overlook the lapping waves of the Caribbean, but there are also several temples, ritual platforms and houses to be explored. In common with many other Mayan cities, the whole site is surrounded by a huge defensive wall. Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Transfer to Cancun airport; end. We depart Tulum and transfer to Cancun Airport where the trip ends. Meals included: Breakfast
Mexico Holders of British, Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian and most EU passports do not require visas for Mexico. However, please note that if flying via the USA, you will have to clear immigration during transit. In this case, you will be required to get an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) prior to flying if travelling via the USA under the Visa Waiver Scheme (as is the case for most UK citizens). Please see www.exodus.co.uk/USVisa for more information.
Mexico There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels Throughout the trip we use carefully sourced high quality hotels that provide comfortable bases for us each night. Some hotels have swimming pools. In Tulum we stay in a hotel situated on the stunning beach front. Rooms are on a twin share basis with air conditioning and en suite bathrooms. We can arrange single rooms throughout the trip for a supplement (subject to availability). Please ask your sales consultant for details.
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Reviewed January 2019 Andrea Horner Trip: Cycling in Mexico Loved Mexico but disappointed in this trip I am a big fan of Exodus and did a cycling trip with you in Sri Lanka two years ago. Experienced all of the local traditions, cultures, cuisine and lifestyle which is what the Exodus brand promises but this trip didn’t really live up to that. Our guide Omar was really nice and fun but this was only his second cycling trip and we were a full group of 18 and I think he was too inexperienced to have been asked to do it. The schedule didn’t seem right, most days we didn’t seem to follow the trip notes and we were cycling for long periods of time, sometimes not getting lunch until 5 PM. In Sri Lanka we would cycle, see and experience different places, stop for lunch and then get back on our bikes and cycle more. This trip it seems that we had to do all of the cycling before lunch and in a group of 18 when you have to stop for breaks that just isn’t practical. I was also disappointed that the trip wasn’t structured better because we didn’t really get to see much of the local culture. In Merida as an example, by the time we finished lunch it was around 4 PM and we never got a chance to experience the Mayan museum or some of the other local historic sites that would have been really interesting to see. The Exodus brand is all about your guide being able to talk to you about the history and the culture but Omar was unable to do this, perhaps because he was so new and that was a real shame. Don’t get me wrong, Omar and his team worked really hard and they were lovely but we seems to just be cycling on long roads without really stopping in local places to experience the local traditions and that was a shame. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I loved visiting the tequila factory and seeing the process of how it was made. I loved floating in the mangroves at the biosphere reserve. And the Cenotes were absolutely beautiful and experiencing swimming in those was wonderful. The Mexican people are also delightful and everywhere we went we got wonderful service. Visiting the sites of Mayan ruins was also wonderful. What did you think of your group leader? Omar was nice and he was friendly but he was inexperienced and he was not knowledgeable in the areas that we travelled to. I found that sometimes he gave an answer (that was incorrect) rather than say that he didn’t know. My friend hurt herself while we were travelling and he was very professional and attentive and prioritised her well-being very well. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you want to cycle on long boring roads, eat lunch after 3 PM and not really experience the real Mexico then this is the trip for you. If you are more interested in actually exploring the country (which is absolutely beautiful and there is so much to see and experience) then perhaps consider a different trip. Is there anything else you would like to add? The group on our holiday was really diverse and we had real fun, even though I am unhappy with this trip I have fond memories of it and I will remember all of the best parts. I am disappointed, having had such wonderful experiences with Exodus before and in terms of value for money I really don’t think that this trip was worth it. One of the reasons for choosing a trip like this is that I don’t need to think about where we are going, what we are doing, I know (or I hope) that we have a good schedule, we are going to see all of the best things, we are going to be with somebody who has great knowledge and is really passionate about the country and I definitely didn’t get that on this trip. At times it was quite stressful because we had to challenge the schedule as it wasn’t working out for us or for other members of the group and that dampened the relaxing experience that I was hoping for. Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Andrea for taking the time to review her holiday, but as we recognise the value that good leadership adds to clients’ overall enjoyment of our tours, we were disappointed to learn that she did not find Omar to manage her group well. Omar has been working as a tour leader for several years and has led Exodus tours in the past. Although previous clients have told us that the found Omar to be very good, we realise that clients have different experiences whilst travelling. Going forward, our local team will provide additional training to Omar, which we trust will ensure that future clients which Omar leads will have a more positive experience. Malcolm Parkinson – Product Manager
Reviewed January 2019 Jeff Messerschmidt Trip: Cycling in Mexico Mexico Good route and good staff What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? cenote swimming What did you think of your group leader? very good Do you have any advice for potential travellers? bring a bag for the bike or light backpack Is there anything else you would like to add? no
Reviewed November 2018 michael carmody Trip: Cycling in Mexico Mexico cycling I have thoroughly enjoyed my previous two cycling trips with Exodus. This however was a real disappointment. The group were great. The central four days of the trip were far from great. The distances were far too long.....although the brochure uses the word 'Leisurely' to describe the trip. More than 70 km is not going to be leisurely! And on many occasions we cycled for more than one hour with no stop (and in 30 degrees plus!) There was nothing to see because the terrain was flat and the boring straight road was flanked by impenetrable trees and bushes. The village/town stops were minimal. The leader was excellent in many respects but was not aware what was happening behind him. He led the cycling and walking and frankly left me behind (although I cycle 35 miles at home in my group). He could have sent the minibus forward with the refreshments and stayed back with the slower riders. There would not then have been such a spirit of competition. Very disappointed! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The day off at the end What did you think of your group leader? Please see my comments above Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Yes. Please see my comments before booking. Is there anything else you would like to add? No Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Michael for his feedback, although we are very sorry to read that he was left disappointed with this holiday. The daily distances are taken into consideration when setting an activity level for our cycling holidays and so we are confident that a level 2 is appropriate for this holiday. It is normal for the tour leader to lead from the front, and for the support vehicle to follow the group in case clients wish to not complete the full day's ride and provide further assistance. We also feel it is worth mentioning that clients have given this tour an average of 4.6 stars out of a possible 5; we feel this is reassuring, however we are genuinely sorry that Michael's experience was not so positive. Malcolm Parkinson – Product Manager for Mexico
Reviewed March 2017 Lynn Pammett Trip: Cycling in Mexico Boring Cycling With headwinds If you really want to see the archeological sites visited on this trip, i.e. Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum on a bike you should know that the roads cycled are flat, straight and boring with daily headwinds. The scenery is extremely uninspiring with piles of garbage alongside the roads on the outskirts of every town. This trip will largely appeal to cyclists who are there mainly to put their heads down and ride as fast as possible to to get the 45 to 70 km days over with. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting Chichen Itza and Tulum. They are really worth a visit and an understanding of the magnificent accomplishments of the Mayan people. The towns and villages were interesting as well, especially Merida. What did you think of your group leader? Anwar (Edger) is a terrific guide. He is always checking to see if group members have everything they need. He answers all questions thoroughly and obviously has a good understanding of the region's history and its populations. He is enthusiastic about his job and this obviously rubs off on his companion driver/bike mechanic, Gabriel. He selected good hotels and a variety of restaurants for the group. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The heat is not so much a concern as the headwinds and occasional rough road surfaces. Ask for more time at Chichen Itza.
Reviewed February 2017 Denise Hall Trip: Cycling in Mexico Cycling Mexico If you don't mind the long cycle rides you will be rewarded by the sites you visit on the trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Sun rise at Chichen Itza. The other archeological sites offered a real insight into the Myan culture. What did you think of your group leader? Edgar had excellent knowledge of the area. Was always attentive to everyone's needs. Took us to varied places to eat. Arranged for excellent local guides at the different sites. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for cycle rides that are on long straight roads that are hot and mostly into head winds, The scenery is mainly scrub land but you will pass through and stop in local villages, there are also plenty of water and snack stops on route. Is there anything else you would like to add? Floating down the lazy river after the last ride is a must it is relaxing and very refreshing.
Reviewed February 2017 Mike MacRae Trip: Cycling in Mexico Fantastic experience Cycled the Yucatan peninsula in January. Great weather,flat terrain and amazing company. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting 3 sets of Mayan ruins - all different and completing the 323 km trip without using the bus. What did you think of your group leader? Edgar was great - despite suffering from flu he soldiered on and encouraged us all when we were flagging. He was very flexible showed initiative when appropriate. He was patient could not do enough for us all.had an amazing command of English. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Remember to hydrate as the weather can be hot. Take a gel saddle as the trip is long. Is there anything else you would like to add? Hotels were very comfortable and most had pools which we used. Would suggest smaller groups as 18 was at times unwieldy. Spent hours in restaurants. Los Lirios the final hotel was disappointing as it was miles from town and the staff were less than enthusiastic
Reviewed December 2016 Andrea Barr Trip: Cycling in Mexico mayan magic! A really interesting and well structured holiday supported by excellent guides. The cycling is flat and the long straight roads can seem unending but the towns visited, the mayan ruins and the swimming in the cenotes at the end of a hot day in the saddle are worth it. Its early starts but also the first time in a tropical country where there has been quality time in the afternoon to enjoy the hotel and its pool or the Caribbean! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Chitzen Itza at dawn. We were the only people there. I thouht only royalty got that privilege. Swimming in cenotes. climbing the temple at Coba floating down the canal at Sian Khan reserve in the utter peace and quiet. What did you think of your group leader? Edgar led the first day then Hernan took over that role and Edgar switched to driving but they were both equally excellent. Nothing was too much trouble. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go on the trip! Take extra time at the end to stay on and go to Cozumel or even Mexico City if you can.
Reviewed November 2016 Steven Shuttleworth Trip: Cycling in Mexico Cycling in Mexico MAM The trip was excellent cycling not too hard but hard enough considering temperatures with a mix of cycling and culture. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Swimming in the Cenotes and the optional activity of floating through the mangroves. What did you think of your group leader? The group leader Edgar was excellent, knowledgeable, amiable and enthusiastic. If he did not know the answer to a question he would say and the next day would have the answers. We were all most grateful for his local knowledge and choice of local restaurants and guides on different local dishes. The back up team were great too. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go to Mexico
Reviewed November 2016 Francoise- Walker Trip: Cycling in Mexico Cycling in Mexico Fast cycling along straight roads (jungle on both sides), passing through interesting Mayan villages. All done by lunch time. Afternoons spent in lovely towns and/or visiting Mayan acheological sights. Refreshing swims in fascinating cenotes, comfortable hotels and great Mexican food. Good mixture of leisurely and moderate. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing the pyramid of Coba to be greeted by an amazing panoramic view of endless jungle as far as the eye can see. Floating through the mangrove swamp. Visiting Chechen Itza. Entering Izamel by bike. What did you think of your group leader? Edgar was excellent, nothing was too much trouble for him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The cycling is fast and you cover long distances. It is hot and humid.
Reviewed March 2016 Satu Hietanen Trip: Cycling in Mexico Cycling in Yucatan This trip has a good mixture of cycling, culture & beach holiday. The cycling scenery is not the most exciting but frequent stops at colonial towns and Mayan villages make up for it. Cancun feels very American but as soon as you travel inland you feel like you are in a different country. The four main cycling days are very full on with sightseeing, swimming in cenotes etc so it was nice to have free time at the end to relax in Tulum. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The yellow town of Izamal, Mayan ruins (Tulum was my favourite) and swimming in cenotes. What did you think of your group leader? Fernando was great; very well organised, always helpful and amazingly knowledgeable about Mexican/Mayan culture. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't underestimate the heat! This trip is classified as moderate level but 39C (as we had on our hottest day) could add a level or two of difficulty if you are not used to it. Is there anything else you would like to add? Don't miss out on the optional boat trip on the last cycling day. The part where you float in the river is so much more fun than it sounds!
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