Bike – Maldo Travels

Peak District – Cycle Trail and Caves

Jean Maldonado — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 21:50:00 +0000

From London, it’s about a 3-hour 30-minute drive to Peak District National Park which makes it ideal for a weekend trip. We headed out on a Friday evening to the small town of Aston just outside Sheffield. On Saturday, we planned to go cycling on a trail. There are several trails in the National Park and we chose to go on the Monsal Trail. This trail used to be a railway track that has been converted for walking and cycling. It’s mostly a dirt and pebble trail but parts of it have been paved. We first drove to Hassop Station which is 45 minutes away from Aston. On our way, we stopped at Bakewell for some brunch at a quaint B&B that had a fireplace. There’s a bike rental shop at Hassop Station and there are different types of bikes for hire starting from 2 hours. We chose to rent a standard adult bike for 2 hours which cost 12 GBP¹. We set out at 11.45 AM making stops along the way for pictures. The trail ends at Blackwell Mill and we stopped at the last bridge to turn back. When we got back, we were very muddy since the bikes didn’t have mudguards. We cleaned up a bit and then headed back to our Airbnb² in Aston.

On Sunday, we decided to check out some caves. First, we headed to Speedwell Cavern which was about an hour away from our Airbnb in Aston. We got there at around 12.30 PM and there’s plenty of parking space opposite the entrance. When buying tickets, we saw that there was a discount on a joint ticket with Peak Cavern. We bought the joint ticket for 20 GBP each and then waited about 15 minutes for the next guided tour. A guide then calls us into a room where we pick up a helmet. He goes over the schedule of the tour and begins talking about the history of the cave. We’re then taken down some steps and arrive at the underground river. The cave is very narrow with just enough space for the boat to fit. Everyone gets into the boat and the guide then uses his hands on the ceiling to navigate down the river. On the way, the guide talks about the mining operations that used to happen in the cave and how the miners and children were exploited. After about 15 minutes, we reach the end of the river and get out of the boat into a chamber. There’s a small waterfall inside and the guide says that now you can see the bottom since the miners dumped rocks from their excavations into the hole. The guide then talks about the geography of the cave and we have about 10 minutes to take pictures. We then get back on the boat and head for the exit.

Next, we drove about 5 minutes to the nearby town of Castleton. Peak Cavern is located in this town and there’s no dedicated car park at the site, so you have to find parking in the town. We found a space nearby and it’s a nice walk by the riverside to the cave entrance. We got there at 2.10 PM and a tour had just started so we joined in. The guide was talking about how the site was used to make rope and showed us some of the tools used. We then continue into the cave and the guide mentions that several movies have been filmed in the cave. He also mentions that Queen Victoria once visited the cave and they dug a new passage so she wouldn’t have to crawl. We arrive at a large chamber and the guide talks about the history and geography of the cave. We then head back to the exit. Following our visit, we went for a walk around the town and grabbed some food before making our way back to London.

Death Road – Mountain Bike Tour

Jean Maldonado — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:07:00 +0000

We booked our tour the day before for 380 BOB³ each. The pick up was from our hotel at around 6 AM but they ended up coming at 7 AM due to heavy traffic. It was a small tour group with only 4 people plus the guide and the minivan driver. From La Paz, it was about an hour and a half to the starting point of the bike ride which is at a magnificent viewpoint. We stopped at a toll station on the way where there were stalls to buy drinks and snacks. If you didn’t buy any snacks beforehand, I’d recommend picking some up here. Once at the starting point, we’re given full gear to put on and get some time to try out the bikes. Then when everyone is ready, we follow the guide down the road which is initially a tarmac road.

The minivan follows behind us which makes us feel safer when cars overtake. It’s a tarmac road for the first 30 minutes before reaching the start of the Yungas Road. At the entrance, everyone has to pay the 50 BOB entrance fee. Before the new highway was built, all vehicles traveled via the Yungas Road which has narrow winding roads with many blind corners. This is why it was so dangerous but now nearly all vehicles use the new safer highway and you’ll mainly just see bikes on the Yungas Road. The Yungas entrance has a viewpoint and seating area to rest/get ready before setting out. The guide handed out breakfast which was a sandwich, a banana, and a drink which was included with the tour.

After finishing breakfast and taking some pictures, we set out with the guide. Once again, the guide went first and the minivan followed behind. It’s a bumpy ride down on the dirt road and there are several U-turns. The guide doesn’t go too fast and if you feel you can go faster, he lets you go ahead and tells you where to stop to wait for the group. We made several stops at some viewpoints to rest and take pictures. One of the main stops was at a U-turn to take a picture sitting over the edge. There are always tour groups here taking turns for the picture. There is also a section where you go under a small waterfall so you’ll be getting wet. Weather-wise, the first part of the descent is a little chilly, but it quickly starts to get hotter and more humid.

There are several rest stops along the way and also signs. The best sign though is quite far down the trail where we stopped for about 20 minutes. There is also a zip lining place which we stopped at and the guide said we could do it, but we preferred to get down sooner. Overall, it was about 5 hours of downhill biking to reach the final rest stop at La Senda Verde. Here, we are allowed to use the shower facilities to get changed. There is also a pool to relax in while waiting for the buffet lunch to be served. There’s also a bar if to buy beers and drinks. After about an hour, we get back in the minivan to drive back up to La Paz. On the drive up, you’ll be able to appreciate the views more since riding down you’re only really looking at the road ahead. The drive back takes about 2-hours 30-minutes arriving in La Paz around 8 PM.

Tulum – Scenic Beaches and Cenotes

Jean Maldonado — Thu, 10 May 2018 20:30:03 +0000

A 1-hour bus journey from Playa del Carmen takes you to the tranquil city of Tulum. Although the city is fairly small, all its tourist sites are well spread out and definitely not walking distances between each other. There is public transport available consists of combis/colectivos⁴. Another option is a car rental which would be of maximum convenience and comfort. Alternatively, there are bike rentals which at 100 MXN⁵ for a day turns out pretty cheap. The main beach at Playa Paraiso is a 15-20 minute bike ride from the downtown area depending on where you stay. Once at the beach, the views are cinematic with several beach chair rentals and bars/restaurants serving food and ice cold drinks.

Mayan Seaport Ruins

Tulum’s Mayan ruins are a 5-minute bike ride from the beach. There is ample parking space and you can lock up the bikes on the trees. Entrance costs 70 MXN without a guide and does not include the optional train ride to the ruins’ entrance which is a 15-minute walk away. These ancient Mayan ruins are one of the best conserved in the country and it also offers a stunning beach. The complex is quite small and can be completed in about 2 hours but there are several practically intact structures and walls. The Mayan city of Tulum is believed to have been used as a fortress and a port to trade with its neighboring civilizations. It is also rich in wildlife and you will be able to see iguanas up close and personal. The ruins are a very popular destination so plan to get there early to avoid the crowds especially at the beach. The weather is also very hot so take plenty of water and sunblock.

Gran Cenote

Cenote options are abundant in Tulum but one of the best has to be Gran Cenote and is located at just a 15-minute bike ride from downtown on Av. Coba. Entrance is 180 MXN for the ample site which offers great shower and changing room facilities. There are also several hammocks and seating areas to lounge around to relax or do some reading. They also rent out lockers (30 MXN) and snorkel gear (80 MXN) to take a dip in the cenote, however, both of these are optional. The water temperature is refreshing to cool off from the heat in Tulum. Once in the water, you can see fishes swimming around and if you look carefully, you may spot a turtle.

Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido

These two cenotes are adjacent to each other and are a 15-minute bike ride from downtown on Chetumal Street. The combined entrance for both cenotes has to be purchased at the entrance for Cenote Cristal and costs 120 MXN. There are no showers or changing rooms at either of the cenotes but there are a couple of benches and tables. Cenote Cristal has a platform where you can jump from into the water which is great fun. The only downside to this cenote is that there are a lot of mosquitos so make sure to take repellent with you. Cenote Escondido, in my opinion, was the better of the two. There are fewer mosquitos here and its shape is long but narrow like a swimming pool which makes for a great swim.