La Ruta de Maya: Arrival & Departure Information

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 necessary, arrive earlier - we will arrange a pickup for you.

Pickup & Drop-off Information

We offer a free airport pickup service from the Guatemala City airport to your hotel. 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 Adventure Engine 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.

The trip ends in Antigua, and your shuttle back to Guatemala City is included in the tour price. Notify us of your departure date and time and we will arrange an appropriate shuttle back to Guatemala City.

We can arrange an airport shuttle for you back to the airport - just notify us of your flight time and date.

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.

1. 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, breakfast and lunch. Price: $149 Cdn/person.
2. 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, 2 nights accommodation (1 at Tikal, 1 in Antigua), 3 meals/day, and admissions and guides. Price: $375 Cdn/person.
3. Extra biking in the Antigua area: ride more of the incredible singletrack in the Antigua area. Price includes hotel, breakfats and lunches, and guides. Price: $149 Cdn/person.

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.

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

In our experience, the best way to travel with your bike is in a dedicated bike bag. Hard-shell bike boxes, while extremely effective, are very bulky and often costly on flights, and cardboard boxes are prone to falling apart.

NEW! We now offer beautiful handmade bags by Pika Packworks of Utah. Price is $350 Cdn and includes shipping within North America.

Travel Requirements

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. Please do not attend any of our tours without purchasing appropriate insurance coverage. 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.

Contact our office if you would like to purchase travel insurance.

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.

Health and Safety

Emergency Contact

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 Mateo 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 Guatemal. 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.

Fitness Requirements

You should have a reasonable level of fitness and be able to bike for up to five hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip. There will also be plenty of time for relaxation at our lodges or exploring the local shopping at a leisurely pace.

Safety & Security

Chile is a very 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.

Spending Money

Meals

On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip price. Dinners are taken in local restaurants. You should budget $10 per meal (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).

Other expenses

On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip price. Dinners are taken in local restaurants. You should budget $5-$10 per meal (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).

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.

Useful Links

For additional information about travelling in Guatemala, visit
Guatemala Tourism website

Currency exchange:
The Guatemalan currency is the Quetzal (GTQ). For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator

What type of bike should you bring?

We recommend you bring a solid all-mountain rig with you to Peru, with at least 6" of travel. Freeride and downhill bikes are OK, but there are a few short climbs on this trip (the longest is about 30-45 minutes), so a bike with 2 rings up front is recommended.

Our Guarantee

We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a money-back satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.