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16 Easy Bike Rides Near Calgary

Red Rock Canyon Parkway Waterton

Hello everyone, we are indeed alive! We have been taking some time away from writing about travel to a) follow the medical professionals’ advice and lie low and b) to do landscaping on our new house. As unexciting as that may be to some of you, it’s been great to have a project to keep us busy during these strange and trying times.

While we may have been busy staying close to home and this might be a bit late given the time of year, we couldn’t help but be encouraged by how many people took up cycling this year.  Most local bike shops were sold out, had long waitlists, and it was even hard to find a good used bike on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace.  Cycling is an activity we have loved doing around Calgary for years so we’re happy to share some tips for easy bike rides near Calgary to get you dreaming about cycling next year when the snow is gone (or maybe even this winter if you’re a brave frost biker!)

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Zen Bicycle Travel Tips

Cycling Valle de la Luna

Inspired by a recent cycle trip to the Valley of the Moon in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, we’ve been thinking a lot about just how fun cycle touring can be. Among other cycling adventures, we’ve spent a blissful six day cycling adventure through the Penedès wine region in Spain, and circled the beautiful Mexican island of Cozumel on a bike.  During these adventures, we’ve learned quite a few valuable lessons about how bike travel can pose some unique challenges when compared to more traditional journeys. If you’re cycling locally, these apply as well, (here are some of our favourite bike rides in Calgary), the following are some tips for travelling by bike without losing your Zen.

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Touring Isabela Island in Galapagos

In continuing with our Galapagos Island themed posts, we recently spent a glorious 2.5 weeks doing land-based travels in the Galapagos which was an adventure for the ages. We’ve covered  touring the “main island” of Santa Cruz, so now we are moving onto tours on the largest and most rugged of the inhabited islands, Isla Isabela.

Puerto Vilamil is the town on Isabela island and has a population of 2,200 people. It’s a sleepy, charming fishing village that has a renewed focus on tourism. Here wild encounters are possible right from town, but many sites require a licensed guide to accompany travellers when visiting.

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The BEST Things to do in Santa Cruz Island and Puerto Ayora

Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands - The Starting Point of Most Land Based Tours

We have been on the road for about 3 months now, and so far one of our absolute highlights was the glorious 2.5 weeks we recently spent doing land-based travels in the Galapagos . It was an adventure for the ages so our next couple posts will focus on what to do and see in each of the islands we visited, starting with touring Santa Cruz.  We’re going to highlight the best things to do in Santa Cruz Island and Puerto Ayora.

Santa Cruz Island is the most developed and widely-considered to be the “main” island in Galapagos, although it is not the largest island. It’s main city of Puerto Ayora is 12,000 people strong and features a lively food and drink scene as well as lots of access to the outdoor adventures that brought you to the Galapagos in the first place.

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Cycling in Cozumel

When you think of things to do in a  paradise like the dreamy island of Cozumel, lounging on white sand beaches may come to mind, as would sunset strolls along the seashore. Also, as we learned in our recent trip to the Island, cycling in Cozumel can be the perfect way to soak up the tropical sunshine.

Cozumel is a small island off Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula known for its white sand beaches, lush forests, world-class diving and overall relaxed vibe. In addition to all those wonderful things which we can personally vouch for, it is increasingly becoming a cycling destination too.

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The Zen Traveller’s Great Cycle Challenge

Travel is at times, challenging, but it is important to remember that challenges also bring opportunities. Whether opportunities for learning, to push outside of one’s comfort zone, or for personal growth, challenges force you to look inside yourself for strength and resourcefulness that you never knew you had. Challenges can also be really fun if you approach them with the right mindset. Continue reading “The Zen Traveller’s Great Cycle Challenge”