Eco-Ride is a mountain bike and hiking tour company situated in the charming beach town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico just ten minutes away from Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa. In business since 2002, Eco-Ride’s mission is to both promote mountain biking, but also to respect the environment along the way. With more than 30 years of combined experience, Eco-Ride tour guides are there to help you enjoy an exciting and thrilling adventure through the lush Sierra Madre mountains. Eco-Ride offers a wide variety of mountain bike tours from beginning to advanced so that everyone can enjoy a mountain biking excursion that will be hard to forget. Continue reading to below to learn about three top mountain biking tours to try next time you find yourself in Puerto Vallarta. Let’s get biking!
Beginner: Vallejo Mountain Bike Tour
The Vallejo Mountain Bike Tour is a great introduction for those riders who consider themselves a beginner skill level. Also their most popular ride of all their tours, your adventure begins at the Eco-Ride bike shop which is located a few blocks inland from the Malecon in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Bikers will start their day with a 5 km warm up along the Cuale River where you will pass through quaint villages and get into the heart of local life. As you exit civilization, you continue along a dirt road that weaves beside the Vallejo Rio or River. The trails will slowly climb as the lush vegetation of the Sierra Madre jungle becomes thicker, and you will be treated to a breathtaking waterfall as you reach your destination. Here you can cool off in the refreshing pools or simply sit back and relax as you take in the natural beauty of your surroundings. On the way back, the ride is mostly downhill so it’ll be a great reward for your journey to the waterfall. All tours include a hardtail bike, helmet, gloves, water and your personal tour guide.
Medium/Advanced: Yelapa Mountain Bike Tour
Consider yourself a more skilled biker and looking for a challenge? The Yelapa Mountain Bike tour may be just right for you. To begin, your tour guide will drive you one hour south to the charming town of El Tuito where you will be amazed by the greenery that includes pine trees and palm trees. Situated 3,300 feet above sea level, the bike rides begins on a peaceful paved road that continues for a 20 km combination of gradual hills and valleys. As you reach the small beachside town of Chacala, there is a chance to grab a snack to eat and take a water break. After the rest stop in Chacala, your bike tour continues on a gradual uphill on a dirt road until you arrive to one of the most spectacular view points in all of Banderas Bay. Don’t forget your camera as this is the perfect spot to get the most amazing pictures of your mountain biking adventure. The best part is, the tour is all downhill from this point on. Once the tour arrives in the peaceful fishing village of Yelapa, you will have the option to enjoy lunch and a few cold beverages and take in the gorgeous ocean views. After lunch, everyone boards a local panga boat to head back to Vallarta.
Advanced: El Salto Waterfall Mountain Bike Tour
For the most advanced and adventurous riders, the El Salto Waterfall Mountain Bike Tour is not to be missed. The journey begins at the Eco-Ride headquarters in downtown Vallarta, and you will warm up with a nice 5k ride along the gorgeous Rio Cuale river for as you meander through the quaint villages of Paso Ancho, Paso del Guayabo, and Los Almacenes. The real fun begins as you exit Los Almacenes and are challenged by an intense and steep 4k climb up a dirt road and double track combo. At the crest of El Cerro de la Laja, your ride continues winding between a mix of ups and downs through lush, tropical jungle terrain where you may hear and see local wildlife including macaws and parrots high above in the tree line. Bright green iguanas also make their home in the area, so keep your eyes peeled. Once you reach El Salto Waterfall, one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the area, you can take a refreshing swim, cliff jump or take the chance to relax a bit after your morning ride. an swim, cliff jump, or just simply relax by the gorgeous green waters of the Rio Cuale. After a break to recharge your batteries, the adventure continues with a challenging climb back out of the river valley. Your hard work will be rewarded with some nice, fast downhills as you head back into town that are some of the most exciting downhill rides in the region. Note: the terrain of this tour can vary greatly depending on what time of year you visit. October through February you can expect a mix of dirt road and double track, and during March through June the road is mainly dirt with loose and sandy sections.
Whichever mountain biking tour best suits your skill and fitness level, you can be assured it will be the ride of a lifetime. Puerto Vallarta is an ideal location for a mountain bike excursion where you can leave your home at Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa for the day, and surround yourself with the lush and wild beauty of the Sierra Madre jungle. Which mountain biking tour do you want to try first?