Itinerary
- Day 1
Tucson
You'll start with a shuttle ride out to Arizona Sonora Desert Museum where you can catch the Raptor Free Flight show. After that, you'll hop on your bike and cycle quiet roads through West Saguaro National Park and Tucson Mountain Park, riding past those iconic saguaro cacti. The route takes you along part of The Loop, Tucson's network of urban bike paths, before heading back to your hotel for a three-night stay. It's a good intro day that mixes wildlife viewing with some gentle cycling through desert scenery.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Raptor Free Flight show at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
- Cycling through West Saguaro National Park
- Cycling through Tucson Mountain Park
- Cycling on The Loop urban bike path network
Landmarks/POIs Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Saguaro National Park West Tucson Mountain Park - Day 2
Tucson
This morning starts at Le Buzz Café where you'll meet up with local cyclists before heading out. From there, you'll follow rural roads to Saguaro National Park East and tackle the scenic 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop, which winds through rare saguaro forests. After riding, there's a gourmet picnic lunch, and then you can either cycle back to your hotel or take a van shuttle if you're ready to rest. Later in the day you'll have time for a pool visit, and dinner is on your own tonight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Gourmet picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Cycling on rural roads near Tucson
- Cactus Forest Loop cycling through Saguaro National Park East
Optional Activities
- Shuttle van option back to hotel instead of cycling
Landmarks/POIs Le Buzz Café Saguaro National Park East - Day 3
Tucson
Today is the big climb up Mt Lemmon, one of the premier bicycle climbs in the United States. You're looking at nearly 7,000 feet of elevation gain from the valley floor, but the payoff is riding through diverse ecosystems. You'll start in cactus country and pedal through wildflowers, pines, and eventually subalpine forests. Van support is available if you decide you don't want to do the entire climb, so there's flexibility here. Along the way you'll see waterfalls, hidden canyons, and hoodoo rock formations scattered through the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Mt Lemmon cycling climb with van support options
Optional Activities
- Hiking on Mt Lemmon
- Partial climb with van shuttle support
Landmarks/POIs Mt Lemmon - Day 4
Tucson to Hereford
After breakfast, a shuttle takes you to Kartchner Caverns where you'll explore the cave system and tour the Big Room, Echo Passage, and Cul-de-sac Passage. From there, you'll head south to Casa de San Pedro near Hereford for a two-night stay. Once you're settled, you can relax by the pool, take an easy bike ride if you feel like it, or just spend time watching for birds and butterflies (there are over 355 bird species in this area). Later, you'll gather together for a family-style Mexican dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Family-style Mexican dinner)
Included Activities
- Kartchner Caverns tour
Optional Activities
- Easy bicycle ride in Hereford area
- Bird and butterfly watching at Casa de San Pedro
Landmarks/POIs Kartchner Caverns Casa de San Pedro - Day 5
Hereford
You'll explore vineyards in the Sonoita and Elgin areas, where the soil is similar to Burgundy, France. Cycling takes you through the scenic Sky Islands high country where manzanita, Gambel oaks, sycamore, and yucca replace the saguaros you saw earlier. There's a locals' favorite traffic-free road that leads to a refreshing mountain reservoir in Coronado National Forest. You can ride as much or as little as you want before heading back to Casa de San Pedro for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Cycling through Sonoita and Elgin vineyard areas
- Cycling in Sky Islands high country
- Cycling to mountain reservoir in Coronado National Forest
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting in Sonoita or Elgin areas
Landmarks/POIs Coronado National Forest - Day 6
Hereford to Bisbee to Tucson
A shuttle takes you to Naco, a tiny town split by the USA/Mexico border where you can see the border wall. From there, you'll cycle to the artsy town of Bisbee and can check out either the Copper Queen Mine or the Bicycle Brothel vintage bike museum if that interests you more. Lunch in Bisbee is on your own, so you'll have time to explore at your own pace. There's also a 6-mile round trip option to Mule Pass if you want more riding, and then a shuttle brings you back to Tucson.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Border wall viewing at Naco
- Cycling to Bisbee
Optional Activities
- Copper Queen Mine tour in Bisbee
- Bicycle Brothel bicycle museum visit in Bisbee
- Mule Pass 6-mile round trip cycling excursion
Landmarks/POIs Naco Bisbee Copper Queen Mine Bicycle Brothel Mule Pass
