Arizona: Saguaro National Park & the Sonoran Desert

Make your own arrangements for travel to Arizona and to our first hotel. VBT offers a shuttle that departs from Tucson International Airport at 1:30 p.m. The shuttle works on a “show and go” basis. Reservations are not required. Your Top Shelf Transportation driver will meet you at the bottom of the escalator leading to the baggage claim carousels. The driver will be holding a VBT sign next to the seating area by baggage claim 2. The travel time to Tubac Golf Resort & Spa is approximately one hour.

If you are scheduled to arrive at the airport after the shuttle’s departure or if you are delayed, you must take a taxi at your own expense. For guests driving to the tour, we recommend that you park your vehicle at the Tucson International Airport and take the shuttle, as our tour ends in Tucson. Parking at the airport costs approximately $10 a day in the garage, or $4.50-$6 a day in the economy lot offsite. Or you can park at Hacienda del Sol for the week at no charge (please notify the hotel’s valet), and taxi to the Tucson International Airport to catch our shuttle to Tubac Golf Resort & Spa. Please contact the first hotel if any travel delays or changes occur; they will inform your VBT trip leaders. Please note: check in time is 4:00 p.m.

Upon arrival at Tubac Golf Resort & Spa, take time to change into your biking clothes if you have not already done so. At 2:30 p.m., meet your group and your VBT trip leaders for the first day of your Arizona bike tour. After a safety and bike-fitting session, enjoy by a short warm-up ride. At 6:30 p.m., meet your fellow travelers during a tour orientation and welcome reception. Enjoy your welcome dinner at the resort. Get to know your traveling companions as you anticipate your vacation, highly rated among Arizona bike tours.

Today’s Ride Choices

Afternoon Warm-up — 9 miles

What to Expect:

Get acquainted with your bicycle during a leisurely warm-up ride from Tubac. The ride is on a paved roads.

Cumulative Distance Range: 9 miles

Included Meals: Dinner

After breakfast, a scenic cycling route delivers you to the town of Tubac, crossing the Santa Cruz River for a leisurely ride in the beautiful countryside. On your way back, you may stop to visit the family-owned and -operated Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Company. Next, discover Tumacácori National Historical Park, a mission dating to the 17th century. Enjoy a self-guided visit of the mission, museum, orchard, garden, and walking trails.

After lunch on your own in Tubac, the afternoon is free for you to explore. There’ll be time to experience Tubac, a colorful artists’ colony where talented sculptors, painters, potters, artisans, and jewelers perfect their craft drawing inspiration from the magnificent desert landscapes.

Relax at the resort. If you desire a tee time or spa appointment during your stay, we recommend that you contact the resort prior to traveling.

Settle into your private hacienda and enjoy the rest of the evening. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Tubac to Tumacácori — 20 miles

Afternoon Tumacácori to Tubac — 3 miles | Tubac to resort — 1 miles OR Anza Trail hike to Tubac Resort — 5.6 miles

What to Expect:

This morning bike from the resort past Tubac and across the Santa Cruz River to southern Arizona countryside. Visit Santa Crus Chile Factory and Tumacácori National Historical Park. Here, enjoy a self-guided visit of the mission grounds and explore the museum and bookshop.

After your visit of Tumacácori, cycle back to the center of Tubac to discover the town and explore the galleries or return to the resort. Another option is to hike back on the Anza Trail with one of your trip leaders.

Cumulative Distance Range: 4 — 24 miles

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today, shuttle from Tubac to Arivaca Road for a ride experience in Southern Arizona Sonoran high desert. Pause at Arivaca’s Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and wander the trails through semi-desert grasslands, cottonwoods, and willow-lined riverbanks before you begin your ride. The ride offers some of the best and most varied desert scenery in the southern part of Arizona. You can imagine being a settler trying to tame this rugged land when cycling here. Enjoy lunch at a local landmark. From there, board a shuttle to a tasting at a wine collective in Tucson. The tasting will include premium wines created with the focus of highlighting the uniqueness of the local terroir.

Afterwards it’s a quick jaunt to your Tucson hotel, a warm and authentic hacienda. Gather at the Terraza for al fresco dining, gazing out at the Santa Catalina mountains, and perhaps live music entertainment.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Arivaca to Amado — 23 miles

What to Expect:

Start this morning with a 45-minute shuttle from Tubac Resort to Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge in Arivaca. Take a stroll on the trails while your trip leaders unload and prepare your bicycles. From here, you will cycle on paved roads, descending to Amado with some rolling hills and open range. The ride on Arivaca Road is ranked one of Arizona’s favorite road bike rides. This narrow, windy, curvy road offers views of desert cactus, ranches, and mountains off in the distance. Border patrol and local ranchers will constitute the majority of the traffic. At the end of your ride, enjoy a hearty lunch, including home-made desserts, at a local restaurant, before shuttling (1 hour) to Tucson for a wine tasting. Then it’s just a short drive to your hotel. Settle in and regroup for dinner on the terrace.

Cumulative Distance Range: 23 miles

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, shuttle from Hacienda del Sol to Saguaro National Park, home to the remarkable Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This unusual museum boasts more than 300 animal species and 1,200 varieties of plants in a beautiful natural setting. You can start pedaling directly from the museum this morning to the Red Hills Visitor Center, to orient yourself to the Saguaro National Park, named for the distinctive large cacti that grow here and nowhere else on earth. It is pure pleasure to cycle this classic Arizona landscape that has come to epitomize the Southwest. At the visitor center, take in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and a short video if you choose. Your ride continues to the stunning Gates Pass in the dramatic Tucson Mountains. Then an exhilarating descent returns you to the desert museum. Enjoy lunch on your own in either of the museum’s two restaurants. There’ll be ample time to observe wild animals and desert plants, attend lectures, visit an art show, and take a self-guided tour along the two miles of walking trails. After your explorations, board a shuttle back to your Tucson hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum loop ride — 14 miles | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum loop ride with Gates Pass — 19 miles

What to Expect:

Shuttle (45 minutes) this morning to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Start your ride to the Red Hills Visitor Center ride in the Saguaro National Park, with its endless views of large saguaro cacti. Those looking for a challenging climb may continue on Gates Pass Road (at 12.2 miles), a winding, hilly ride. This additional mileage follows a road with no shoulder and blind corners for 2.4 miles so it is only for more comfortable riders. Both options return to the museum for lunch and exploration on your own.

Please note: The rules in Saguaro National Park are strictly enforced. You must wear a helmet at all times when cycling in the park, and you must obey the speed limit and any traffic signs. Park rangers will issue tickets to offenders, including those speeding on downhill slopes.

Cumulative Distance Range: 14 — 19 miles

Included Meals: Breakfast

For your final ride of your Arizona bike tour, take a short shuttle from the hotel to a local bike shop where your cycling will begin. Today’s ride is a scenic route along the Old Spanish Trail into Saguaro National Park. Once in the park follow the one-way Loop Drive, for a thrilling cycle through the park. Your morning ride ends at the Javelina picnic area for a picnic lunch, a spectacular setting, gazing upon a desert terrain dotted with stunning saguaro cacti. Saguaro National Park, spread over 92,000 acres on the edge of the modern city of Tucson, protects some of the most impressive forests of these giant subtropical plants. After lunch, continue cycling through the park and return to Broadway Bicycles and then hop a ride to Hacienda del Sol. Be sure to leave time to stop and purchase an Arizona cycling jersey!

Tonight, celebrate with the group during a farewell dinner at Hacienda del Sol’s renowned restaurant, The Grill.

Today’s Ride Choices

Morning Broadway Bikes to Saguaro National Park East — 14 miles | Saguaro National Park East loop — 8 miles

Afternoon Saguaro National Park East loop to Broadway Bikes — 8 miles

What to Expect:

Take a short shuttle this morning from Hacienda Del Sol to Broadway Bicycles, located in Tucson. Visit the bicycle shop, a great place to purchase cycling gear. Cycle the Old Spanish Trail through Tucson toward Saguaro National Park East. In the park follow the one-way Loop Drive. Eager riders sometimes ride the 8-mile in-park loop a second time before lunch. Stop for a picnic lunch prepared by your trip leaders. After, you may ride or shuttle back to Broadway Bicycles.

Please note: The rules in Saguaro National Park are strictly enforced. You must wear a helmet at all times when cycling in the park, and you must obey the speed limit and any traffic signs. Park rangers will issue tickets to offenders. BEWARE of the first downhill after the ranger tollbooth on the left.

Cumulative Distance Range: 8 — 30 miles

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Your Arizona bike tour concludes after an included breakfast at your hotel. VBT’s complimentary shuttle is available to take departing guests to the Tucson airport at 9:00 a.m., arriving approximately 40 minutes later. If you are flying out of Tucson, we suggest a flight no earlier than 12:00 p.m. Guests who need to get to the airport earlier or later must make their own arrangements.

Included Meals: Breakfast