Latin America

High above the city of Oaxaca, within the lush and biodiverse Sierra Norte, the Pueblos Mancomunados alliance of villages offers an impressive eco-tourism infrastructure complete with camping areas, rustic cabañas, marked trails, and local guiding services, be it for mushroom foraging or learning about regional flora. Using low-traffic dirt and paved roads, Vuelta A Los Pueblos Mancomunados connects a number of these small settlements via the prehistoric caves of the fertile Mitla Valley, the Zapotec archeological site of Yagul, and the traditional textile hub of Teotitlán...

Looping out from Oaxaca's city centre to the mountainside settlement of San Pablo Quatro Venados, this dirt road overnighter uses a community-run eco-centre as its midway point, where camping, adobe-brick cabañas, and local fare are available. Bookended by the Zapotec archeological sites of Monte Alban and Atzompa and fluctuating between 1500m on the valley floor and 2800m in the Sierra Madre Sur, it's a dirt road route rich in history and biodiversity...

Excursiones en Etla is a historical and cultural ramble complete with low-traffic rural terracerías, cross country mountain bike trails, delicious Oaxacan fare, a fabulous art centre, a brewery, traditional pottery workshops, and a Zapotec archeological site. If you're travelling from overseas and basing yourself in Oaxaca de Juárez, pair it with one of the longer routes on the site. Or, if you live in Mexico and are new to bikepacking, enjoy it as a standalone weekend ride with varied terrain, as well time on and off the saddle...

The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve is located in southeastern Mexico, set within the arid climes of the Sierra Madre del Sur. Being split between two states - Puebla and Oaxaca - we've put together two distinct loops accessed from each capital, showcasing both the rich biodiversity in the area and its cultural identity. Given the fluctuations in altitude, the South Loop is especially varied, sharing much of the desert flora that can be seen in the North Loop - including the reserve's ionic columnar cacti - as well as lofty oak forests and low-lying river valleys, where guacamayas verdes soar through the sky at sunrise and sunset.

Mexico is blessed with an abundance of dirt roads and Oaxaca is a wonderful place to enjoy them. From rural terracerías to forested two-track, from to tlayuda pit stops to mushroom foraging, the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour has a little of everything this remarkable state has to offer. And, because it begins and ends in Oaxaca de Juaréz, the state's capital and a beautiful mountain city that's a destination in its own right, we've included five dirt road day rides into the surrounding valleys too, as well as additional bikepacking options to extend your trip to the region.

If you long to dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean—or maybe you enjoy surfing as much as you love riding your bike—then this classic Mexican mountains-to-sea route is sure to appeal. Recently updated to incorporate bonus dirt and avoid an ongoing highway project, it's a ride that takes you from the heart of Oaxaca city to the state's craggy coastline, in one fabulous long weekend of fine riding, camping, and dining. For those with more time to spend in the area, we've included a route extension via Mitla and number of day rides into Oaxaca's Valles Centrales too...

Meandros de Montebello is a meandering loop through Mexico’s Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello. Beginning and ending in the laid-back city of Comitán, Chiapas, it’s an ideal introduction to bikepacking. Distance-wise, it can be completed in two full days. But why rush? This is a route best savoured over a long weekend or more, allowing time to visit caves, hike to secluded cenotes, and swim in some of the region's 59 azure and turquoise lakes...

Hebras de Ixtepeji is a short, testing, and fun weekend loop into the mountains behind the city of Oaxaca. It packs in a combination of low-traffic dirt roads, forest tracks, and backcountry trails - almost all of which is rideable with a lightweight bikepacking setup. Designed with mountain bikers in mind, it also includes an introduction to the Sierra Norte's La Cumbre Ixtepeji enduro and cross-country network, an impressive centre that draws riders from across Mexico and the world...

Complementing the San José del Pacífico Grand Dirt Tour, this vueltita into the Sierra Norte offers a chance to explore the rugged mountains that provide a lush backdrop to the beautiful city of Oaxaca, famed for its fine cuisine and vibrant arts scene. Choose from a lean dirt road option, lace in cross-country singletrack as you go, or set up a base camp and spend a day hiking or riding the techy delights around La Cumbre. Whatever your preference, prep yourself for the climb ahead with a cup of Oaxacan coffee, devour a tlayuda en route, and enjoy a night or two camping out in the high country, where old-growth forest and a network of trails await...

The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve is located in southeastern Mexico, set within the arid climes of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountain range. Given that this vast and little-travelled UNESCO heritage site is split between two states - Puebla and Oaxaca - we've put together two distinct loops that can be accessed from each capital, aiming to showcase both the rich biodiversity in the area and its cultural identity. The northern loop centres around the small settlement of Zapotitlán, in Puebla. At 2-3 days in length, it's especially suited to those new to bikepacking, or anyone with an interest in the beguiling world of desert flora. If coupled with the more challenging southern loop, expect to enjoy a week's riding in the reserve.

By means of dirt roads, quiet pavement, and one brief but challenging hike-a-bike, the Trans-Mexico Sur completes the full 3,500 kilometer route by making its way from the arid Valles Centrales into the humid southeast of the country as it crosses mountains and jungle-covered lowlands and hill country toward the Guatemala border.