2023.01.13 – 2023.01.23 (11 days)
Having already done a first international bike touring trip, we now have the confidence to try another one. We figure Mexico would be a great destination to escape the cold Canadian winter. Plus, my friend Gen and I both being foodies, we know we’ll be well served in this aspect. My brief research reveals that the Yucatan region in Mexico is very doable by bike, so we’re sold!
Day 1: Puerto Morelos
We arrive at the Cancun airport and we head directly to our airbnb in Puerto Morelos, which is about a half hour drive away (we take an uber). We decided to stay in this small town instead of in Cancun in order to avoid the big city and start our tour from this point, also giving us a head start for the loop we would do. We stay at an awesome airbnb, with our lovely host José and his awesome mom Monica, who welcomed us with open arms. They were extremely welcoming, and they even allowed us to keep our bike boxes at their home during the tour.
Day 2-4: Puerto Morelos to Tulum (interior loop)
We explore the interior part of the Yucatan peninsula, first staying at some lovely cabins in Nuevo Durango, then making our way to Coba to see some ruins.
Day 5: Exploring Tulum, staying at a pretty cool container hostel
Day 6-7: Tulum to Playa del Carmen, then take the ferry over to Cozumel
We stop at some beautiful cenotes on the way. The cool water is much appreciated as a relief from the hot and humid weather.
Day 8-9: Exploring Cozumel
We did a loop of half of the island, which was an absolutely beautiful ride. The south-eastern part has a cycle lane and is right along the coast, allowing for wonderful scenery.
Day 10: Playa del Carmen to Puerto Morelos
We take the ferry back to Playa del Carmen and Gen and I part ways; she is continuing her trip and I head back to Puerto Morelos in order to head home. I pack up my bike and get ready for my flight the next day.
TAKEAWAY: We found this region of Mexico to be quite suitable for a bike trip. We didn’t feel unsafe and the cars generally gave us space. The weather at this time of year, although hot, was not unbearable for cycling. That being said, we wouldn’t have felt very comfortable doing some wild camping as two female travelers, hence why we chose to stay in cabins/hostels/airbnbs. Also, we found the terrain to be quite flat, so we missed the challenging climbs. The most beautiful stretch was definitely the loop we did on the island of Cozumel.