Trip Summary9 Days / 8 Nights This tour will run from The cost is $6,800/couple ($3,400/person). |
We could think of no better way to start the cycling year off than a ride through the desert landscapes of southern Arizona where you will cycle past majestic Saguaro cacti – found nowhere else in the world! The riding is lovely and the weather is great in late March!
Our trip begins in Tucson, Arizona and then takes off south to visit the towns of Green Valley, Tubac, Patagonia and Sonoita, before heading back to Tucson. Some of the many highlights of the trip include browsing the galleries of Tubac, birdwatching in Patagonia and wine tastings in Sonoita. Highlights in Tucson include the Saguaro East National Park and the PIMA Air and Space Museum.
This tour has a bit of everything!
| Day 1 | We begin our trip in the very bicycle friendly city of Tucson, Arizona.  We meet at the Lodge on the Desert. You can take a ride directly from our hotel to downtown Tucson, including Historic Downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona.
Explore the bike path along the river banks on the west side of town. (Don’t expect to see water in the river, though. It is the desert!) We will enjoy a group dinner. Mileage 15 to 50 miles.
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| Day 2 |  On Day 2, we set out for Green Valley. Once you are out of Tucson proper where there are a lot of bike paths, the roads are incredibly quiet. Large Saguaro cacti that are unique to the Sonoran Desert are spread across the landscape. Stop at the historic mission, San Xavier del Bac, located on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. Then continue on to the town of Sahuarita where there are plenty of eateries. You will ride alongside pecan groves as you approach Green Valley. You may be able to stop at the Titan Missile Museum to tour the preserved site where an actual Titan II Missile is housed (but no longer operational). This is the only museum of its kind…anywhere. We will enjoy a group dinner.
The day’s mileage is 43 miles with about 1600 feet of elevation. |
| Day 3 |
On Day 3, we will be riding from Green Valley to the artsy town of Tubac. The riding ranges from 20 to 40 miles. You will have a choice of how to spend the day. Our longer route has a stop at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitors Center. The Observatory is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard University. You can browse the galleries in Tubac…or you can enjoy a round of golf at the Tubac Golf Resort where we will spend the night. We will enjoy a group dinner. |
| Day 4 |
We leave Tubac on Day 4, on our way to the old west town of Patagonia. Spend the morning enjoying the art scene in Tubac. On the way to Patagonia, stop at the Mission Tumacácori National Historical Park. (Admission is free if you have a National Parks Pass.) Watch the landscape change from desert to grassland as we climb (yes, climb!) into Patagonia. The route choices range from 35 to 45 miles with 2000 to 3000 foot of elevation. The longer route also goes to the beautiful Sonoita Creek State Natural Area. Patagonia is the filming location of many western movies. Today, Patagonia is a mecca for birders. We will take a stop at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. (It’s pretty cool seeing these tiny birds close up!) We will be staying at the Stage Stop Inn. Dinner is on your own. |
| Day 5 |
  Day 5, is a rest day. Well sort of…You will be off the bike, but we will keep you busy just the same. We will visit Kartchner Caverns State Park, home to amazing, pristine, underground caverns. After visiting the Caverns, we will return to the lovely town of Patagonia where you will have the opportunity to rent single mountain bikes and enjoy the extensive dirt roads around Patagonia. Or you can just relax by the pool. Dinner is on your own. |
| Day 6 |
  OK, so we all know what it’s like to have a passion. Ours is tandem cycle touring. But we also like to learn about other people’s obsessions.
So before we leave Patagonia on Day 6, you will have the opportunity to take a guided hike with Matt Brown owner of the Patagonia Birding & Butterfly Co. He will tell us about the area, birding in general and point out the various species of birds as well as the local trees and vegetation. We will then ride to the wine country of Sonoita and Elgin. Viticulture in Arizona began 500 years ago with Spanish Jesuit priests planting vines. Now there are over 110 wineries, vineyards and cellars in mostly Southern Arizona. Stop and do a tasting (or two!). We will enjoy a group dinner. Mileage choices are 13 to 40 miles (or more if you want them!) |
| Day 7 |
Day 7, will be our longest day of riding. We will be riding 56 miles from Sonoita back into Tucson. But no worries, after mile 10, it is all downhill! You’re welcome! Once back into Tucson, you will ride past the Boneyard (where old planes go to die) and the PIMA Air & Space Museum. There are great guided tours of both the Boneyard and the airplanes at PIMA. We end the day back at the Lodge on the Desert. Dinner is on your own.
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| Day 8 |
 You will have a choice of rides for Day 8. We recommend riding to East Saguaro National Park and riding the eight mile loop within the Park. Rides range from 40 to 60 miles. Or you can relax by the hotel pool. We will enjoy a group dinner. |
What is included?
- 8 nights lodging
- 6 breakfasts (sorry, breakfast is not included in Patagonia, but there are plenty of cafe’s)
- 5 group dinners
- Guided tour of Kartchner Caverns
- Private birding tour
- Luggage transport
- SAG support
- Tandem bike case storage, if needed
- Parking, if needed
Note that we do not provide any bicycles. We expect that you have a tandem that is in good working order and that you are able to assemble your bike. If you do not have your own tandem, you can rent a coupled tandem from Mel at Tandems East. If you have a tandem that is not coupled, we recommend that you ship your tandem to Tucson before the tour. BikeFlights is an option.
What is not included?
- Airfare
- Meals, other than those mentioned above
- Alcoholic beverages
- Admission to some points of interest that we are not entering as a group
What is the average mileage per day?
Mileage is in the 30-60 mile range each day, with one rest day in the middle of the week. Many of the days will have optional lengths. Across the week, expect to ride 250 to 350 miles. There are no sustained steep climbs; however, there are days where there will be ten mile 1% to 2% grade hills. This cycle tour is for intermediate level cyclists.
| Day | Route | Miles | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown Tucson | 23 | 400 | 400 |
| 2 | Tucson to Green Valley | 43 | 1600 | 1200 |
| 3 | to Tubac short to Tubac long |
24 40 |
1000 2200 |
800 2000 |
| 4 | to Patagonia short to Patagonia long |
35 45 |
2000 3000 |
1100 2100 |
| 6 | to Sonoita short to Sonoita long |
13 40 |
900 1900 |
900 1100 |
| 7 | Sonoita to Tucson | 55 | 1100 | 3500 |
| 8 | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum short Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum long |
40 57 |
1500 1700 |
1500 1700 |
Where will we be staying?
While this could change, here are some of the hotels that we plan to stay in.
- Lodge on the Desert
- Best Western Green Valley
- Tubac Golf Resort and Spa
- Stage Stop Inn
- Sonoita Inn