Where should you bicycle tour? A comparison of Mexico and Central American countries

July 14, 2:37 PMBoise International Travel ExaminerNancy Sathre-Vogel

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Cycling in Mexico and Central America can be a fabulous experience!

Are you looking for an exotic destination for a bicycle tour, but don’t want to go too far from home?  Mexico or Central America may be exactly what you are looking for!

Mexico

You can’t go wrong with Mexico.  The friendly people, delicious food, and good roads make Mexico an ideal location for a bicycle tour.  Mexico is a huge country, and there are options here to suit just about anyone’s needs. 

Mountains – Visit the Copper Canyon area in Durango.  You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views of the mountains and stunning views of a canyon equally as magnificent as the Grand Canyon.

Desert – If you are a desert enthusiast, Baja is a must.  The sheer variety of cacti populating the peninsula is mind-boggling, and camping beneath towering cardons or boojum trees is a dream.

Beach – Either side of Mexico will provide you with endless opportunities for bathing in warm, ocean waters. 

Historic ruins – If Mayan ruins are your thing, the Yucatan peninsula is perfect!  You can make a big loop around the entire peninsula visiting large and small ruin sites.  The Yucatan also has fabulous white sand beaches.

Belize

Belize is a delightful country, but you must get off the main road in order to truly enjoy it.  Once you get off the main road, however, the roads are bad – very bad.

Belize has some of the most beautiful natural beauty you’ll ever see – rivers, waterfalls, caves, swimming holes, and more.  But to get to those natural wonders, you’ll have to traverse rough dirt roads. 

If you are looking for a tour on paved roads only, give Belize a miss.  If you are looking for off-road adventure with fantastic scenery, Belize will be perfect!

Guatemala

Guatemala is a fascinating country with beautiful mountains and volcanoes, colorful indigenous peoples, and plenty of history.  Due to the mountainous nature of the country, however, it can be a challenge to cycle.  Many of the roads in Guatemala wind through mountains and are steep, narrow, and dangerous. 

Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a wonderful time to be cycling in Guatemala as there are many bright, colorful processions throughout the country. 

El Salvador

El Salvador is a small country and therefore doesn’t have much to offer the cyclist.  The roads are fine, the people are friendly, and scenery is acceptable. For a longer tour, I would recommend combining El Salvador with either Honduras or Guatemala.

Honduras

Honduras is perhaps the poorest country in Central America, but it provides incredible variety for the cyclist.  From the Mayan ruins of Copan to the second largest coral reef in the world to the pine forests up in the mountains, you’ll find you’re never bored!

All of the main roads have nice, wide shoulders and there are small shops every few miles so finding a spot for a soda break is no problem.

Every village has a yearly festival, so chances are you’ll find yourself in the middle of at least one!

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the land of volcanoes!  As you cycle around the country, you’ll have spectacular views of volcanoes spewing steam into the air.  Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to climb the volcanoes or go volcano boarding down the steep slopes.

Nicaragua has good roads with nice, wide shoulders throughout.  Be aware, however, that you may have to pedal many miles before finding a store to get something to drink so be sure to take plenty of water with you.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is the most visited country in Central America, but is best visited by means other than a bicycle.  Although the jungle, volcanoes, and beaches are beautiful, the roads are downright dangerous for cyclists.  Narrow roads, no shoulders, and truck drivers who refuse to slow down for anything make this a country to be passed up by bicycle tourists.

However, Costa Rica is a mountain biker’s dream! Plan on transporting your bike from location to location on the back of a car or bus, and enjoy mountain biking deluxe.  There are many, many locations to choose from within the country – from beaches to mountains and everything in between.

Panama

There aren’t a whole lot of options as far as route goes in Panama – the country has only one road traversing its length.  The road, however, makes fairly decent cycling.  Most of the length of the country has a nice, four-lane highway with wide shoulders.  The section between David and Santiago, however, is an old two-lane road and there are times when the shoulder disappears altogether.  That being said, the drivers are courteous and give a wide berth.

Most of the cities and towns in Panama lie off the main road, which means you will have to detour to get to know the local people and sights.  Facilities are great in most places, food is plentiful, and prices are reasonable.

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 Read about one family's experiences in Central America here!