Route: Oaxaca to the Guatemalan Border - May 28 to June 28, 2007

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There were more hard mountain-riding days down to the Oaxaca coast. And sometimes the road was a bit narrow for the trucks and us. But in general we all got along together OK. The route we took worked out fine.

On the coast, the riding was easy but hot. We could make a lot of miles, but Nancy was really disliking the heat and humidity. So we climbed up into the mountains of Chiapas. Chiapas was all glorious, beautiful riding.

The huge climb from Tuxtla Gutierrez to San Cristóbal was quite challenging, but we did decide to take the new toll road, and it was a good climb. Too much traffic, but a fine shoulder and a nice road. I'm sure the old road would have been more interesting. The new road is completely even in its grade.

We took the bus over to Palenque because that road does have a terrible reputation with bike tourists - we personally know of several who have been accosted there. Nothing in our travels this year gave us a hint of these problems, but we just avoided the issues.

The last little camp stop on the way out was at the Lagunas de Colón, a few miles off-route, but well worth a night's stop.

We had no problems with San Cristóbal to the Mexican border, and no problems with the border crossing.

Ridedatemiles/km Elev ft/mt
Oaxaca to Monte Alban2007-05-2815/241300/401
Oaxaca to Tlacolula, Oaxaca2007-05-2925/40650/201
Tlacolula, Oaxaca to José de Gracia, Oaxaca2007-05-2951/822716/838
San Jose de Gracia to La Reforma, Oaxaca2007-05-3041/664068/1256
La Reforma to Jalapa, Oaxaca2007-05-3125/40364/112
Jalapa to Juchitán, Oaxaca2007-06-0136/58200/62
Juchitan to Zacatepec, Oaxaca2007-06-0457/92639/197
Zacatepec, Oaxaca to Rizo de Oro, Chiapas2007-06-0531/502956/912
Rizo de Oro to Cintalapa, Chiapas2007-06-0632/521374/424
Cintalapa to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas2007-06-0749/792345/724
Salcedo to Baños, Ecuador2007-06-0844/712788/860
Tuxtla Gutierrez to Chiapa de Corzo2007-06-0910/160/0
Chiapa de Corzo to San Cristóbal de las Casas2007-06-1033/536281/1939
San Cristobal to Chamula and Zinacantán2007-06-2320/322400/741
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas to Comitán de Dominguéz, Chiapas2007-06-2555/892700/833
Comitán to Lagunas de Colón2007-06-2644/71810/250
Lagunas de Colón, Chiapas, Mexico to La Democracia, Guatemala2007-06-2734/552148/663