Our Norte de Nuevo México (Northern New Mexico) bike tour is designed for cyclists who seek the Land of Enchantment’s best climbs, enjoy bike-friendly routes, savor chile verde, appreciate great lodging, and relish luxurious hot springs. Our New Mexico bike tour is quickly becoming one of our favorite trips.

Starting Town: Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International Sunport – ABQ)Ending Town: Santa Fe, New Mexico (guests shuttle to Albuquerque International Sunport – ABQ)Total Miles: 150 up to 315 mileage options. (Can I keep up on this tour?)Daily Mileage Range: 29-77 Ability Levels: Intermediate (2/3) Upper Intermediate (3) Advanced (3/4) – (Easily accommodates all levels). Easily accessible mileage options covering a combination of intermediate to advanced routes. Tour options include two hikes (2 to 10 miles), optional rafting on Day 5 (versus the Enchanted Loop). For mixed groups the Norte Nuevo Mexico is fully customizable. Don’t Worry! Group Size: 6 to 15 ridersAdditional Nights in Santa Fe: We can help guests book extra nights at our final hotel in Santa Fe. Please let us know at the time of booking.6-Day Tour Cost: $3,465 per person with shared accommodations. Add $795 per person to this Tour Cost for a private room each night of the tour (6-Nights). 6-Day Tour Includes: 6-Days guide service, 6-Nights lodging, meals include: 4 dinners, 6 lunches, 5 breakfasts, entrance fees, energy food, liquid refreshments, in-tour shuttles, and mechanical support. Alcoholic beverages, bike rental, and massage (if available) are additional. Non-Riding Spouses & Partners on Tour: If a non-riding spouse or partner would like to join you on tour and they have their own transportation, they can stay in your room for the cost of the tour's single room supplement. Please note that non-riders cannot check into hotels prior to guide arrival as the guides need to manage the check-in process. Checking in a large group can be challenging and take longer than normal, so non-riders need to hang back and be patient. Non-riding spouses and partners are welcome to join the meal plan which includes breakfasts and dinners for $75 per day. Note: Lunches are not included for non-riders driving their own vehicles due to the inherent variability of both lunch timing and locations. It is best for non-riders to plan to explore each day.  6-Day Tour with 6 Nights Lodging: (subject to change)

• Nights 1 & 2: Ojo Caliente, Ojo Caliente, NM
• Nights 3, 4, & 5: Inn on La Loma Plaza or Hotel La Fonda, Taos, NM
• Night 6: Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM

We provide most meals on all tours (unless otherwise noted) including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guides will prepare a daily lunch en route for nearly every tour, both road and off-road, as well as provide nutritious snacks at periodic aid stations during the day.

Most of our road tours utilize local restaurants for all meals and occasionally guides may prepare a dinner or two during a tour. Due to the nature of being "off the grid", most of our off-road tours feature guide prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. FUN NOTE: When guides prepare a meal in camp and the guests sit around and watch, this is called "Guide TV".

We also pride ourselves on being able to cater to specific dietary requests and needs, so rest assured that you will be able to get the nutrition that works best for you during your tour. Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan, or a someone who loves it all – we will keep you well fed during the tour!

Lunches: We prepare healthy lunches to keep you going. We will serve you fresh organic fruits and veggies, salads, hummus, sandwich fixings, nuts, gourmet cheeses and, of course, plenty of salty/sweet snacks such as chips and cookies.

Dinners: On our road tours, we sourceour favorite restaurants in each town that we visit. Our guides focus on establishments that offer fresh and local ingredients and guests choose whatever they desire to eat off the menu including: appetizer, salad, entrée, and of course, dessert... yum! Also, while on tour if a guest wants to dine early before the group and go to bed, this is fine. We understand that on some days sleep is the most important post-ride element.

Definition of Ability Levels

Intermediate (2/3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 1 to 3 times a week for a total of 50 or more miles.
Upper Intermediate (3) Rides and/or takes spin classes 2 to 4 times a week for a total of 75 or more miles.

Advanced (3/4) Rides and/or takes spin classes 3 to 5 times a week for a total of 100 or more miles. Has ridden multi-day tours and done a century ride.
Expert (4) Rides 4 or more times per week totaling 150 or more miles. Rides E.F.I. with regularity. Has done numerous multi-day tours, century rides and races.

How Fit do I Have to Be? If one month prior to the tour, you can ride 2 to 3 times a week equaling a total of 75 or more miles a week, you'll do just fine.

Our average rider age is 55 years. These are bike tours, not races so we take our time to stop, take pictures and see the sights. We have all day to reach our destination and most riders take "bumps" at some points. We offer reduced mileage options for each day. Of course if someone wants to ride E.F.I. (Every Freaking Inch), we love to show them all the extra climbs, loops and hidden canyons that can be included!

Do the Bump! Daily mileage options allow cyclists of varying abilities to enjoy this tour. One of our favorite options is to give cyclists a "bump" via the support vehicle, or a 10 to 20 mile lift down the road representing an hour of pedal time. After the bump the rider is "off the front" and riding at his or her own pace without feeling they are being left behind the group. They'll then have time to linger and take in the spectacular scenery. All cyclists come together in time for lunch. Afterwards, cyclists can take another bump and/or continue riding.

Seamless Mileage Options:  We design multiple mileage options for each tour – something we're well known for in our business. This technique is similar to heliskiing in that one does not ski everything, they ski the best. 🙂

Slow or Fast? Many cyclists who sign up for our tours have worried themselves silly about not being able to keep up, but then they're surprised to find that all the worrying was about nothing. They do just fine! Slow and Fast only exist relative to other cyclists. Speed does not matter as long as one is moving on the bike. As long as one is moving, they are truly going fast enough.

Guests either drive to Albuquerque, New Mexico, or fly into Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) or Santa Fe on the day prior to the tour start to meet at the designated meeting hotel (provided in confirmation documents). NOTE: If you fly to Santa Fe, you take the shuttle to start the tour. The tour ends in Santa Fe. If flying to Albuquerque you shuttle from Santa Fe to Albuquerque at tours end.

NOTE: When lodging is available for Day 0 in Abiquiu, we are meeting guests at 3pm at the meeting hotel in Albuquerque on Day 0 for a shuttle to Abiquiu for a 2-nights stay. Before making plane reservations, please confirm if your tour date has added this additional night 0 lodging (ask the office or view in your tour’s confirmation document). This Day 0 lodging will be added at cost (no markup) to your invoice. Two nights in Abiquiu allows for an easier start to Day 1.

Guests are on-their-own for meals on Day 0.

Standard: 30 miles with up to 1,910 feet of climbing
EFI: 55 with additional of Canon Plaza Ride

The tour starts in the painted desert of Georgia O’Keeffe country – the very terrain which helped inspired her artwork. Along most of today’s route towers Cerro Pedernal (or simply “Pedernal”), Spanish for “flint hill”. Pedernal was the subject of many of Georgia’s paintings and her ashes are scattered on its top. After a quick morning shuttle ride, we’ll start pedaling in the New Mexican town Georgia called home, Abiquiú. From Abiquiú, we head norte into Carson National Forest to the historic Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa. This is a beautifully empty route through southernmost foothills of the Sierra San Juan Mountains. The Sierra San Juan Mountains start in southwestern Colorado near Lizard Head Cycling’s namesake Lizard Head Peak.

Steeped in myth and legend, the ancient springs of Ojo Caliente have been a gathering place and source of healing for thousands of years. Ancient peoples, the ancestors of today’s Native American Tewa tribes, built large pueblos and terraced gardens overlooking the springs. Surrounding the springs are the ruins of the cities populated before the birth of history. For those interested in learning more, and witnessing this history first hand, one can easily hike to these ruins while staying at Ojo.

Optional Ride: Canon Plaza – 30 to 43 miles with up to 2,450 feet of climbing

Today’s layover day at Ojo Caliente presents guests with a range of options. Some choose to relax at the mineral springs right on-property, while others opt to take a leisurely hike to a 1,000 year old Anasazi ruin above Ojo. Still others opt to hop on their bikes for a ride. Our guides are happy to suggest routes to match your desired distance and duration, but the most popular by far is an wonderful out and back route to Canon Plaza.

Standard: 59 miles with up to 4,800 feet of climbing

Today we depart Ojo Caliente and ride a gorgeous mountain route before shuttling to Taos. The ride from Tres Piedras (“Three Rocks” in Spanish) is a beautiful out and back to the Brazos (“arms”) range of the Sierra San Juans that tops out in the golden aspens after climbing 4,500-feet in 29-miles (58-miles Roundtrip). In the fall these aspen groves are the golden beauty that John Denver sang about. 🙂

Today’s ride in Tres Piedras ends at one of our favorite green chile cheeseburger spots in all the Land of Enchantment – Chili Line Depot! After wrapping up the ride (and a green chile cheeseburger, if desired!), we’ll shuttle to Taos and our accommodation for the next 3 nights: the Inn on La Loma Plaza or Hotel La Fonda.

Highlights-only Option: 59-miles with 2,925 feet of climbing
Standard Option: 79 miles with up to 4,310 feet of climbing
E.F.I. Option: 99-miles

This is the showcase ride of New Mexico bike tour. The route starts at the Wild Rivers Recreation Area in the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument. The ride follows a loop around the fabulous Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway back to Taos showcasing the Sierra Sangre De Cristo. Cyclists enjoy big mountain views that display the topography of Norte de Nuevo bordered by the majestic presence of the dark and mysterious Rio Grande Gorge.

Optional Ride: 20 miles with 2,210 feet of climbing

Today is a build-your-own-adventure day! Guests have the option of exploring historic Taos, including a fantastic Taos Art Gallery Tour, shopping, and dining… World Cup Café is our recommendation for the best coffee shop within walking discount in Taos! For those looking for an adventure, we welcome guests to raft the Taos Box, a famous stretch of the Rio Grande – choose either a Full Day Option, or a Half Day Option.

Of course, some guests will want to ride as well, and great route options abound! Our favorite? The 20 mile out and back to the greatest ski mountain in the world, Taos Ski Valley.

Lower-mileage Option: 35 miles
Standard option:45 miles with up to 4,050 feet of climbing

Another highlight ride of the New Mexico tour! The riding commences at the historic San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church and then follows the scenic High Road amongst the southernmost peaks of the Sierra Sangre de Cristo range. This destination ride includes pine forests, cottonwood valleys and plenty of climbing. Praying that you can make it is encouraged as there are 5 mission churches along this pilgrimage.

The High Road ends at a special place, the El Santuario de Chimayo, a historical church in the old village of Chimayo. At this location a tiny shrine that is built on the site of what many believe to be a miracle associated with the crucifix of “Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas” (Our Lord of Esquipulas). El Santuario de Chimayo is also the site of “el pocito” the small pit of Holy Dirt which many people attribute as possessing remarkable curative powers.

Our trip ends upon arrival at tonight’s lodging (included in tour cost) only steps from the historic Santa Fe plaza in the quintessential New Mexican lodging of Chimayo de Santa Fe.

After our farewell dinner at Estevan’s on Night 6, guests are on their own to explore Santa Fe on Day 7. Lodging is optional and additional on Night 7 (please contact us if you would like us to book you an extra night) or guests can choose to depart on this day. Since you are positioned only steps from Santa Fe’s historic plaza, art galleries, restaurants and music, guests have the opportunity to enjoy a whole day in Santa Fe, go for it. If you have the time while in Santa Fe check out Meow-Wolf!