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Ruta Maya 2026

Ruta Maya 2026

Ruta Maya 2026

Cycling the mountain backroads of Central America in search of Mayan History

RIDERS AND STAFF

Jairo Corrales

Assistant Tour Leader

San Jose to Tulum

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Jairo Corrales

Assistant Tour Leader
San Jose to Tulum

Costa Rica

Pura Vida!!

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Becky Timbers

Content Creator

San Jose to Tulum

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Becky Timbers

Content Creator
San Jose to Tulum

United States

Originally from Vermont, I now live and travel in my converted van. I love all forms of bike from mountain biking, bikepacking, gravel, and touring.

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Helen Gertig

Medic

San Jose to Tulum

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Helen Gertig

Medic
San Jose to Tulum

United Kingdom

I'm a GP based in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Love an adventure by any self-propelled means. I have previously been medic for the (fabulous) Tour d'Afrique, Silk Route and Trans-Himalaya TDA expeditions. Looking forward to joining you all for this joyful two-wheeled scamper!!

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Malcolm Juring

Tour Leader

San Jose to Tulum

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Malcolm Juring

Tour Leader
San Jose to Tulum

United States

What I love most about being a Tour Leader is traveling the world, riding bikes, and meeting new and interesting people on every trip. What more could you ask for?

I started working at bike shops and as a bike courier while at university. The income from these jobs allowed me to plan my own cycling trips during school breaks. Following university, I spent two years working with an aid organization in Guinea, where I was surprised to see a TDA tour passing through rural West Africa. Several years and one pandemic later, I found myself guiding bike tours around the US, dreaming about even greater adventures.

One of my most memorable experiences from a TDA tour was in Tuktoyaktuk at the start of the North American Epic. I went for a swim in the Arctic Ocean and I remember thinking "Would I ever have this chance again?" But when I waded into the water, I realized something wasn't right: the water wasn't cold. It felt like a heated pool and it ended up being an unpleasant swim. My mind was occupied with what I had read about rising sea temperatures while every inch of my skin above water was attacked by mosquitoes. But I remember the visceral feeling of "so, this is what the Arctic Ocean really is."

My advice for anyone planning to join a TDA tour is to read a book, fiction or nonfiction, set in your tour's destination. Also, try learning a few phrases in the local language, and don't forget your towel!

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Carolina Ceravolo

Assistant Tour Leader

San Jose to Tulum

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Carolina Ceravolo

Assistant Tour Leader
San Jose to Tulum

Brazil

There are many things I love about my job, but my favorite is to dive deep in the route to learn all about its features, profile, geographical and historical facts, and to reunite with the team and riders to explore the journey together. All of us are very privileged to be able to explore the world at the pace of a bicycle; to really be present and see, feel, hear and smell all the environments we are cycling through. I love to keep the riders focused on their journey, motivating them to see the magic and the beauty of what we have the opportunity to be doing. I like to be the bridge to their experience, helping them face the challenges and persevere.

I currently live in Belgium. I have been traveling through all hidden corners of the American continent and Europe for the last 10 years where I learnt about its history and culture. I'm a certified nature and history guide in Mexico, specialized in Mayan History. I'm also a technical cave diver and worked with cave exploration in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, where I lived for 9 years. Here I developed skills in safety and risk management, which is one of my favorite aspects of the job as a tour leader: to be able to foresee hazards and plan ways to mitigate them.

Cycling is my favorite thing to do, so in 2017 I did a solo self supported bike trip for 4 months from Mexico to Brazil. This was when I decided to change the course of my career from guiding nature and cave diving tours to working with cycling tour companies, realizing I could transfer my skills in safety and risk assessment from cave diving into leading cycling tours/expeditions.

My tip for cyclists joining our tours is to trully allow yourself to be out of your comfort zone and to enjoy being there. Traveling by bike is physically challenging, but having a strong, open and adventurous mind is what you need to take the most out of it. Learn to appreciate the differences. To think as a group and to be realistic about what crossing a country - or a few of them - by bicycle implies. It's a unique and a massive achievement for everyone involved in it, don't forget that! Have fun, and smile always.

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Kenny Balfour

Bike Mechanic

San Jose to Tulum

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Kenny Balfour

Bike Mechanic
San Jose to Tulum

United Kingdom

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Shanny Hill

Office Support

San Jose to Antigua

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Shanny Hill

Office Support
San Jose to Antigua

Canada

“I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world. I learn so much each time I travel and with each new project and new tour we launch.”

I first found a TDA brochure when I was a sales manager at Duke's Cycle in Toronto. I met Henry and convinced him to give me a job in the office. That was over a decade ago now.

My love of all things bicycle started when I was in high school: I lived in the country and my friends were six kilometres away, in town. A bike was the easiest way to meet up with them on weekends. This started my interest in cycle touring and I did my first big trip at age 17 with some friends—a month of biking around Lake Erie, covering 3,400 kilometres from our hometown Kirkland Lake, in Northern Ontario.

Some of my favourite TDA travel memories are from Kyrgyzstan. Also Ethiopia, as well as France. And of course can't forget Namibia, and Ireland, and, well...

I love to travel and I feel very fortunate to have had an eclectic mix of travel experiences. Whether it’s trying fermented mare's milk in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan, eating “spagbol” prepared by our talented tour chefs after a long day of riding, sipping strong espresso in Venice, or sitting street-side for lunch in Paris, my travels always have food at their centre. Food and cycling—the combination can't be beat!

Working with TDA is all about variety—food, cycling, challenge, problem-solving, meeting people from all over the world, getting a glimpse into the way others live elsewhere and gaining knowledge from them, and learning to be humble.

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Sarah Gates

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Sarah Gates

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United States

Avid gravel and road cyclist, sometime racer. Love to explore national forest roads and see the world on a bike. I'm VP of the Cycle Oregon Board of Directors. When not on a bike I spend time knitting, gardening, cooking and exploring the world.

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Kate Dunster

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Kate Dunster

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Australia

..

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Dick Buter

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Dick Buter

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Netherlands

Cycling is the best way to discover the world.

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Leonard Bayliss

Rider

Antigua to Tulum

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Leonard Bayliss

Rider
Antigua to Tulum

Australia

live, work in new westminster canada,do solo non supported bicycle tours ,so far perth to albany WA around the coast, west to east sicily,lisboa to granada spain,parts of Jordan bicycle trail

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ANDREW BRINK

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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ANDREW BRINK

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Australia

..

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Justin Ripley

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Justin Ripley

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United States

... to be continued.

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Wendy McDonald

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Wendy McDonald

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United States

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Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Canada

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Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Canada

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Sally Weatherald

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Sally Weatherald

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Australia

Now retired, I have the time and money to complete more adventures and continue to explore the world. I love history, cultures and meeting people from all walks of the life. I'm a passionate fitness person, cyclists, and walker/hiker.

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Jeanine Hartnett

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Jeanine Hartnett

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United States

This will be my fifth TDA trip. I retired from a banking career in New York in 2016. I’ve done many other long distance cycling trips, including across the US in 2017.

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Joanna Jaworska

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Joanna Jaworska

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Poland

I'm 66 and live in Warsaw, Poland. Until a few yours ago I've been very active in business (running my own company and our horse ranch). Then my kids took the duties over from me and now I have more time for me and my sports activities. A few years ago I started to bike. I have done a few MTB biking trips in the mountains of Portugal, Austria and Albania. Within the last 3 years I’ve been bike touring in Norway, Scotland, Spain and Corsica. 2022 I participated in the New Zealand sections of TransOceania and recently in the full tour of Journey to the East - it’s been great!

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David Miles

Rider

Antigua to Tulum

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David Miles

Rider
Antigua to Tulum

United States

Farmer of Apples and bees. Rider of dusty country roads in Kansas.

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Edward Malden

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Edward Malden

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United Kingdom

Normal ( at least I like to think so) chap who enjoys a little adventure & the great outdoors. I like to exercise so I can consume lots of good food , beer, & wine. Life is Good :)

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Merrill F

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Merrill F

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United States

I retired in 2008 and recently turned 70. I love the outdoors and am always looking for a new adventure. One of my sons introduced me to cycling in 2013 and I found it fun and fulfilling. In 2014 my son and I cycled across SE Asia from Bangkok to Saigon. My first TDA tour in 2016 was the Hippie Trail in India and I then went on to complete an unsupported tour of the U.S. West Coast as well as a U.S. transcontinental west to east. I live in Northern California, have been married for over 30 years, and have 2 sons in their early 30's. Travel by bicycle is a great way to meet the people of a country and experience the food, music and culture. I look forward to new adventures with TDA.

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Hubert Schanne

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Hubert Schanne

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Canada

After having been bitten by the TDA bug in India in 2016, followed by Aus/NZ in 2018 and the crazy Ruta Maya in 2023, I am back for more and look forward to meeting old friends and new on the bumpy roads in ??.

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Sjoerd van Berkel

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Sjoerd van Berkel

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Netherlands

Hi! I am Sjoerd, a 42yr old Dutch Entrepreneur and cycling fan (both road & mtb) who is currently enjoying a sabbatical. Am cycling since appr. 8 years and had the pleasure to do nice rides in the Dolomites, Austria, Kenya and New Zealand since. However, nothing compared to the challenge I now signed up for :). Looking forward making it a memorable experience with the team and other riders!

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John Archibald

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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John Archibald

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United Kingdom

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Catharine Archibald

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Catharine Archibald

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

United Kingdom

Retired in 2021 and completed TDA Ruta Maya 2023. Also a few shorter supported tours in UK, Europe, Mongolia, North & South America over the last 5 years. Enjoy road biking, gravel biking and bike packing trips in UK. Love using my bike to get from A to B. Lived in Scotland for over 30 years with Scottish husband John (also joining trip) but I am originally from England. We have 3 grown up girls - only the eldest gets the cycling thing …..

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SEE

LESS

SEE LESS

Malcolm Juring

Tour Leader

San Jose to Tulum

Sarah Gates

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

Kate Dunster

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

Dick Buter

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

Leonard Bayliss

Rider

Antigua to Tulum

SEE

MORE

SEE MORE

Steve Winter

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Steve Winter

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

New Zealand

Originally from New Zealand I spent ten years living in the UK before moving to Latvia where I'm currently living. Always up for a challenge or adventure riding through West Africa seems like it should be for me...!

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Leah Jay

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Leah Jay

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Australia

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Glen Greedy

Rider

San Jose to Tulum

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Glen Greedy

Rider
San Jose to Tulum

Australia

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"It was a great opportunity to see the authentic side of Central America. The mountainous backroads were stunning."

"It was an excellent, challenging and rewarding adventure."

"The Ruta Maya is a great tour."

OVERVIEW RUTA MAYA 2026


  • FULL TOUR
  • SECTION 1
  • SECTION 2
  • RUTA MAYA
  • INTO THE JUNGLE
  • ANCIENT CITIES
  • SAN JOSE TO TULUM
  • SAN JOSE TO ANTIGUA
  • ANTIGUA TO TULUM
  • JAN 18 TO FEB 28
  • JAN 18 TO FEB 9
  • FEB 11 TO FEB 28
  • USD
  • SPACES AVAILABLE
  • SPACES AVAILABLE
  • SPACES AVAILABLE
  • FULL TOUR
    • RUTA MAYA
    • SAN JOSE TO TULUM
    • JAN 18 TO FEB 28
    • USD
    • SPACES AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 1
    • INTO THE JUNGLE
    • SAN JOSE TO ANTIGUA
    • Jan 18 - Feb 9
    • SPACES AVAILABLE
  • SECTION 2
    • ANCIENT CITIES
    • ANTIGUA TO TULUM
    • Feb 11 - Feb 28
    • SPACES AVAILABLE

Full tour and section dates listed are for first and last day of cycling. Prices based on double occupancy at majority of the hotels. Solo riders will be paired with another rider of the same gender at no additional charge. Accommodation the night before first cycling day and the night of last cycling day are included in entry fee. We advise booking at least 1 additional night at tour accommodation before the tour, to be able to attend rider briefing and have assistance from tour bike mechanic in setting up your bike.

Full entry fee payment is due 90 days before the tour start date. A registration fee of US$150 must first be paid to hold your place on the tour and is in addition to the entry fee listed above. Registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. We recommend registering 4 - 6 months before the tour start date to take full advantage of our pre-tour support and information bulletins, but late registrations are possible when spaces are still available.

Full tour entry fees will receive an early payment discount of USD$TBA if full payment is received 6 months before the start of the tour. TDA alumni get special alumni discounts. Please contact our office for further details.

 

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