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Greetings from Cuzco,
The Otto's Tours Team
Motorcycle Expedition through Mexico
Active Cultural Discovery Tour
This extraordinary journey covers more than 4,000 kilometres through Mexico, crossing an incredible variety of landscapes, altitudes and climate zones. On some days, we ride through as many as five different climate zones—from high-altitude mountain roads and active volcanoes to tropical jungle and idyllic beaches.
These dramatic changes in altitude and climate are what make this expedition truly unique.
But this journey is about much more than riding. Along the way, we immerse ourselves in the rich
and diverse cultures of Mexico, encountering the heritage of ancient civilisations such as the Maya and Aztecs,
as well as the traditions of the communities living here today.
We wind our way along mountain roads and around active volcanoes, ride along spectacular beaches and
deep into the jungle. Along the route, we visit coffee haciendas, cigar and rum factories, Maya temples, opal
mines and cactus farms. We cook together with local families, make our own silver rings, and even take a
hot-air balloon ride over the Sun and Moon Pyramids of Teotihuacán.
And of course, every few days there is time for what we affectionately call an “active rest day”—because
even motorcycle adventurers need to put their feet up, enjoy a good meal and raise a glass or two!
Our English-speaking tour leader travels alongside the group in a 12-seater support van, carrying luggage, spare parts and tools. Equipped with radio communication, the van provides route support and takes care of the organisation on the road, including meal stops and other logistics—essentially everything you would expect from a tour leader, with the added advantage of dedicated motorcycle support.
A support pick-up truck is also available and can transport up to three motorcycles. This means that if a participant does not wish to ride a particular section, the motorcycle can be transported while the participant continues comfortably in the support vehicle.
In the afternoon, we arrive in Mexico City, located at an impressive 2,240 metres above
sea level, and make the short transfer to our hotel. Over dinner at a traditional taquerĂa,
we get our first taste of Mexico with delicious Tacos al Pastor and a refreshingly
cold Corona Extra while discussing the adventure that awaits us the following day.
We spend the night at the modern, industrial-style MX Roma Hotel, located in the
trendy Roma neighbourhood. The hotel offers a large, secure garage where our motorcycles can be parked. (No meals included)
After a buffet breakfast at the hotel, we head in two groups to the motorcycle rental company.
Once everyone is equipped, we set off together on our first test ride through the sprawling Mexico City
metropolitan area—the political, cultural and economic heart of the country and home to more than 20 million people.
This is where the adventure really begins. Mexico City traffic is legendary, and riding here requires concentration,
flexibility and a healthy sense of humour. From busy multi-lane avenues to unexpected speed bumps and potholes on
smaller roads, the city's traffic can be quite an experience—especially when approached from European driving
standards! Our tour leader will guide us through the urban jungle and help us get comfortable with the bikes and local traffic.
With a little luck, we make our way to Mercado Jamaica, Mexico City's largest flower market. Trucks arrive
throughout the day loaded with colourful flowers, filling the air with the scents of roses,
hydrangeas and lilies. Particularly spectacular are the huge displays of cempasĂşchil,
the vibrant orange and red marigold traditionally associated with the Day of the Dead.
Around 1,000 stalls offer an extraordinary variety of flowers, ornamental plants and gardening accessories.
We then head to the lively Mercado de Coyoacán, one of the city's most atmospheric traditional markets, where we enjoy a typical Mexican almuerzo.
In the afternoon, we continue to the colourful canals of Xochimilco, the famous “floating gardens”
on the southern edge of Mexico City. A leisurely boat ride aboard a traditional trajinera gives
us a wonderfully lively introduction to Mexican culture. With typical specialities, music
and perhaps a Mariachi band on board, the atmosphere is unmistakably Mexican.
We also visit the mysterious Isla de las Muñecas – Island of the Dolls, where hundreds of old
dolls hang from trees and structures throughout the island. The eerie collection is surrounded by
local legends and has become one of Xochimilco's most unusual sights.
We spend the night at the MX Roma Hotel. (breakfast included)
For those who have booked this unforgettable adventure, the day begins before sunrise.
We ride through the still-sleeping city towards a small airfield north of Mexico City. While enjoying a
light breakfast and a typical Mexican coffee, we watch the flight crew prepare the hot-air balloon for take-off.
Just before sunrise, we lift off and float over nearby Teotihuacán, the legendary “City of the Gods”.
Covering around 22 km², it is one of the largest archaeological sites in the Americas and was once
one of the most important cultural centres of ancient Mesoamerica. From above, we watch the first
rays of sunlight illuminate the monumental Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon—an
extraordinary perspective on one of Mexico's greatest archaeological treasures.
We land on a small meadow surrounded by enormous cacti before continuing our journey.
In a small village, HĂ©ctor or one of his sons is waiting for us. Depending on local conditions
and access permissions, we either ride our motorcycles along a steep, winding dirt track through
lush vegetation into the mining area or continue by 4x4 vehicles. On a hillside in the rugged
landscape of Querétaro, miners have been searching for precious opal for more than 170 years.
We explore tunnels and underground passages and meet the local miners as they work the rock by hand.
They demonstrate their traditional techniques—and then it's our turn to try our hand at searching
for opals ourselves! Afterwards, we visit a workshop where skilled craftsmen transform the rough stones into beautiful jewellery and other fashion pieces.
In the afternoon, we reach the atmospheric former mining town of Mineral de Pozos, now known as one of Mexico's most fascinating ghost towns.
The town was founded after rich deposits of gold, silver, mercury and copper were discovered in the area during the colonial period. At its height, more than 50 mining companies operated around 360 mines. Pozos became a prosperous mining centre with its own railway connection, electricity, telegraph and even one of Mexico's first French factories.
Its fortunes changed dramatically during the Mexican Revolution. The mines closed and the once-thriving town rapidly declined. A population of around 60,000 dwindled to just a few hundred inhabitants by the 1950s, leaving behind abandoned buildings, mine shafts and atmospheric ruins.
Today, Mineral de Pozos has experienced a small revival, with charming boutique hotels, cafés and restaurants appearing among the ruins. We explore this fascinating place where Mexico's mining past and its present-day bohemian atmosphere meet—and, of course, find plenty of spectacular photo opportunities along the way.
Our overnight stay will be at the Posada de Las Minas and La Casona Minera, Mineral de Pozos (the group will be split between the two hotels) (breakfast included)
After a relaxed breakfast, we set off off-road through the surreal landscape around Mineral de Pozos, passing abandoned houses and the atmospheric remains of its mining past. Our destination is an old, crumbling hacienda, where a local cave guide is waiting for us and equips everyone with a helmet.
Then the adventure begins. For around one hour, we descend into the underground world of the old mines, following in the footsteps of the miners who worked here more than a century ago. Along the way, we gain a fascinating insight into the harsh conditions and daily life of Mexico's historic mining communities.
In the early afternoon, we reach Guanajuato. From a distance, the city's most striking feature is already unmistakable: countless brightly painted houses form a colourful mosaic across the wooded hillsides.
At around 2,000 metres above sea level, Guanajuato stretches through a narrow, winding valley surrounded by mountains.
One of the city's most unusual attractions is the Mummy Museum, located on the cemetery hill of the PanteĂłn Municipal. In 1865, when new burial space was needed and older graves were reopened, workers made a remarkable discovery: instead of decomposing, many of the bodies had been naturally preserved by the area's dry climate and mineral-rich soil.
Rather than reburying or cremating them, the idea eventually arose to display some of the mummies—and today they form one of Guanajuato's most extraordinary and haunting collections. Many date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and include men, women, children and elderly people, preserved in remarkably different states and sometimes still wearing their original clothing.
During our visit, a local museum guide shares stories and anecdotes about the people behind the remains—some fascinating, some touching and occasionally rather macabre.
The museum also offers a striking insight into Mexico's distinctive relationship with death. Here, death is often approached with a mixture of curiosity, humour and acceptance that can feel very different from European traditions. The museum itself reflects this cultural perspective and is an unusual but fascinating part of our journey through Mexico.
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Meson de los Poetas or equivalent in Guanajuato (breakfast included)
Guanajuato is a city unlike any other. Hardly a road runs in a straight line: instead, the streets wind their way up and down the steep hillsides, disappear into tunnels and suddenly emerge again somewhere completely unexpected. Much of the city's traffic actually runs underground, through former mining tunnels carved into the mountains.
We explore this fascinating city on foot, passing its iconic aqueduct and wandering through the beautiful colonial centre with its cobblestone callejones—narrow alleyways that feel more like urban canyons than ordinary streets. From one lively plaza to the next, we discover the market, the distinctive university building, the elegant Teatro Juárez and the laurel-lined JardĂn de la UniĂłn.
Today, lunch becomes part of the adventure: using GPS coordinates provided by our tour leader, we set off to find our own lunch stop.
Afterwards, we continue on a longer ride through numerous small mountain villages towards the magical landscape surrounding Lake Avándaro. With dense forests, mist-covered hills and traditional terracotta rooftops, the Valle de Bravo region has an almost fairytale atmosphere.
The charming, largely preserved colonial centre of Valle de Bravo is the heart of the town. Centuries-old buildings now house lively bars, cafés and boutiques. This is the perfect place to sample some regional specialities, perhaps esquites—warm corn kernels served with chilli, lime and mayonnaise.
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Meson de las Legends or equivalent in Valle del Bravo (breakfast and picnic in the countryside included)
Today brings one of the most spectacular rides of the entire expedition. We tackle winding dirt roads through Nevado de Toluca National Park, climbing to more than 4,200 metres above sea level. So wrap up warm! The reward is a breathtaking panorama across the Toluca Valley and surrounding mountains, with views stretching towards the mighty Popocatépetl volcano. But the true highlight lies inside the volcano's crater: the stark volcanic landscape contrasts beautifully with the blue-green waters of the two crater lakes, Laguna del Sol (Sun Lake) and Laguna de la Luna (Moon Lake).
After a well-earned picnic, those who are up for an additional challenge can hike higher towards the crater rim, reaching almost 5,000 metres above sea level.
In the afternoon, we continue along seemingly endless mountain switchbacks to the famous silver-mining town of Taxco de AlarcĂłn. The first view is spectacular: whitewashed and red-roofed houses cling dramatically to the steep mountainside, seemingly stacked on top of one another among rugged cliffs and mountains.
Taxco owes much of its wealth and growth to silver mining. The Spanish established a settlement here in 1528 and began exploiting the area's rich silver deposits. Later, the immensely wealthy silver baron Don José de la Borda financed the magnificent Santa Prisca Church, today considered one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico.
Right in front of the church lies Plaza Borda, the lively heart of Taxco—and our hotel is located directly on this beautiful square.
Here, the narrow streets converge around the plaza, lined with charming colonial buildings housing restaurants, bars and shops selling beautiful silver handicrafts. In the small family-run fondas, locals enjoy cinnamon-scented Café de Olla in the morning and hearty pozole for lunch. And in the evening, perhaps we'll join them for a cold beer or a tequila while taking in the lively atmosphere of Taxco's bustling centre.
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Agua Escondida or equivalent in Taxco (breakfast and "volcano-picnic included)
A very special adventure awaits us today: a motorcycle scavenger hunt that will put our riding skills and sense of direction to the test!
Divided into four groups, we set off on our motorcycles and follow clues through small, seemingly forgotten mountain villages, along remote roads and into the countryside, where we meet local mezcal farmers. What exactly awaits us along the way? That's part of the adventure! If everything goes according to plan, we'll all be back together by lunchtime to share our stories from the morning.
OPTIONAL – Silver Ring Workshop
In the afternoon, we descend the mountainside on foot through a fascinating maze of steep stairways and narrow alleyways. Around every corner, another wonderful photo opportunity appears: laundry strung between houses, a local resident watering her plants or children playing football despite the dramatic slope.
Our destination is a small, traditional silversmith's workshop, where the master craftsman and his assistants show us how to make our very own silver ring.
Starting with a simple sheet of silver, we cut out a strip, shape it and work it until it becomes our personal piece of jewellery. After around 2–3 hours, our individually crafted and highly polished silver ring is ready to wear with pride. The activity must be booked with the tour leader on Day 1 in Mexico City.
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Agua Escondida or equivalent in Taxco (breakfast included)
In the morning, we visit a silver workshop just outside Taxco, where traditional pre-Columbian techniques and
motifs are combined with indigenous designs and contemporary styles. It's a fascinating insight into the
craftsmanship and artistic heritage for which Taxco is famous.
We then saddle up and head towards Puebla, riding through small mountain villages, farmland and rugged countryside.
One of today's highlights is the spectacular route between two of Mexico's highest volcanoes: the snow-capped,
highly active PopocatĂ©petl and its neighbouring IztaccĂhuatl. The two volcanoes stand just 17 kilometres apart and both rise to more than 5,000 metres.
We follow the challenging Paso de CortĂ©s, a rough dirt and gravel road winding through IztaccĂhuatl-PopocatĂ©petl National Park between the two volcanoes. Once an important route connecting Amecameca and Puebla, the pass has long since been replaced by the much faster Highway 150D. Today, the remote mountain road is largely left to adventurers like us.
At more than 3,600 metres, the pass takes us significantly higher than the towns on either side, which
lie at around 2,300 metres. The reward for the demanding ride is an unforgettable panorama of the two towering volcanoes.
Our destination is Puebla, the famous “City of Angels”. The city's historic centre is renowned for its
distinctive Poblano architectural style, with magnificent churches and colourful colonial buildings
decorated with Azulejos and Talavera tiles, ornate details and elaborate paintings.
Puebla also has a strong indigenous heritage, and Náhuatl, the language of the region's Indigenous
peoples, is still spoken by some residents. The city has played an important role throughout Mexican history:
on 5 May 1862, Mexican forces defeated the French here, an event commemorated every year with the
famous Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Puebla was also the scene of some of the first revolutionary clashes in 1910.
We stay right in the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. In the evening, we take a
leisurely walk through this beautiful colonial gem and soak up the atmosphere of Puebla after dark.
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Andante or equivalent in Puebla (breakfast included)
Today, we leave the larger roads behind and head into the Mexican highlands of the Sierra Madre.
Our route takes us along a mix of winding paved roads and smaller gravel tracks, passing through
typical mountain villages and increasingly remote landscapes.
Our destination is Santa MarĂa Coyomeapan, where a Mexican host is already waiting for us—and
the barbecue is already sizzling! After a day on the road, there's only one thing left to say:
¡Cheers! We spend the evening together over good food, cold drinks and stories from the road.
Our overnight stay will be at Cabañas Las Flores, Santa MarĂa Coyomeapan – simple shared rooms with private bathroom/WC (breakfast and dinner included)
Today, we continue our journey through the highlands of the Sierra Madre towards Oaxaca de Juárez, one of Mexico's great cultural and culinary centres.
In the afternoon, we visit the spectacular archaeological site of Monte Albán, the former capital of the Zapotec civilisation. Narrow roads wind their way up the mountain to what was once one of the most important cities in ancient Mesoamerica.
The site lies around 400 metres above the modern city of Oaxaca, on a mountaintop that was deliberately levelled around 500 BC to create an enormous ceremonial centre covering roughly 40 km². The impressive plazas, temples and platforms bear witness to the sophistication of the Zapotec civilisation.
Around 900 AD, Monte Albán was largely abandoned. Why the city was deserted remains one of the great mysteries surrounding the site. The Zapotec people, however, are far from a civilisation of the past: they remain one of the largest Indigenous groups in Oaxaca today, with their language, traditions and cultural identity still very much alive.
And Oaxaca is not only a feast for history lovers—it is widely regarded as the Mecca of Mexican cuisine. In the evening, our tour leader invites us to try one of the city's most famous local specialities: roasted grasshoppers, or chapulines. Crunchy, spicy and unmistakably Oaxacan—who's brave enough to take the first bite?
Our overnight stay will be at the Hotel Casa Conzatti or equivalent in Oaxaca de Juarez (breakfast included)