On the way to Yucatan

Next Tuxtla and highly regarded San Cristobal. I was way off course. The next two days I had to do a lot off riding. In one day I covered 650km - my record on this trip, most of the time negotiating with zillions of trucks and busses. Fortunately I had some nice rides too.

Mountain ride on Hwy 190 on the way to Tuxtla and San Cristobal:

Movie Clip

One of more 'interesting' places I stayed overnight when I run out of daylight. Next to the church in the middle of small village. I was star attraction the next morning.

Libre road from Tuxtla to San Cristobal is an excellent mountain ride going through some very traditional mountain communities.

 San Cristobal has character and charm.

 The streets were lined up with small restaurants and boutique shops

  

Local boys having a chat

Traditional skirt worn by local women

Late afternoon.

 Local Government building on the main square

 The Cathedral on the main square

For the first time in Mexico I met a lot of backpackers. I stayed in bike friendly hotel Virginia. No acrobatic skills needed to park safely your bike in this hotel.

as a bonus, really hot water and very good WiFi, all for 200 pesos(around $16.5)

I met Brazilian rider on his way from LA to Brazil. He claimed he crossed Darien Gap, virgin and  lawless strip of land between Panama and Colombia. He claimed he crossed it not ones but four time. Once on his pushbike?!?!...  I couldn't get more details, he left the next morning.

I booked trip to Sumidero Canyon. It traditionally starts from Chiapa De Corzo. Chiapa De Corzo an old town on the outskirts of Tuxtla. It serves as a gateway to Sumidero Canyon.

The rotunda on the main square is very unique, built of bricks at 1526.

Type of boat used on this tour

 The canyon has vertical walls which reach as high as 1000 meters

 A bit of a surprise - the crocodiles live in the river

We encountered a few waterfalls

It was hard to leave San Cristobal but after four days I had to move on.

The beauty to travel by motorcycle; on the way to Palenque I noticed turn off leading to Agua Azule waterfalls. I took the turn and it was well worth it.

I was here.

The water is rich in calcium.

Palenque an old Mayan city dated back to 100 BC. It fell around 800 AD. Very significant ruins set in the middle of the jungle with possibility to climb most of the structures.

On the way to Yucatan, just before Ciudad del Carmen I ran out of daytime. I stopped at the random village and asked for place to camp. As a result I camped inside roadside restaurant but not before I had a few drinks.

Omar restaurant owner, Ronaldo, the happy dude and Antonio

It was lakeside restaurant. The mosquitoes roamed here in the morning.

Finally my first sight of Caribbean Sea.

 

and the first dip

My rear tire was really bad. It nearly lost all its thread. I wanted to buy a replacement before I leave Mexico. Merida was the largest town. Not an easy task in Mexico. First, forget about off-road tires. All they have are road tires and the selection is very poor. They send me from one place to another in 40 degree heat. The streets in old Merida are narrow and the traffic is bad. Very hard to navigate. Most streets are one way.

Finally I found it. I needed a rest.  Preferable nice beach with palapas so I could stretch my hammock for a day or two. 

I found something even better. Place called Cocos Playa; 200m wide and a few kilometers long stretch of land with coconut palms right to the water edge. I found narrow track going to the beach and then made my own along the beach to stay out of sight - perfect.

Three days of living Robinson Crusoe style. I had plenty of time to practice my new skill, cracking coconuts, I learned earlier.

I arrived at my camp late afternoon

Picture perfect palms to stretch my hammock

Caribbean Sunset

and very early morning

When I run out food and had to move on. You can't live on coconuts forever. Next stop Chichen Itza.