Mountain and Coast

9 day Package - $1,195

Day 1- Arrive Loreto. We will meet you at the Loreto airport and arrange for your transfer to a local Loreto hotel. An orientation meeting will be held in the afternoon to help you get prepared for the upcoming adventure and to meet the guides. Dinner on your own in the seaside village of Loreto, we'll direct you to our favorite restaurants and sites about town.

Day 2- 25 miles. Meet at 7 a.m. for breakfast and to load gear into the support vehicle. The first part of the day we will be riding through coastal foothills with great views of the Sea of Cortez and the ridges of the Sierra de La Giganta. Mid morning break in a palm lined canyon with indigenous rock art, and then a few miles of climb up the Las Parras canyon road to the 'great divide' of central Baja.

Taking it easy on the first day of riding we plan visits at local ranches along the way. In the afternoon we ride down the gently sloping western watershed through cactus garden valleys to Misión San Javier, one of the first and definitely the best preserved of the California missions. We'll overnight in adobe thatch bungalows in the tranquil village, and enjoy a great dinner at a traditional restaurant off the cobbled village road.

Day 3 - 15-20 miles. After breakfast on the patio we'll take a tour of the historic church and gardens. Today, pedal down-canyon on dirt roads to a colorful garden ranch and a cool swimming hole. Instead of altitude today, the singletrack trails in nearby arroyos challenge intermediate to advanced riders. A trek back to the village ends the day with cold sodas and beer to seriously relax. A traditional ranch meal awaits in Rosina's garden - fresh handmade tortillas, beans, goat cheese or stew, and rich, mesquite-roasted coffee or orange leaf tea. Bungalows, baths and beds are a treat for our last night in the village.

Day 4 - 25-35 miles. This morning we veer to the north and follow the route of the Baja 1000 road-race route. A great route for beginners as we crest a few low desert hills, and excellent singletrack riding options parallel an intermediate to advanced road track. Volcanic plateaus, palm spring oases, and sonoran desert gardens make this a perfect Baja backroad ride. Plus, the best of both worlds as we challenge the Cuesta de Las Animas for a ridgetop view to the Pacific coast. Afternoon finds us winding back towards the great divide, to Rancho Viejo, and a camp under the starry desert sky.

Day 5 - 20-30 miles - Breakfast at Rancho Viejo, with our hosts Juan Bautista and Maria Romero. This ranch visit is always a highlight for guests. Juan is an artist with natural building materials, and Maria, an artist with traditional ranch meals prepared over the coals on her "hornilla" cookstove. Take an early a.m. ride around desert trails, or watch the morning ranch activities of goat milking and cheese making, Baja style. Mid morning we head back down the Las Parras canyon road with great views to the Sea of Cortez. Back in Loreto by noon we switch gears, load bikes on the support vehicle, and head 45 miles south on Highway 1 to the roadhead for Bahia Agua Verde. Another perfect route starts with 5 miles on a high desert ridge and ends with a grand finale of 5 miles downhill to the sea. We'll camp on the coast, visit hot springs, and have spectacular desert / sea views on this half of the tour.

Days 6 & 7- 10-15 miles each day - Have you ever had the chance to snorkel on a mountain bike tour? We include snorkel gear and a couple of sit-on-top kayaks to take advantage of the great reefs and coves along our coastal route. Today we ride south to Agua Verde, visit the remote fishing village have a picnic with views to the bird nesting islands just off shore, and then head back to our base camp near a salt-water hot spring. Perfect end to a great seaside ride.

Day 8 - Take a morning ride along the coast to a favorite snorkel spot about 2 miles distant. Then, our last day, a good 5 mile challenge back up the coastal track to the mountain ridges, and 8 miles of desert hill country to wind down and end the trip. Mid afternoon we'll head back to Loreto. Enjoy a hot shower at the hotel, shop in town and join an evening fiesta dinner hosted by Pedaling South.

Day 9 - Departure day. Paradise lost....or stay for a day trip by skiff out to Isla Coronado and beautiful snorkeling. Buen viaje, and we hope to see you on another great ride in Baja.

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