Multi-Sport Vacations
& Soft Eco-Adventure Trips
to Veracruz, Mexico
Professional Guides
With Over 25 Years of
Combined Experience
 
 
Clouds to Coast Multi-Sport Adventure Trip
(in the state of Veracruz, Mexico)

 

Attention: Action Adventure Seekers
This 10 day multi-sport trip will get your adrenalin
pumping as you start your Veracruz Mexico vacation
adventure above the clouds. At 14,500 feet,
you will be breathing hard as you
bike down a 10,000 foot vertical
descent on a rocky dirt road
from the base camp of Pico de Orizaba,
the 3rd tallest mountain in
North America. On other days,
you will find yourself                                                              
soaked to the skin 
as you experience
river rafting at it's
best, jump from
20' into a cold river,
be completely covered
in mud from head to toe and then baked in a sauna, crash over the ocean waves in the Gulf of Mexico on a "banana boat" ride, experience a natural massage under a jungle waterfall, eat great Mexican food, climb through the jungle, kayak down a river, watch monkeys in the trees, zipline . . .
 

 
Detailed Itinerary

   
 
 

 

Day 1: Travel to the colonial city of Puebla, Mexico                              After arriving in Mexico City at the international airport, you can catch a bus (2 hour ride) from the airport to the city of Puebla. Note: You can also check for direct flights to Puebla. From there you will take a taxi to the hotel. A representative will meet you at the Hotel Colonial to welcome you and help you check in. Try to arrive early so you will have time to wander around this picturesque colonial city. Puebla has many beautiful buildings, art galleries, and cathedrals all within walking distance of our hotel.
   
Day 2: Travel up a mountain - Bike down 10,000 vertical feet             We will get up early and travel with the guides from New World Adventures to the base camp (14,500') of Pico de Orizaba . This is where the mountain climbers begin their assent to the snow-covered peak of this 3rd tallest mountain in North America.  We will have some time at the base camp to take photos, and for those who would like to, you can hike a short distance up the path that starts the assent to the top (18,400'). We will actually be above the clouds taking in the magnificent vistas of  the snow-covered summit (weather permitting) and the surrounding high altitude scenery. It is at this point you will have one of 3 choices. New World Adventures will supply dual suspension mountain bikes, helmets, and bike gloves for those who would like to attempt riding down the opposite side of the mountain. This will be a 10,000' vertical descent on a challenging, winding, rut-filled, rocky dirt road. Be aware that 98% of the time, you will not need to pedal. It is almost all down hill!  A support vehicle will be behind you the entire way. At anytime, you can take a break and hitch a ride in the vehicle. You also have the choice of riding in the support vehicle in the beginning of the descent and then starting your biking portion further down the mountain on less intimidating terrain. Thirdly, you can skip the biking altogether and just enjoy the bumpy ride and the spectacular mountain views from inside the support vehicle. Afterwards, we will travel to Rancho Santa Barbara near the town of Coscomatepec for a good home-cooked Mexican meal. We will overnight at this resort. (B,L,D)
   
Day 3: Tres Arcos Bike & Hike Trip                                                       After breakfast, we will continue to explore this high altitude region of Veracruz by hiking into an enormous wooded valley to see an ancient Spanish bridge. There we will experience ziplining from tree platform to tree platform. The return trip out the other side of this steep valley is half the fun as they may have to put the Suburban into 4-wheel drive just to get us  out. And if the road is wet and muddy . . . well . . . we hike out. In the afternoon, we can relax and enjoy the beautiful views from Rancho Santa Barbara. We will overnight again at RSB. (B,L,D)
   
Day 4: See a 600' Waterfall - Bargain at a huge outdoor market
We will travel to higher elevations to a beautiful white and red colored church which is perched high above the town of Alpatlahuac. Bring your camera as there are some fantastic views. We then travel to see the impressive 600' waterfall called El Chorro. Later in the day, we will have the opportunity to experience market day in Coscomatepec! Wander around and see the sights and smells of this busy market. Everything from shoes to fresh produce to pigs are sold every Monday. The whole town transforms into one huge outdoor "mega-mall" with 1000s of items being sold or bartered under a canopy of plastic tarps. The evening is free to relax back at Rancho Santa Barbara.  (B,L,D)
   
Day 5: Rappelling - River rafting - Zipline - Soak in a thermal pool 
Today we pack up and move on to our next adventures.  We will travel a few hours to the riverside town of Jalcomulco. It is there that we will meet up with our professional guides. First we will hike up to a ridge overlooking the Pescados River and rappel down a 180' cliff. After that, we will take a zipline ride over the river. Lunch follows and then it's off for a whitewater river rafting trip. The river is mostly made up of class 2 and 3 rapids. Our journey continues as we travel to the town of Carrizal. There, we will stay at a nice resort hotel which has a pool with natural hot springs to soak in. (B,L)
   
Day 6: Travel south - Lake cruise - See monkeys in trees
Today we travel several hours south along the Gulf coast to the lakeside town of Catemaco and check in at our Hotel Posada Koniapan. We will then take a boat ride on the lake to see the surrounding tropical views and try to spot howler monkeys in the trees on an island.  After dinner, the evening is free to relax or explore this typical Mexican town.  (B,L,D)
   
Day 7: Jungle Trek - Participate in a Temazcal Ritual
Today we will travel by truck along the lake and then up into the green tropical hills on an unpaved bumpy road to a small puebla called, Ejido Miguel Hildalgo. It is there you will have an opportunity to meet and talk with some of our friends who live in this small village surrounded by jungle and mountain streams. After a short visit, we will follow our native guide and trek into the wilds on a 3-4 hour hike. Along the way, we will stop to have lunch. Our destination is to find the awesome waterfall called Cascada Las Golondrinas. We then return to Catemaco and later that evening, we will experience an ancient Meso-American ritual called, Temazcal. It is a ceremony to cleanse the spirit, mind, and body. You will be covered from head-to-toe with a special mud and then enter an igloo-shaped hut which is a sauna. Enough said. It definitely will be something to tell the folks about back home.  (B,L,D)
   
Day 8:

Kayak a river - Swim & play in clear mountain pools               After breakfast, we will head out by truck to a beautiful meandering mountain stream for a one hour kayak trip which will take us into Lake Catemaco. After securing our kayaks, we then continue our journey to a private reserve called Cascadas Crystal.  Along the way, we will get some magnificent views of the Gulf of Mexico far below us.  This private jungle hideaway has 3 waterfalls with 3 big pools of crystal clear water below to swim in. You will swear you are in Hawaii. We will spend the day hiking, exploring, and swimming in the cool mountain waters. On a warm tropical day, this is the place to be! We will overnight at our hotel in Catemaco. (B,L)

   
Day 9:
 A day at the beach - Travel to the city of Veracruz                     We leave Catemaco and travel to the small coastal town called Montepio to have breakfast overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Today we will hang out on the beach, swim, and take a cool "banana boat" ride in the ocean to see caves in the rocky cliffs. It's a "day at the beach." Our travels will then continue north up the coast  stopping to explore the beauty of this mostly uninhabited stretch of coastline. We eventually arrive in the port city of Veracruz. After checking into Hotel Veracruz Centro Historical, we can take in some of the sights of this interesting city.  (B)
   
Day 10:
Travel day home.  iBuen Viaje!

 

 

 
$2895 per person
           double occupancy

$352 added for single room supplement

 
 

Check back later

 

 
 
 

 
2008 Departure Dates
November 7

2009 Departure Dates
February 20
March 27
April 24
   
 
Duration:
10 Days / 9 Nights
 
Trip Size:
Min. of 4 people
Max. of 8 people  
 
Age Restriction:
12 and older
 
Skill Level: You should be in good health and have a reasonably good level of general fitness. The down-hill mountain biking is the most challenging section of the whole trip. See the description on Day 2 for options you can choose from.  
 
Highlights: Alpine hiking at the base camp of Pico de Orizaba, downhill mountain biking, class 3 & 4 river rafting on the Pescadores River, zip-line ride over the river, soak in hot springs, bargaining at the huge outdoor market in Coscomatepec, see the spectacular waterfall Mel Gibson used in his movie, Apocalypto, jungle hiking, boat ride on Lake Catemaco, kayaking, wildlife viewing of birds and howler monkeys, participate in an ancient Temazcal ritual, swim in mountain pools, play on secluded beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, eat fresh Mexican food, and meet friendly local natives called Veracruzanos.
 
Accomodations: All the hotels you will stay in on this trip are equivalent to a 3-4 star rated hotel. (Click on the hotels below to see photos of these properties.) 
 
Hotel Colonial, city of Puebla Rancho Santa Barbara, near the town of Coscomatepec
Hotel Veraventuras, Carrizal
Hotel Posada Koniapan, Catemaco
Hotel Veracruz Centro Historical, city of Veracruz  
 
Included: All ground transportation starting for the hotel in Puebla to all destinations throughout the trip, lodgings, meals and tours per itinerary, English-speaking assistance.  

Not Included: Airfares, airport transfers to and from hotels, airport departure taxes, tips of any kind, incidentals, any meals not included in the intinerary, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, and travel insurance.

 
 

 
All rates are per person and based on double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated.   If a hotel included in the trip is not available at the time of reservation, we will substitute it for a hotel of similar category.

This itinerary is subject to change without notice. For more information, see our FAQ section on this website or contact Mike Vondruska