http://www.ridethesierra.com/
Butterflies to Beaches
8 day tour
Preparing for the tour
After being greeted at the airport in Guadalajara, you will be taken to your accommodations in the charming, cobblestoned town of Ajijic, on the north shore of Lake Chapala, a short ride of just 25 minutes. In the evening we meet at our tour center at Casa Sierra to complete any administrative matters. You will have the opportunity to get acquainted with your bike and fellow travelers and enjoy a hacienda-style dinner.Accommodations in Ajijic are at the hotel Real de Chapala
Day 1 Ajijic - Morélia
Our support vehicle will be at the hotel to pick up your luggage at 8:00 a.m. You will be wearing your riding gear so should need only one medium sized suitcase (per person) to take on the tour. Any extra travel bags can be stored at Casa Sierra until we return in eight days.
We will gather at Casa Sierra, the RSM Tour Center, at 8:30 ready to ride. A top box will be mounted on each bike to carry your personal items including water bottle and a warmer layer of clothes which will be needed at higher altitudes. There will be a short briefing on the days' ride and we will be on our way.
The first day's trip takes us through Ajijic, past the lakeside tourist zone, around Lake Chapala and up into the alpine forests of the Sierra del Tigre. We will stop to have coffee in the charming mountain town of Mazamitla (7,300 ft.) then, continue south and east crossing into the state of Michoacán through mountains and past volcanoes pausing at the Volcán Paricutín and arrive mid-afternoon in time for some sight-seeing at the incredibly well preserved colonial city of Morélia where we will spend the night near the cathedral at the Saddle time: 6.5 hrs
Day 2 Morélia - Ciudad Hidalgo
This morning we will have time to visit Morélia's spectacular baroque-style cathedral, see more of this beautiful European-style colonial city, and enjoy brunch before we head through villages via twisty mountain roads to Ciudad Hidalgo (7,740 ft.) where we will spend the night in the hacienda style hotel Ojo de Agua.Saddle time: 2 hours
Day 3 Ciudad Hidalgo - Huétamo - DAY OF THE BUTTERFLIES
Leaving at 8:30 in the morning, we take the 1½ hour ride to the turn-off to the Parque Nacional el Rosario. From here we ascend by motorcycle to the entrance of the monarch butterfly biosphere (8,700 ft) and then hike up a paved stairway into the trees to see the monarchs which spend the coldest winter months huddled together in the trees, they roost in concentrations so dense that the weight of them can snap off branches. (There is a discovery center for those who prefer not to hike. Note: We will be walking at altitudes of up to 10,000 ft.).From El Rosario, we begin our ride southwest toward the Pacific across the spectacular Sierra Madre del Sur, winding along mountain roads, through rain forests and past waterfalls to the small town of Huétamo.
We spend the night at the Hotel Las Palmas.
Total Saddle time: 5.5 hours
Day 4 - Huétamo - Ixtapa
We depart Huétamo after breakfast, continuing through the Sierra Madre del Sur and dropping down to lower altitudes where we will pass sugar cane and corn fields until we reach the modern beachside resort of Ixtapa and its neighbor, the fishing village of Zihuatanejo in the state of Guerrero. We will spend 2 nights here. Hotel options depending on availability include: Saddle time: 7 hours
Day 5 Ixtapa
A day to relax on the beach or at poolside, or take an optional day ride to explore the area.Day 6 Ixtapa - Uruápan
From Ixtapa, we head up the coast, cross the Dam at Infiernillo and then back up into the mountains to the high tropics and the city of Uruápan (5,315 ft.). The main natural attraction at Uruápan is the Cupatítzio River, dubbed "the river that sings". Along its flow is the Nacional Parque de Eduardo Ruiz, famous for its lush vegetation and spectacular water features. We will be staying at the beautiful Mansión del Cupatítzio which is located right beside the Parque.
Saddle time: 6 hours
Day 7 Uruápan - Pátzcuaro
Winding our way north from Uruápan, through mountain roads and valleys, we will have time to stop at the archaeological site of Tingambato, which dates to somewhere between 500 and 1000 AD, and then visit the copper artisan center of Santa Clara de Cobre. About 10 miles north is our destination, Pátzcuaro (7,216 ft), a town of crooked cobblestone streets, smooth stucco walls painted white with dark red borders, blackened tile roofs that join to form ramshackle rooflines -- it is a town famous for its artisans, it churches and plazas, its sidewalk cafes and great restaurants. There will be time to visit the town, explore the lake or see some of the Indian villages on the lake shore.
Saddle Time: 5.5 hours
Day 8 Pátzcuaro - Ajijic
We return home via the town of Sahuayo where we will have lunch. A farewell dinner at Casa Sierra ends the tour...for this time at least.Saddle Time: 5.5 hours
No comments:
Post a Comment