ITINERARY

DAY 1: Arrive & Relax
Welcome to Guadalajara, the birthplace of both Tequila and the Mariachi! After your arrival at Guadalajara International Airport (GDL), you’ll be picked up by your guide and taken to your hotel for the night – a small, quality accommodation located in the city’s center. You’ll have your first opportunity to explore the city this afternoon, or you could choose instead to linger at the hotel and relax in the pool or Jacuzzi. Later, we will visit the MTB shop where your bike will be assembled (if you’ve chosen to bring your own), or you can get a rental adjusted to your specifications. We’ll finish your first day in Mexico with a trip downtown and dinner in the colonial area of the city.

DAY 2: Downhill trails in the 'Forest of the Spring'
After a light, Mexican breakfast, we will drive for 20 minutes to the Bosque la Primavera, a national park where we’ll begin our mountain bike trip. Bosque la Primavera, which means “Forest of the Spring” in English, is renowned for the more than 400 thermal springs in its interior. Thousands of years ago, the hot springs, jagged rock formations, and hill terrain of the park were formed by volcanic eruptions. Today, the park boasts such a diversity of plant- and wildlife that it has been nicknamed “the lung” of Guadalajara

We’ll choose from the 40 miles of single track in Bosque la Primavera, taking in the stunning scenery while getting comfortable with the equipment, altitude, and group ability level. The ride can stretch from an hour-and-a-half loop to a six-hour epic. The ride itself is fun and unique due to the volcanic ash in the park soil (which creates lots of loose rocks). After the ride, we’ll have lunch and drive to the mountain town of Atemajac the Brisuela, where we’ll spend the night.

DAY 3: Mountains, valleys & remote, rural villages
We’ll awaken to the fresh mountain air of Atemajac de Brisuela, a town with an unspoiled country lifestyle. After a healthy breakfast, we’ll begin an incredible ride that takes us through mountains and valleys on a single, red-soil track. The ride will be both fun and hard, lasting 4-5 hours as we wind through small, Mexican towns. For those who need it, there will be vehicle support throughout the ride’s different road crossings. Finally, we’ll arrive in Tapalpa in time to have lunch above the plaza and explore the town with our afternoon.

DAY 4: Tapalpa Ride
You won’t imagine a place like Tapalpa exists until you’re in it. With its cobblestone streets, colonial-style architecture and lush mountain scenery, visiting this sleepy town is like stepping back in time. It is the perfect place to experience authentic, untouched rural Mexico. Of course, we’ll also find some great riding in Tapalpa. There are miles of trails for us to choose from so we'll tailor our riding to the interests and goals of the group. Tapalpa’s terrain offers us steep downhill (and some climbs!), incredible views, fun single track, or simple countryside touring. We’ll remain in Tapalpa for lunch and then head to Lake Chapala for the night.

DAY 5: Relaxing & riding at Mexico's largest lake
In Chapala, we’ll stay at a beautiful country house with a huge garden, barbecue, and pool in front of Mexico’s biggest lake. After a few days of riding, relaxation will come easily in this luxury accommodation. Our ride today will again be flexible, depending on the energy level of the group. We can do a short, flat ride on the bike trail along the lake, or we can drive to Mazamitla to ride a windy, single-track for a few hours, visit waterfalls, have lunch, and then return to Chapala. Those with more energy could climb Cerro Viejo, the region’s second-highest peak - a 1,400 meter climb followed by a one-hour downhill ride back to Chapala. The track here is steep, hard single track on the way up with fast, rock sections on the descent. We’ll finish the day in our villa, going out for dinner and resting in the pool.

DAY 6: Back to la Primavera
Today is our last riding day. We’ll take it slowly with an easy morning in Chapala and then a drive back to La Primavera forest, hopefully to attempt a more technical ride. Afterward, we’ll return the bikes to the MTB shop so that they can get cleaned and packed before our departure. We’ll have lunch, followed by a leisurely afternoon at the hotel. We also might venture back into Guadalajara to explore the handicraft markets and the mariachis. Our final full day in Mexico will end with an authentic Mexican dinner and a sampling of Guadalajara’s rich nightlife.

DAY 7: Final Day
We’ll wake up, have breakfast, and depart for our flights. If your flight leaves later in the day, you might even have some time for final sightseeing in the city before we return you to the Guadalajara International Airport.