Countryside, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Sunday ride to San Martin Tilcajete

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A gorgeous Sunday for a long ride through the countryside to San Martin Tilcajete. Eleven riders took part in the outing, stopping for brunch at the charming Almu garden restaurant in Tilcajete. The rainy season has run its course this year and we had blue skies with puffy white clouds overhead. The termperature – 73°F / 23°C – was ideal. Our route covered 44.3 miles / 71.3 kms, with 1429 feet / 435.5 meters of climbing along the way. The only disappointment was that we hoped to see fields of flowers ready to be harvested for Day of the Dead festivities, but found nary a one. The ride got underway at 7:30 am and concluded at 2:00 pm.

The Day of the Dead ofrenda at the entrance to the Amlu restaurant in Tilcajete.

Some of the serving wenches at Amlu.

One of the dining patios.
Memelas for two hungry ciclistas.
Most of today’s merry musketeers.
A colorful uninvited guest at our table.

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing, Photos

Cascada at San Gabriel Etla

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With group bike rides happening every Sunday year around, it is quite unusual to latch onto a route and destination never explored before. Such was the case on this day in the fall of 2026. Seven cyclists – including a visitor from Vancouver on an ebike – took part in this outing which covered 36 miles (58 kms) on a track leading from the center of Oaxaca city into the hills above San Gabriel Etla. Most of the route was fairly level, following an old railroad right-of-way through open countryside. However, once at San Miguel Etla the gang had some serious climbing to reach the waterfall deep in a lushly forested valley. All told, the elevation gain and loss amounted to 1378 feet (420 meters) on the round trip. Riders stopped at the Rancho San Antonio on the way home for a delicious late morning meal. The ride got underway at 7:30 am and lasted seven hours, with folks getting home at 2:30 in the afternoon – having to ride in light rain the last few miles into town.

The day started with blue skies but light rain began falling as the group neared Oaxaca on the return home.
Riders had to leave their bikes behind to hike along a creek flowing through lush vegetation.
Though hardly a roaring waterfall, the cascada was a pretty sight nevertheless.
Rancho San Antonio was a welcome stopping place for brunch on the ride home.
Memelas, costalitos, chilaquiles and other tasty delights were more than enough to satisfy our gang.
The rancho featured several animal attractions – geese, a raccoon and even a crocodile!

Countryside, GPS, MTBing

Serendipitous Sunday

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This is essentially a loop ride through the countryside southwest of Oaxaca which makes use of many little used back roads. There is a good amount of climbing and descending, but nothing too difficult or challenging. This five hour long excursion includes a stop for breakfast at a family owned comedor in Arrazola. Distance: 24.2 miles / 38.9 kms Elevation change: 1326 feet / 404 meters. Duration: 5 hours Rating: moderate

Countryside, Foothills, GPS, MTBing

El Cerrodito de Leon

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There is a circular concrete platform ten meters in diameter atop a hill a mile or more to the southeast of San Bartolo Coyotepec. Its use is a mystery, since access to the stage is by way of a very rough and little used back road popular mostly with mountain bikers.
It was just such a group that rode this way on a Sunday morning the last day of May. The map below shows the route coming home, so illustrates a bit less than one half the distance ridden today. Though the total distance covered was only 25 miles (40.3 kms) the ride is rated moderate to difficult because of the hill climbs on loose and rocky jeep roads. As per custom, the gang stopped for breakfast at Comedor Hilda in San Bartolo on the way home. The ride got underway at 7:15 am and wrapped up shortly after noon.


Countryside, GPS, MTBing

El Carmen / La Raya Loop

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This is a favorite loop ride through the countryside to the south and west of Oaxaca. The majority of the route is on back roads covering mostly flat terrain. However, there are three significant hill climbs before reaching El Carmen that will test the mettle of most riders. However, from there bikers enjoy a terrific stretch of downhill which makes the uphill grunt worth the effort. This route covers 36 miles ( 58 kms), with an elevation gain and loss of almost 1700 feet (518 meters). Expect to spend about 5.5 hours in the saddle to finish the ride.