Is Mexico safe?
Will the food and water make me sick?
How can I cycle under the hot Mexican sun?
What vaccinations should I get?
What about malaria?
How do I get to Mexico?
How do I get my bike there?
How shall I bring my money?
What identification and documents do I need to bring?
Does El Tour provide or rent bikes?
Am I physically able to do this ride?
Will I be too slow?
How hot will it be?
Should I bring a tent?
Should I bring rainwear?
Will I enjoy this tour?
It is our experience that Mexico has wrongly earned a reputation for being a dangerous place. The people are friendly, hospitable and curious. They have good family values and a strong sense of decency. Just like anywhere in the world, larger cities can be dangerous places; however we spend most of our time in small towns and in the countryside. Some common sense tactics will improve your safety still more; avoid carrying large sums of money and avoid wearing expensive jewellery. A humble appearance and attitude will go a long way for safety and will also make for richer, more down to earth interactions with the locals.
Cooking, peeling and/or washing food in pure water is the best way to get rid of germs. By always eating at popular, clean restaurants we ensure that the food is freshly prepared and served hot, thus safe. It is wise to avoid salads; uncooked vegetables; raw or rare meat, fish or shellfish; and unpasteurized milk or milk products. That said, Mexico has come a long way in hygiene from the days long ago when it had a bad reputation.
Inexpensive purified water (agua purificada) is available everywhere in sizes from 0.5 to 2 litres as well as gallon jugs and 5 gallon containers. This water is safe. Restaurants always offer purified water and hotels often supply it also.
You can avoid heat problems by drinking plenty of fluids. We cannot over emphasise the importance of drinking lots - you should carry 2 or 3 large water bottles on your bike, and occasionally it may be necessary to carry a reserve. It is also important to replenish your electrolytes by ingesting salt (sodium and potassium) and sugar containing food and drink (such as Gatoraid or our very own "Basil-ade" mix) in low concentrations.
Always wear something on your head to protect against the sun. Even a bandanna goes a long way in keeping you feeling well under the hot Mexican sun. Sunscreen is a must - bring at least 15 to 30 SPF sunscreen with you. Sunscreen is also readily available in Mexico; however it is usually a little more expensive.
The following information is based on the most recent IAMAT recommendations and our own experiences. The vaccinations listed are not a requirement for entry into Mexico. Please see your family doctor or a travel doctor if you have any concerns. For more information, you can also check: The Travel Medicine Centre.
Vaccination is recommended when travelling outside the areas usually visited by tourists, travelling extensively in the interior of the country (trekkers, hikers) and for persons on working assignments in remote areas. Viral Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food or water. Typhoid fever is spread through contaminated water or milk and food handlers who are carriers. You may want to consider these two vaccinations as we will be off the beaten track for much of our tours. Please see a travel doctor for more information.
Rabies is a possible threat in Mexico, as in most countries. We do not feel that vaccination is necessary for our bike tours.
A pre-exposure rabies vaccination series is advised for persons planning an extended stay or on working assignment (naturalists, agricultural advisors, archaeologists, geologists, spelunkers, etc.). Although this provides adequate initial protection, a person bitten by a potentially rabid animal would still require additional inoculations. Children should be cautioned not to pet dogs, cats or other mammals.
A cholera vaccination is not necessary nor recommended for travellers to Mexico. However care should be taken to ensure that food and water are not contaminated.
On June 14, 1991 the World Health Organisation announced that a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer required by any country or territory. Although at present cholera is active in parts of Mexico, the risk for western travellers is low and vaccination is advised only for medical and rescue personnel working in endemic areas. The best protection is to avoid potentially contaminated water and food. Persons living and working under inadequate sanitary conditions and those with impaired defence mechanisms (deficient production of gastric acid due to surgery for duodenal or gastric ulcer), persons on antacid therapy, and users of cannabis (smoking marijuana reduces acid secretion of the stomach) are more susceptible to cholera infection and meticulous food and water hygiene are essential when travelling in endemic areas.
The risk of malaria is fairly low in Mexico but is present in some areas. The use of protective clothing (light coloured, long sleeves, pants) and insect repellent during the hours of dusk and dawn is good protection. It is also a good idea to avoid perfume and aftershave. Hotels in risk areas provide mosquito bed netting and window screens. We believe that an anti-malarial treatment approach is preferable to an anti-malarial prophylactic regimen which may have many undesirable side-effects. Our 1st -aid kit includes a Fansidar® anti-malarial treatment. Please see a travel doctor or contact IAMAT for more information.
Risk exists in some rural areas below 1000m including the Yucatan Peninsula and the Pacific coast. The less dangerous Plasmodium Vivax malaria is predominant, with Plasmodium Falciparum malaria present in small foci of Chiapas, Tabasco and Quintana Roo, in the forested border areas with Guatemala and Belize. IAMAT recommends that persons hiking along the coasts, and persons staying overnight at various caves and archaeological sights (including those visited by us) in Quintana Roo and Yucatan states should take a full course of suppressive medication. IAMAT recommends following a chloroquine (aralen) regimen in weekly doses of 500mg (300mg base), starting one week before entering the malarious area, and continuing weekly during your stay and for four weeks after leaving. The principal vectors for transmitting malaria in Mexico are the mosquitoes Anopheles Albimanus and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis. A. Albimanus is a coastal mosquito breeding in sunlit water collections; pools, lakes and lagoons. It feeds on humans from dusk to midnight and rests outdoors in shaded areas. A. pseudopunctipennis is a highland valley mosquito breeding in shallow pools, seepages, drying streams and tanks. It feeds avidly on humans indoors and also rests indoors.
We recommend that you fly with a charter airline such as Air-Transat or Canada 3000. Charter airlines often have direct flights to our tour starting points. Lower ticket price, and no surcharge for transporting bicycles also helps keep down costs. Be cautious though, as charters are more prone to delays and problems than are regular carriers. Weight restrictions and overweight charges should be noted, and consider cancellation as well as medical insurance at the time of booking your flight. We found cheap flights at Club Adventure Travel in Ottawa; (613)789-8000. Also try Travelocity, an online ticket search engine.
Your bicycle must be packed carefully in a bike box; available at almost any bike shop. We recommend having a reputable bike shop give it a tune up before the trip. Some shops may even pack your bike for you for a small fee. You will need to remove the pedals, turn the handlebars sideways and remove the front wheel to make it fit. Your box will be stored to use for your return flight home.
Some airlines may charge you extra to transport your bike, some may require a box, some may not. It is always best to call your airline beforehand to know what to expect. For some great tips on air travel with bicycles check Travel with Bicycles (Airlines).
The best way to bring money is a combination of cash, traveller's cheques and a credit card and/or bank card. Cash should be kept to a minimum; we recommend a small amount in US dollars for emergency use, and that everyone carry a couple days worth of pesos. Almost all banks will accept US\\$ traveller's cheques, and most have ATM machines where you can withdraw pesos from your credit card or bank card. At times when we are several days away from a bank, we will advise you to withdraw the necessary pesos beforehand.
A valid passport is essential for avoiding problems while travelling in Mexico. Citizens of Canada, EU countries, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Israel, Japan and Argentina do NOT require visas to enter Mexico as tourists. However they must obtain a Mexican government "Tourist Card" (FMT). This card is usually provided on the airplane and validated in the airport upon arrival to Mexico.
We do not provide nor rent bikes. We believe that you should be comfortable on and with your bike, and having your own is a sure way to achieve this. This also helps us to keep our prices down. You must bring your own bike, panniers and all other gear. We do carry extra bike tools and spare parts, however you should still bring along some basic tools and parts such as allen keys and inner-tubes.
Everyone is capable of more than they think, which is partly why this can be such a rewarding experience. Check the difficulty rating of the tour that you are interested in, and if in doubt ask us. It is advisable to get in as good condition as you can before the tour, that way you'll enjoy it that much more.
No. Everyone rides at their own pace. We are touring, NOT racing. We always have one guide in the front and one in the back, so everyone can go as fast or as slow as they like.
In the mountains the temperature is quite comfortable, ranging from freezing on the coldest nights to high 20's (celcius) midday in the sun.
At lower altitudes, the temperature ranges from about 15° celcius overnight to high 30's in the afternoon sun. We cycle early to avoid the peak heat of the day and drink special fluids to keep well hydrated.
This depends on you and on the tour. Most tours do not require you to camp but offer the option for some nights. Please see the specific tour itinerary to see if camping is required or possible.
This depends on the tour. While in the mountains, a light rainjacket is a good idea as it can get quite chilly. At lower altitudes all you need is quickdrying clothing, infact a rainstorm can be quite welcome at times.
YES!!!
Tours | Rentals | Bed & Breakfast | Pictures | FAQ | Guestbook | About Us | Links