Ruta Maya

This incredible cycling adventure will take riders across Central America, from Costa Rica through Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and on into Mexico. They will marvel at the remarkable Mayan ruins in Copan Ruinas, Tikal, Lamanai and Tulum, pedal through small rural villages, wander through colourful local markets and spin past verdant rainforests and roaring waterfalls. Cyclists will gaze up in wonder at the region’s towering volcanoes and laze away on sun-drenched beaches. Central America’s Spanish history is evident in the beautiful colonial architecture of Granada, Nicaragua while the area’s biodiversity is spectacular and the riders can even try their luck at spotting the most beautiful of birds, the Quetzal, Guatemala’s national symbol.

The hilly terrain of Central America means that the cycling will be very challenging with many gorgeous climbs and, thankfully, an equal number of stunning descents. The 3200 km expedition features 32 cycling days broken up by 8 well-allocated rest days, ensuring that the adventurers make the most of their cycling trip. The overall ride is actually downhill as the cyclists drop over 1000m from beginning to end. There is, however, the small matter of the terrain in-between. Over 32 riding days the cyclists will climb over 45,000 m, an average of 1500m per riding day. The route almost completely avoids major highways. Instead cyclists will spend their days pedaling along quiet rural roads, many of them unpaved, passing by isolated settlements and deserted mining towns.

Highlights

• Colonial cities
• Ancient Mayan cities
• Volcanoes and jungles
• Off the beaten path Central America