Dia De Los Muertos in Oaxaca

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

We will visit and ride through one of most scenic areas of Mexico during an ideal time of the year. We will also experience the colorful and magical celebrations related to the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos). Day of the Dead is celebrated throughout Mexico but is special in Oaxaca with many parades and celebrations to honor the deceased.

The bike tour will be supported by EcoColors which is based in Mexico and has provided support for previous BAC tours in the Yucatan and Chiapas.  The last BAC Oaxaca tour, coordinated by Bob Lambert in 2008, was also supported by Ecocolors.   EcoColors regularly conducts 3 to 5 tours in the Oaxaca area every year.  The company and its guides and drivers know the area quite well.

The first days of riding will be fixed base out of Oaxaca. We will visit two World Heritage sites; the pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Alban and the Oaxaca City Center.  We will visit the Oaxaca Cultural Center which is at the site of the famous Santo Domingo church and has a beautiful botanical garden. We will ride to El Tule which has the largest tree trunk in the world.  We will be biking through scenic landscapes of the mountains and valleys of the Mexican Sierras, visiting small towns such as the birth place of Benito Juarez, and sampling regional cuisine. During the last few days, we will move to the south of Oaxaca to ride in a varied terrain of bush desert and agricultural areas in the central valley. We will stay overnight in towns that are scenic and rich in culture.  

A detailed brochure with color photos can be viewed by pasting this link in your browser.                                         https://www.dropbox.com/sh/x2ebs45lu6gjp3r/AADcMgRB3fdr2aS77yJ7790ia?dl=0 

RIDE RATING: The average distance per day is 25 miles (42 km) and the average elevation gain is about 2700 feet.  The tour is rated a 3A, due to the rough roads and variation in elevation gain from day to day.  Three days have elevations that exceed the 3-elevation rating of 3500 ft. (1067m.).  This ride is designed to accommodate cyclists who enjoy a scenic cultural ride as well as those riders who enjoy a challenge. Van  support is available day 7 where the climb is 6561 feet and the elevation reaches 10,000 feet.   The altitude will range from around 5000 ft. (1524 m) to 10,000 ft. (3500 m). There will be 8 riding days, and rest days are on days 3, 9, and 12.  You should be comfortable riding in traffic which could be congested around the large city of Oaxaca.  Sam (the Ride Coordinator) and Gail (who speaks Spanish) will be taking a Road Scholar tour of Oaxaca for Day of the Dead in 2017 and will provide a recommended reading list.

This a challenging trip and not for riders who do not like hill climbing. While some of the daily distances are not long, there are 3 days with large climbs over short distances, which means steep gradients. (See day 6, day 7, and day 11).  Roads can be rough and as mentioned a light weight carbon road bike with narrow tires would not be appropriate.

ITINERARY:  EcoColors has prepared for BAC a brochure showing the daily itinerary, the daily elevation/mileage, and the scenery of the Oaxaca region. If you'd like to see this brochure before signing up for the tour, simply email the tour coordinator or use the link written above.  The daily distances and elevation gains are as follows:

day 1  Arrive

day 2 loop ride  15 miles, 1519 feet

day 3 rest day

day 4  loop ride  22 miles, 518 feet

day 5  24 miles, 1624 feet

day 6  loop ride  30 miles, 3976 feet

day 7  29 miles, 6561 feet

day 8 36 miles, 196 feet

day 9  rest day

day 10  13 miles, 1879 feet

day 11   38 miles, 5780 feet

WEATHER:  Oaxaca is one of those privileged cities that enjoy a climate that is often referred to as “Eternal Spring”. Located on Mexico’s high central plateau at an altitude of 5000 feet, the city enjoys a mild climate all year long. Summers and winters both are generally mild.  You will need a jacket at night.  October to May are, usually the driest months. Our one night in Cuajimoloyas at 10,000 feet will be quite cool so bring something warm.

LODGING: We will be staying in modest but nice, three-star hotels with private bathrooms.

LOGISTICS:  You can fly into Oaxaca for the start and end of the tour.  EcoColors will provide free Hotel/airport transfers on the first and last days of the trip.  You may arrange transfers with EcoColors for $40 if you spend extra days in Oaxaca.  Another option is to fly to Mexico City and take a bus to Oaxaca for one or both legs of the trip.  Mexican first-class buses are comfortable and inexpensive plus the scenery between Mexico City and Oaxaca is beautiful. You will need your passport, visa and customs declaration form.  If you bring your own bike, there will be no charge for storing bike boxes at the first hotel. Bike rentals will be available for $120.  If you intend to rent a bike, please contact Kenneth Johnson of EcoColors directly by email (info@ecotravelmexico.com) The bikes are Trek Hybrid 7.1, which were purchased in January 2015.  Newer bikes may be available at the time of the tour. You should carefully read the specs on this bike on the Trek website, and reviews of this bike, and determine if this bike would be a good fit for you.

We recommend that you leave your best bike at home.  Our bikes are placed regularly on a bicycle trailer for transport.  Although bikes are not in contact with each other on the trailer, the frequent loading and unloading of the bikes could cause frames to be scratched.   Based on previous tours and because many of the roads are rough, we recommend bikes with tires that are 1.5 inches (38 mm) in width.  Tandems are more difficult than singles in this terrain.   We also recommend bringing cycling gear including helmet, (mandatory and not provided by Ecocolors even if you rent a bike), comfortable clothes and shoes, rain jacket, warm jacket, hat, sunglasses, biodegradable insect repellent, and sunblock.

COSTS AND ADMINISTRATION: The estimated cost of $2400 includes: (1) Tips for support staff; (2) 12 nights’ accommodation; Meals included are 3 group dinners, 3 group lunches and 12 breakfasts; Two tour support vehicles comprised of a van to carry all ride participants, a luggage van, and a trailer to carry the bikes.  Including the support vehicles, one guide and one mechanic will ride along the routes with ride participants; (4) Hotel/airport free transfers on the first and last days of the trip.  You may arrange transfers with EcoColors for $40 if you spend extra days in Oaxaca (5) Drinks and snacks during riding days; (6) Social hour drinks and snacks; (7)  and Daily maps, route sheets, and gps files.  Not included are international airfare, sightseeing fees, bike rental, laundry, or alcohol with meals other than the Social Hour.

Final Payment is due June 1st 2018. You will begin to receive email notices to pay this 30 days prior to that.

SINGLES POLICY: We encourage singles to participate; the single supplement is available at a cost of $450.00.  It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until February 1, 2018 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the $100 BAC fee and credit card processing fee) or pay the $450.00 single supplement and stay on the ride.  If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary.  The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.  The maximum number of solos (riders who pay the single supplement and have their own room) the ride can accomodate is six.

CANCELLATION POLICY:  The BAC ride registration fee of $100 and the processing fee for this tour is not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost because of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant cannot be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the canceling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

For cancellations that go unfilled without a replacement, the Ecocolors policy applies and is as follows:  Cancellation more than 6 months in advance: no penalty, 5-6 months in advance penalty is $168.90, 4-5 months in advance, $337.80; 3-4 months in advance, $506.70; 2-3 months in advance, $844.50; less than 2 months in advance, $1689.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY:  Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader during the lead up to the tour.  While on the ride, your support to your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up are appreciated. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and please abide by the Ride Leader’s decisions during the tour.

SIGN UP:  To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive and email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the non-refundable BAC fee ($100) and tour deposit (50% total) by credit card. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participation List.  Final payment of $1200 is due no later than  June 1, 2018.  BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.