Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque

sunrise on the road from Oxchuc to Ocosingo

Tour Itinerary
(adaptable)

Day 1: Fly to Mexico City.
Depending on the time of day you arrive, you can visit the Museum of Anthropology or other historical or cultural attractions; go for dinner in the Colonia Condesa; head out for a night on the town.

Day 2: Mexico City to San Cristóbal de las Casas
Depending on your choice of travel arrangements, you may have time to see more of Mexico City before leaving for San Cristóbal de las Casas in the state of Chiapas.

Day 3
For those who arrived in plenty of time, we can hire a minibus to drive up to the towns of Zanacantan, Chamula and San Andres Larrianzar, Mayan communities in the spectacular mountains surrounding San Cristóbal. At 4:30 we can do the afternoon tour of Museo Na Bolom. Dinner meeting and bike inspection.

View from the cemetary at Las Ollas

Day 4
San Cristóbal to Oxchuc by bike* (55 k.). After fueling up at Casa del Pan from their excellent breakfast menu, we will head out on one of the more spectacular legs of the journey. A stop at the Las Grutas (k.12), where the cool caves will be very refreshing after our first long uphill stretch. Some of the most awesome alpine vistas are to be seen on our way to Huixtan (k.33), where we'll picnic and siesta, taking refuge from the mid afternoon sun. We will arrive in Oxchuc at least an hour before dark and arrange to take rooms or camp in the courtyard at either of the two rustic hotels. Oxchuc is a town of 34,800 inhabitants - 98.5% indigenous Maya.

*riding in the car or van accompanying us for any part of the trip is always an option

Day 5
Oxchuc to Ocosingo (45. k.) Take in the scene and breakfast at the Oxchuc town market. Head off for a mostly downhill freewheel to Ocosingo. Shop for a picnic in Ocosingo market. Visit the ruins of Tonina. Check in to Rancho Esmeralda (nice cabañas or camping, excellent food).

Day 6
Ocosingo to Aqua Azul (60 k.) On this leg of the trip, we will experience a dramatic change of climatic zone as we descend into the rainforest. Break for a picnic and siesta in the early afternoon. The Agua Azul waterfalls are a new age/hippi mecca where camping or slinging a hammock are the best options. Great swimming.

Misol Ha

Day 7
Agua Azul to Palenque (65 k.) Breakfast, a short walk up the falls and a swim. Although we will want to stay longer here, we will have to hit the road by mid morning (we'll get more of this scene, without all the tourists, in Lacanja). At Misol Ha (km.43) is a spectacular 75 metre waterfall where we can swim and chill out for an hour or so. At Palenque we can set up camp sling hammocks or take a cabaña in the beautiful botanical garden of Pan Chan cultivated by resident proprietor Moises Morales over the last 20 years. Vegetarian meals are available. Always an eclectic/excentric group of travelers here.

Day 8
Chill out all day at Palenque. Visit the spectacular ruins, the museum and cool off at the "Queen's Baths", cascading natural pools in the jungle park.

Day 9
Palenque to Yaxchilan (170 k.) "What?!" Have no fear, we will throw our bikes on the roof of the bus and skip this depressing stretch of deforested highway. Embark on the river trip to Yaxchilan Ruins. The whole trip by river boat, the jungle enveloped ruins and the chorus of howler monkeys are very exotic. Take a cabin or camp at Escudo Jaguar Lodge.

Day 10
Bike from Rio Usumacinta to Lacanjá (40k.) Check in at Kin Bor's camp ground for three nights in this Lacandon Maya community on the edge of the Montes Azules biosphere reserve. Facilities at "Kin Bor's Camping" are excellent, given we are in one of the most remote parts of Mexico. There is a thatched, screened in gazebo we can communalize near an idylic stream for bathing . An afternoon walk in the forest to the Cascades Lacanja for a swim. For dinner and other meals we can share our fresh produce from the market in Palenque with Nuk, Kin Bor's wife, and colaborate to prepare meals, in her surprisingly modern kitchen. Dine on picnic tables rough cut from solid(!) mahogany.

La Selva Lacandon

Day 11
Bike out to Bonampak ruins (12 k.). Return to K'in Bor's oasis at Lacanja. Late afternoon walk in the rainforest to Cascades Lacanja for a swim? Or just relax at camp and take a dip in the shady streams nearby.

Day 12
Visit the unexcavated Lacanja ruins (with a local guide), 4 k. into the rainforest, swim at the Cascades Lacanja. Invite some of the locals to a wrap party?

Day 13
With our bikes on the roof, we'll return by local bus to Palenque, say farewell and make connections for Mexico City.