Mayan Highlands

Nov.-April

10 Days

Skill

Fitness

Ride Highlights

CAD

$2195

The spectacular Cuchumatanes mountain range
Technical singletrack riding on ancient Mayan trails, through villages and farms
Remote Mayan villages exploding with fascinating culture
The springs at Semuc Champey, one of the most beautiful places on Earth
Huge climbs and massive descents

Have you got what it takes?

Our most challenging trip takes you to the remote Sierra de Los Cuchumatanes mountain range (Central America's highest) in central Guatemala. You'll experience challenging, technical singletrack, big climbs and thrilling downhills, and beautiful remote Mayan villages where life continues much the same as it has for hundreds of years. Finish it off at the spectacular springs at Semuc Champey, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Not for the faint of heart - this trip is for experienced and advanced riders only! Please note that due to the remote nature of this trip, some of the hotels will be a little more rustic than you may be used to.

Is This Ride For You?

This Ride is for you if you are an expert rider and mountain bike at least 2-3 times/week. You can handle very technical terrain and can climb up to 5,000 vertical feet (1500m) in a day. You've got legs of steel and lungs of iron. You love to ride and ride and ride. You're open to roughing it a little bit if it means you'll get to see places well of the beaten track that few other people see (but you still want a hot shower and a clean bed at the end of the day).

Day 1: Arrive Guatemala City, Transfer to Antigua

We'll meet at Guatemala airport and transfer you to the beautiful colonial city of Antigua. You'll have the rest of the day to explore this historical city, with cobblestone streets and citizens dressed in colourful Mayan clothing. Tonight we'll overnight in the San Sebastian hotel, a charming hotel owned by a Mayan family, with antiques adorning the walls and bedrooms.

Day 2: transfer to Huehuetenango and vist Mayan ruins

In the morning we'll transfer to Huehuetenango and go to Zaculeu Mayan ruins to stretch the legs and sightsee around Huehue. In the afternoon we'll head out for our first ride, an easy spin around HueHue before the real challenges begin!

Day 3: Ride Huehue to Todos Santos

This ride starts with a Category 1 climb (11 kms y 1000 mts. Gain) up into the mountains. At the top we will have lunch and then continue on to the indigenous town of Todos Santos on a mix of jeep track and singletrack. 1800 mts. Climbing over 40 kms. Overnight in a rustic pension in Todos Santos.

Day 4: Ride Todos Santos a Chancol

Like the previous day, today starts off with a big climb out of The Todos Santos Valley (10kms y 1000mts. Gain) At the top we will continue out on the plateau on jeep and single tracks to Lunch. After lunch we keep rolling across the mountains out to the esquestrian centre of El Unicornio Azul where we will overnight.

Day 5: Day ride Chancol area

Today we will take advantage of the high mountain scenery and abundant singletrack that crisscrosses the plateau and head out for a day ride in the local area. We will overnight at the same Horse farm.

Day 6: Ride Chancol to Acul

Today is an epic day with a couple of big climbs and some amazing singletrack that crosses the river drainage that seperates the Huehutenango department from that of Quiche. This is as backcountry as you can get in Guatemala. Todays ride is unsupported as our vehicle has to go around. Overnight in a working cheese farm in the Mayan village of Acul.

Day 7: Ride Acul to Uspantan

Today is a huge day with a couple monster climbs. The ride starts with a dirt road push out to the town of Nebaj where we climb on an old trade route that climbs out of the Nebaj Valley and communicates with the rest of the central highlands. We ride a sweet piece of single track down to lunch in Cunen. After lunch starts the second mean climb out of the Cunen valley over to the Uspantan valley where we will overnight.

Day 8: Ride Uspantan to San Cristobal Verapaz

A short fun 15 km down hill road ride takes us to the start of a long jeep track climb up to the top of the ridges overlooking the Rio Chixoy valley. At the top there is a super fun technical trail that drops down to the rivers edge. From there what goes down must come back up. We climb back in to the highlands and finish just outside the town of San Cristobal Verapaz. Then a short transfer to Coban where we will stay the night.

Day 9: Paradise on Earth - Semuch Champey

Today we can either ride or drive out to semuc Champey. It is 70 km from the hotel to the park, the first 50 of which are paved but still very fun and very scenic. At the end of the pavement there is a big 10 kms downhill to the mountain village of Lanquin and a short but STEEEEEEP climb up and over the ridge to Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is one of the most beautiful places in the world, a remote jungle site where the river forms spectacular green pools and waterfalls.

Day 10: Transfer back to Antigua

Our Ride comes to an end today as we head back to Antigua and Guatemala City. If you are flying out tonight - 6 pm or later - we will drop you off at Guatemala airport. Otherwise, we will head back to nearby Antigua for another night's stay [not included]

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.

You can purchase discounted comprehensive insurance from our partners at bikeflights.com at our insurance page.

Arrival and Departure Airport

You should fly into and out of Guatemala City International Airport (GUA). Please see the schedule page for the exact pickup and dropoff times for your particular trip. You can, if wanted or necessary, arrive earlier, and we will arrange a pickup for you.

Flights

We do not book international flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip.

Travelling with your bike

If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.

Alternately, if you are planning on traveling with your bike more than just this one time, we sell travel bags for bikes, handmade by Pikapackworks. These travel bags are specially made for bikes and can often go on flights without having to pay the extra charges incurred by cardboard boxes or hard cases. The bags cost $395, including shipping withing North America. Click here for more information on our bags.

Pickup & Drop-off Information

We offer a free airport pickup service from the Guatemala City airport to your hotel in Antigua (about 1 hour). Please notify us in advance if your flight number and arrival time, or post this on your Rezgo account when making your booking (or after booking, if you have made an account). A representative of the shuttle company will be waiting outside of the arrivals area with a sign in his/her hand to show you to your shuttle.

n.b. airport pickup service on day 1 of the trip, or the day before, is included in the trip price (e.g. if the trip starts on Dec. 17, then pickup is included on Dec. 16 or 17). If you are arriving earlier, then the price for the shuttle is $30/p.p. Please notify our office if you need to book a non-scheduled shuttle.

The trip ends in Guatemala City or Antigua. We will be passing through Antigua on the final day and can drop you off at the airport by 4 pm (don't book any flights departing before 6 pm). Should you decide to fly out the next day and spend the night in Antigua, you can book extra nights in our hotel in Antigua (see below) and shuttle back to Guatemala City for you. Notify us of your departure date and time and we will arrange an appropriate shuttle back to Guatemala City.

n.b. airport dropoff is included on the last day of the trip and the day after. Shuttles after these dates cost $30/p.p.

Extending your trip

We have a few excellent options for extending your trip. These can be booked online when making your original booking or can be added to your booking at any time:

A day hike on Volcan Pacaya, an active volcano outside of Antigua. The hike departs at 2 pm, and you will be on the lava field at sunset to take advantage of the best light for viewing the amazing rivers of lava. Includes hotel, transportation, guides, and breakfast. Price: $175 Cdn/person.
2-day trip to Tikal: Visit the most impressive of all the Mayan ruins, deep in the heart of the Yucatan jungle. This 2-day trip includes transportation to Gutemala City airport, return flight to Flores, transportation from Flores airport to the Jungle Lodge, 1 night accommodation at the Jungle Lodge, 3 meals/day, admissions and guides. Price: $600 Cdn/person.
Extra biking in the Antigua area: ride more of the incredible singletrack in the Antigua area. Price includes hotel, breakfast and lunch, and guides. Price: $149 Cdn/person.

You can book extra nights at our hotel in Antigua, the Posada de San Sebastian, by sending them an email or calling them at +502-7832-2621.

If you want information on other places to visit and things to see in Guatemala please visit the Guatemala Tourism website or contact our office.

Bike Rentals

We offer 2009 Kona OneTwenty Deluxe full-suspension mountain bikes for rent. Price is $400 Cdn for the duration of the trip. This can be booked online when making your booking, or added afterwards.

What type of bike should you bring?

We recommend you bring a solid all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 4-5" of travel, and no heavier than 30 pounds since there are several long climbs. A bike with at least 2 rings up front is recommended.

Spare Parts for your Bike

Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts with you to Guatemala to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:

rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
front and rear brake pads
extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old
4 tubes
4 extra spokes
shock pump

Weather and Clothing

The weather in the Guatemalan lowlands can be quite warm, with highs between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. However, it can get quite cool in the mountains, especially at higher altitudes. We recommend you bring layered clothing that you can wear while riding and in the evenings (e.g. start your ride with a long-sleeve jersey in the morning and then take off a layer once you warm up). You'll want to bring long pants and a light jacket for the evenings spent up in the mountains.

Although rain is rare in the winter months, it isn't unheard of, so we recommend you bring some sort of rain gear or shell.

Passports & Visas

All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, visit the World Travel Guide website.

Emergency Contacts

If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:

Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you feel that you need to contact us outside of office hours, our Guatemala operations manager Matt Hartell can be contacted at +502-5399-0440.

If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Food

We take care to select restaurants that are well-regarded for their cleanliness, in order to avoid food-borne illness. We also supply you with bottled water for drinking for the duration of your trip. However, there is always some risk of contracting a food-borne illness when traveling in a developing country. We recommend you exercise caution when purchasing food, and avoid unwashed fruit and vegetables and improperly cooked meals.

Vaccination Requirements

Certain vaccinations are required for Guatemala. In general, you will require typhoid, Hepatitis A, yellow fever, measles/mumps/rubella, and tetanus vaccinations for this trip. Malaria pills are not required. Please visit the MD Travel Health website for more information, and visit your doctor or local travel clinic for the most accurate, up to date information.

Fitness Requirements

You should have a high level of fitness and be able to bike for up to six hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip. This is our most challenging trip, and you need to be prepared.

We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. We have partnered with Fit for Trips to develop customized training programs for you in advance of your trip. We recommend beginning your training at least 2 months prior to your trip. For more information, please visit the Sacred Rides page at Fit for Trips.

Safety & Security

Guatemala is a safe country, however certain precautions should be followed, as with all foreign travel. To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.

Meals

On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches, as well as some dinners, are included in the trip price. Other dinners are taken in local restaurants. You should budget $10-15 CAD per meal (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).

Other expenses

Other expenses include souvenirs, alcoholic beverages, and optional activities such as massage. The best way to pay for these services is to withdraw money from an ATM in Guatemala - you can withdraw local money (Guatemalan Quetzales) and will usually be charged the best rate by your bank at home. n.b.: the ATMs in Antigua are sometimes down for a day or two at a time, so we recommend you bring some US dollars or traveler's cheques with you just in case you can't withdraw from the bank machine at first.

Local Money

The local currency is the Quetzal. Check here for current exchange rates.

Tipping

Gratuities of 5-15% are common in Guatemala. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity $20 - $100 per guide.