Intro to the trip: Stage 1 Cancun to Villahermosa: 11 days

Hey all. Here are the details of the cross-Mexico ride that Tim and I are doing during the month of January

STAGE 1: Cancun to Villahermosa - 11 days

We will start in Cancun to take advantage of the significant, steady tailwind blowing from the East along the Yucatan peninsula. As well, most of the Yucatan is pancake flat, promising a gentle start to the trip. My father is flying in to join us on the 2nd day, and riding straight through to Villahermosa! This section is characterized by many Mayan archaeological sites, including Chichen Itza. After reaching the Gulf of Mexico at Campeche we follow the coastline for a few days until the route takes us inland to the large city of Villahermosa.

Day 1: Cancun - Valladolid : 153km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind.
Day 2 (my father joins) Valladolid - Piste 44km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind. At Piste is Chichen Itza.
Day 3: Piste - Merida 109km :: Flat and hot with a tailwind
Day 4: Ruta Puuc from Merida - Santa Elena 88km :: Flat and hot. Around Santa Elena are several Mayan ruins.
Day 5: Santa Elena - Hopelchen 73km :: some hills.
Day 6: Hopelchen - Campeche 88km :: some hills. Campeche is an interesting coastal colonial town.
Day 7: Campeche - Champoton 55km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 8: Champoton - Sabancuy 87km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 9: Sabancuy - Ciudad del Carmen 77km :: flat along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.
Day 10: Ciudad del Carmen - Frontera 94km :: flat through marshland.
Day 11: Frontera - Villahermosa 81km :: inland, flattish; Villahermosa is a city of 600,000+ with a major airport with several daily flights to Mexico City.