All in Volcanoes

Cycling Honduras and Nicaragua: The Flat Pacific Lowlands

Cycling Honduras and Nicaragua: The Flat Pacific Lowlands

Pedals and Puffins
Bike Travel, Pan-American Highway, Volcanoes, Bike Touring, Border Crossing, Cycling, Bikepacking, Managua, Granada Nicaragua, Missions and Churches, Pacific Tropical Lowlands

Central America has many countries crowded into a relatively small space, leading to frequent encounters with immigration offices. Having crossed quite a few land borders over the years, we nonetheless wondered if we were up to the challenge of Honduras and Nicaragua. Both have a reputation of bringing even the most seasoned travelers to their knees with less than well oiled bureaucracies. Luckily, we successfully maneuvered the bureaucratic obstacle courses at the borders. A home run in getting a visa extension in Nicaragua gave us the time to enjoy the capital city of Managua, and soak up the wonderful, historic ambiance of Granada, on the shores of a freshwater lake inhabited by sharks.

Cycling Across Guatemala: In the Land of Volcanos

Cycling Across Guatemala: In the Land of Volcanos

PedalingGuy
Bike Touring, Bike Travel, Bikepacking, Central American Highlands, Cycling, Missions and Churches, Pan-American Highway, Volcanoes, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala City

After the big climb out of Lake Atitlan’s ancient crater, we cycled through more of the Guatemalan Highlands. In the historic city of Antigua, we soaked up the interesting mix of Mayan and Spanish influences before climbing a volcano. A final push took us to Guatemala City, where we celebrated the approaching Christmas holiday as we worked on bike repairs.

The Most Beautiful Lake in the World: Cycling Huehuetenango to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

The Most Beautiful Lake in the World: Cycling Huehuetenango to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Pedals and Puffins
Wildlife, Bike Travel, Pan-American Highway, Central American Highlands, Volcanoes, Bike Touring, Missions and Churches, Cycling, Bikepacking, Lake Atitlán

As we continued our cycling journey through the Guatemalan Highlands, each community we passed though had its own, unique character. Giant kites fluttered in the wind over a mountain town churning out colorful textiles. Mayan ritual sites clustered in a new-age enclave where music filled the air. And international cuisine was served in a town where most people’s native language was Mayan. But the main attraction was the breathtakingly picturesque Lake Atitlán, with its backdrop of three volcanos - where a pre-dawn hike led us to a quetzal, Guatemala’s national symbol.

TransMexico Norte Part 4: Cycling from Guanajuato to Toluca, Mexico

TransMexico Norte Part 4: Cycling from Guanajuato to Toluca, Mexico

Pedals and Puffins
Bike Touring, Bike Travel, Bikepacking, Cycling, Ecosystems, Mexican High Plains, Missions and Churches, Pueblos Mágicos, Sierra Madre Occidental, TransMexico Norte, Wildlife, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Monarch Butterflies, Valle de Bravo, Volcanoes

From Guanajuato, the TransMexico Norte bikepacking route took us into the country’s central volcanic belt, passing between two majestic volcanos and through two of the country’s most popular tourist towns. Along the way, we cycled among the steep-sided foothills of towering cinder cones, as well as through fertile lowlands of sugar cane and agave. Ubiquitous, colorful murals proclaimed Mexico’s love for Monarch butterflies, which overwinter each year among the pines on the slopes of a few, high, volcanic peaks. Just as the rainy season began in earnest, we reached the city of Toluca, where we would take some time off our bikes to let the rains pass.