9-day routing in Guatemala. Full per-day details (distance, elevation, lodging, ride briefings) sent to confirmed riders closer to departure.
Day 1
Arrival to Guatemala
We will be waiting at the airport in Guatemala city to pick you up for your Guatemala mountain bike trip of a lifetime! After you go through migrations and exit the airport the Haku team will be outside waiting to take you to your hotel in the old town of Antigua. Once done with unpacking and building your mountain bike you will have some time to relax. In the evening or tomorrow morning we will have a briefing and pep talk to get you ready for the MTB trip of your dreams.
Day 2
Private Mountain Bike Trails and Views of Volcano Hunapu
Today will take us to the lush backside of the Guatemalan volcano of Agua known as Hunapu in the Mayan culture. This private mountain bike reserve is called "El Zur" which includes over 30 kms/18 miles of hand-built singletrack mountain bike trails. Here you will find cross country, downhill and all mountain trails that we can enjoy on our first day of riding! El Zur is a one of its kind mountain bike park in Guatemala, and we have exclusive access to this amazing MTB trail system. This will be pure singletrack bliss! We'll hop in 4×4's and shuttle our trusty steeds to the end of the road at 2,800m. A short pedal uphill pays off with nearly 20 km of flow trails. Tunnels, berms and suspension bridges are all part of this MTB trail system. These are some of the best trails in Antigua!! What a way to begin your mountain biking tour in Guatemala!
Distance: El Zur 20 km · 2-3 hrs
Day 3
Downhill riding at its finest. Antigua MTB Shuttle Rides
Who doesn't love some Dh shuttle runs?! That will be how we fill the day today while biking in Antigua! Right in our backyard we will access Antigua's mtb trails with panaromic views of the 3 volcanoes surrounding Antigua; Volcan de Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. We'll use the shuttle vehicle to access some amazing routes running about 10-12 km each. These DH runs have the perfect mix of terrain. We might ride the old growth forest that is so lush and green or head down the contour flow trails. Maybe today we decide to try our luck on the steeps or rocky switchbacks. Our local MTB guide will help us to decide which trails our group will enjoy the most, all while having spectacular views of surrounding volcanoes.
Distance: Antigua Shuttle Runs · 10-12 km each · couple of hours
Day 4
Drop into San Andres + Tecpan Antenna Ride
Today's ride starts with a shuttle up to a small village just beneath the Acatenango Volcano at 2,500 m (8,200 ft). Volcanoes dominate the view as we shred bikes down the ridge back to the valley floor. MTB routes crisscross the landscape as we pass through agricultural fields & small Guatemalan villages. A short shuttle takes us to the top of the mountains overlooking the ruins of Iximche. A series of steep technical trails offers up the first glimpses of Lake Atitlán and the ravines and valleys in-between. Epic mountain bike riding in Guatemala is being had!!
Distance: 1st ride 25 km · 4 hrs · ride two 10 km · 1-2 hrs
Day 5
Tecpan to Lake Atitlan Backcountry MTB Ride
Today's MTB route follows the exodus of the Kaqchiquel to Lake Atitlán after the Spanish conquest. The lake is still alive with their culture and language. We will descend the infamous "sendero de las vacas" named after encounters with cows ascending the deep, switchbacking trail. Guatemalan local mountain bikers had to climb up to let the herd pass! At the top of a brutal yet scenic 7 km climb, we will get our first views of Lake Atitlán; an enormous volcanic caldera surrounded by 3 immense volcanoes. At this point you will be beaming with smiles about this MTB trip of a lifetime!! After a picnic lunch with a stellar view we will descend a technical mountain bike trail all the way to Lake Atitlan's shore. We'll have a quick ride over to Panajachel where we'll catch a boat to our beautiful lakeside hotel.
Distance: Tecpan to Atitlan 45 km · full day with lunch
Day 6
Rest day at Lake Atitlan
Have a much deserved break on your Guatemalan bike holiday. The day is yours to enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlán at your leisure. Start with a relaxed breakfast at the hotel, enjoying the beautiful surrounding views. Then head out to explore the area, including some of the picturesque villages specializing in traditional Mayan crafts and regional cuisine. You can explore with a public boat, hike to nearby towns, or simply relax at the comfortable hotel. If you wish to enjoy the water, you can rent kayaks, go swimming, or try your luck at other water sports directly from the hotel. Your local MTB guide will be happy to make any recommendations for the day.
Day 7
Slickrock Atitlan Ride
We'll meet our shuttle in the small town Panajachel, from here we head up high above the lake to nearly 3,000 mts (10,000 ft), giving us views of the canyons and volcanoes around. We climb and pedal 5 kms on trail and the Atitlan slickrock to an area known as "El Corazon de las Nubes," a Mayan ceremonial site. The ecology at this altitude in Guatemala is home to a unique mix of alpine grass, agave plants and your occasional sheep with their shepherd. We will follow rocky, technical single-track through pine forests passing through small Mayan communities. After a picnic lunch and short shuttle we will continue our descent to Lake Atitlán on a 1,000 mt/3300 ft downhill trail – the most technical of our MTB rides so far. Sweet Guatemala downhill riding!!
Distance: Slickrock Atitlan 28 km · full day
