Guatemala MTB Adventure with Lake Atitlan and Antigua!!
Steaming volcanoes, lush forests, and crater lakes await you on this epic MTB journey through Guatemala.
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Our 9-day Guatemala MTB tour is a fantastic way to visit this Central America country. Ride through EL Zur mountain bike park, shuttle enduro trails into the old city of Antigua (a UNESCO heritage site), and ride the las Vacas trail to Lake Atitlan, a massive crater-formed lake surrounded by lush green mountains. This MTB vacation is built for riders who love all types of culture, great trails, scenic views, and grand life experiences.
Day by Day
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.
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!
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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!!
We’ll start today near the town of Parramos, where we climb a 4×4 road through agricultural fields passing by the San Andres ruins, an earthquake-wrecked church from the 16th century. The climb follows a moderate grade until the final 656 feet (200 meters) of hike-a-bike. Don’t worry, the next descent is worth the effort!
After biking through a lush forest you are rewarded with expansive views of 3 volcanoes and the Antigua valley. We continue descending down an ancient trail cut deeply into a ridge with large drops to either side. This final descent of 760 meters (2,500 feet) takes about 45 minutes to complete and is loaded with manageable rocks, drops, switchbacks, and a half-pipe aqueduct trail to finish out the ride. Absolutely brilliant Guatemalan mountain biking!! Spend the evening at our traditional Haku farewell dinner and pack your bikes for the flight out tommorrow.
That wraps up your Guatemalan bike vacation and the start of your Haku Hangover. There is a cure however as as we are ready to help you begin planning another MTB holiday in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, or Nepal!
Transport to the airport is included today.
General Information
What’s the price? And what’s included?!
The price is $1860 per person with 4 riders minimum for the group.
Price includes
Not included
NOTE: As this is Central America, things like route closures, weather, labor strikes, and landslides can cause unexpected changes in plans, so your cooperation when our itinerary needs to be flexible is appreciated.
Cash is king in Central and South America but there are plenty of ATM’s around the country that give you the best exchange rate. You might pay about $2 per transaction and can generally pull out about $250 a day.
The currency is called the Quetzal or Q locally amongs English speakers and the exchange rate is about 7.5Q = $1. A water bottle at a small bodega is $.50 = Q4, lunch in an Antigua restaurant could be upwards of $10, but in smaller spots $7 to give you an idea of pricing in Guatemala and where we will be. Antigua and the lake are the most $$ of the tourist areas.
You can pay with a credit card in most any larger store or restaurant but the street side bodegas will require cash.
Each person is required to have a specific travel/trip insurance outside of your credit card or regular medical insurance.
You should get comprehensive coverage with trip interruption/cancellation and with personal liability. Mention all activities that you will be involved in such as mountain biking, hiking at high altitude and whatever other activities you may have planned.
We do not provide refunds. If you should get hurt or sick not only will travel insurance cover your medical expenses it will also cover the lost portion of the trip. Make sure you have trip interruption or trip cancellation included! South America is famous for people striking and shutting down all activities. If you miss your Machu Picchu trip, Galapagos or any other side trip, or even your flight due to strikes the insurance will cover the loss or additional costs that are incurred.
Check out our blog on travel insurance and why it is a must for any South America Vacation!
You should aim to have a FITNESS LEVEL of 3 or higher and an MTB level of intermediate or higher according to our specifications.
This trip starts with pick up in the Guatemala city airport and ends with drop off there. You will want to look for flights to GUA which will always require a layover. We do not stay in Guatemala city but travel on to Antigua.
Because you are traveling with your bike we recommend you buy a flight through one company where you will only pay once for your bike, even with layovers. Careful with third party agencies like KIWI which will often sell you different flights for a cheaper rate where you need to pick up your luggage at each layover and recheck and therefore pay again.
Check if you need a visa for any of the countries you may pass though and COVID restrictions for each. Some countries require a visa or vax card/test even when just passing through, others will allow you to stay in the airport in a special area without leaving and not require anything extra. Be sure of your layover countries visa requirements.
Also know that some countries will require you to pass through immigrations and customs even if it is only a layover. Be sure to have time during your layovers for that.
Before booking flights look into how much baggage you are allowed and how much an oversized bag will cost you. All bicycles are oversized. The price ranges so check this before booking the flight. We recommend you call the airline beforehand. Know the cost since often the people checking you in don’t and can overcharge you.
We recommend you bring a full-suspension all-mountain, trail, or enduro bike with 130/140mm of suspension in the front and rear, something that can handle some pedaling uphill with scattered bits of XC along with tech downhill.
While this trip can offer a full service shop, mechanic and storefront you won’t find everything. Getting parts is not too hard, however you might want some stuff on hand to avoid missing a ride day and having to go searching for parts. If you have brakes that are not generally sold everywhere like Magura or Hope, bring parts for them!
We also recommend that you have a tubeless tire setup to avoid mechanicals on the trail!
For the bike:
IMPORTANT: Generally, any time you land in another country, you need to get your luggage and rescan it or re-check it for security purposes. Every country is different so check once you arrive; don’t simply count on the person at the front desk who checked you in at your first airport. In Lima, you must re-check your bags/bike. Mexico is another country that often makes you pick up luggage and recheck it. Make sure you have enough time during your layover for any of these inconveniences. You may also have to go through migrations in your international destination which takes time!
Our Guatemala mountain bike tours include breakfast from your hotel and lunch on ride days.
Our MTB rides include lunches often at local restaurants or picnic lunch.
If you have dietary restrictions please let us know so we can help you plan for the trip accordingly.
Feel free to bring energy bars for the trail and comfort snacks to keep your energy high!
We provide water for the rides. You will need a bottle or camel pack to fill.
Reviews
Is this 9 Day MTB holiday in Guatemala for you?
This 9-day mountain bike vacation is for intermediate to advanced mountain bikers who practice enduro or cross country riding and who want to be challenged and amazed in world class terrain. While this MTB vacation in Guatemala has lots of fast paced downhill sections that we all love, there are many climbs and we ask that you train a bit before you embark on this adventure. If you are looking for a downhill mountain bike adventure please check out our Peru or Ecuador MTB tours.
This Guatemala MTB Vacation is for you if:
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Haku Expeditions donates 1% of all profits to support local education programs.
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What’s the price? And what’s included?!
The price is $1860 per person with 4 riders minimum for the group.
Price includes
Not included
NOTE: As this is Central America, things like route closures, weather, labor strikes, and landslides can cause unexpected changes in plans, so your cooperation when our itinerary needs to be flexible is appreciated.
Our Cross Country MTB tours take you from one spectacular destination to the next. On these, you’ll cycle literally across whichever country you’re visiting. For instance, check out our Andes to the Amazon tour, where you travel from Cusco to the Peruvian Amazon.
Our current XC vacations are made up of long-distance rides on backcountry roads. If you are looking for XC singletrack, get in touch with us, and we’ll set up a one-of-a-kind MTB tour suited to your needs.
How we define XC: Anywhere from old logging or fire roads to rolling singletrack, Cross Country trails are generally long distances with both ascents and descents. While trails may be somewhat technical with rock gardens and tight switchbacks, they generally do not have intense steep rock gardens like those you might find in DH or Enduro racing.
An XC bike is often lighter with a slacker head tube angle for better climbing ability and tends to not have a dropper post although the trend is changing. Usually it will be a hardtail or a full suspension bike with a smaller amount of suspension — 100-130mm.
Most XC riders do not wear pads such as elbow or knee pads and wear a half-shell helmet.
Our MTB expeditions are multi-day trips that involve camping, hiking and/or local home stays in the mountains with cooks and porters. At the moment Haku Expeditions offers one complete mountain expedition and also two packages that combine an MTB vacation with a smaller expedition nestled in it.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
At the moment we do not offer a 100% DH trip. Contact us and we can make a custom trip for you! Below, you’ll find our Enduro MTB tours listed that are mostly all downhill and can be done either with a DH bike or an Enduro bike.
How we define DH: DH riding – or Downhill riding — is regarded as an intense, extreme kind of cycling, made for advanced riders who love to navigate roots and rocks and huge drops with furious downhill speed. It requires a stellar sense of balance and technique and a bike with slacker geometry.
The front travel for DH bikes is usually somewhere around 200mm with the rear measuring slightly less. Because they generally aren’t pedalled uphill, these bikes are rugged and heavy and usually have less gears. DH riders wear full-face helmets, goggles, and body armor.
Our Enduro/All-Mountain MTB tours are by far our most popular trips to date. While some of them focus more on descent like Ecuador and Peru, others include plenty of pedaling such as those in Colombia and Nepal.
How we define Enduro/All Mountain: Enduro mountain biking, also known as All-Mountain biking, emphasizes technical ability. If you’re looking for a more adventurous ride, this is the kind of ride for you; usually, an Enduro/All-Mountain trail will involve adrenaline-pumping downhill mountain biking along with sustained climbs.
Enduro riders need bikes that can take burly drops and rugged technical obstacles efficiently while still being light enough to climb with; they almost always use full-suspension bikes with wide tires and longer rear and front suspension travel. Dropper post is a necessity and standard. The front suspension can be anywhere from 140mm to 170mm. Full-face enduro helmets and body amour are a must for Enduro racing.
1 – The Haku Christmas Drive, which includes yearly clothing giveaways, shoe drives, and a public hot chocolate panettone lunch.
2 – School supply giveaway for children of the High Andes.
3 – Bringing bread and fruit to kids living at elevations where none is available.
4 – Facilitating connections between local organic farmers and local restaurants.
5 – Affordable MTB classes for locals taught by professional coaches.
6 – Sustained commitment to hiring out locals to work as drivers, office workers, etc., allowing a great amount of flexibility for family commitments, and paying them fair, livable wages.
7 – Donating 1% of all profits to help educate children in a technical field such as carpentry.
8 – Helping young adults begin a small business working in their technical field or purchasing products from them to help them get started after high school.
1 – Getting your heart rate up isn’t really your thing, and you rarely (if ever) exercise. Your idea of a perfect vacation is total relaxation: sitting on a beach, sipping a mojito, and just generally vegging out.
2 – You don’t necessarily work out regularly but you aren’t averse to the idea of doing something active. Although you don’t exercise that often, you don’t necessarily consider yourself out of shape.
3 – You exercise one to two times a week but do not have a normal schedule that keeps you biking or doing other activities weekly. You don’t go to the gym or train for any specific sports but you lead a relatively active lifestyle by biking, hiking, skiing, or whatever it may be. For biking: climbs and long descents give you some trouble and you tend to get tired after about 2-3 hours on the bike.
4 – You exercise 3-4 times a week and enjoy physical activities such as biking, hiking, skiing. You are active. For biking: you enjoy climbs that are are moderately long and being on a bike for 3-5 hours in one day doesn’t get you too tired or fatigued.
5 – You exercise at least 4 times a week and are an avid athlete that is consistently in good shape. You’re more or less game for any kind of adventure. For biking: you’re comfortable with being on your bike for 5-7 hours a day.
6 – You live and die for exercise, sweat, and suffering. You only want to climb higher, go farther, and prove how much of an animal you are. Steep climbs, long descents and big days are something you are looking to do more of and you can’t wait for your next adventure.
Beginner:
You’ve been riding a mountain bike for a couple of years or less and you’re most comfortable on smooth single-track and wider, forgiving doubletrack. You like rides with scenic views; you like both ascending and descending on well-maintained, safe trails. You’re looking for an active but relaxing mountain bike vacation; you’re not into jumps, drops, super steep trails, rock gardens, roots or taking big risks on your bike.
Intermediate:
You’ve got two plus years of experience mountain biking on single-track trails under your belt; you’ve gotten pretty confident behind the handlebars and are beginning to expand your mountain bike abilities. You like riding most types of terrain, and you’re comfortable both climbing and descending on single-track trails with smaller technical features such as rocky sections, small drops, and small steep sections. You aren’t trying to walk on most of the trail and are looking to take small risks with things like speed, jumps, rock gardens, and stair sets to improve your skills as a mountain biker.
Intermediate Tech:
You’ve got three plus years of riding on singletrack trails of all sorts with features such as rock gardens, steep sections, rolls and drops, roots, and small jumps. You are confident on the bike in most situations. You’re constantly looking to improve your riding skills and enjoy riding for extended periods of time climbing and descending in terrain of all sorts.
Advanced:
Ten plus years of experience riding single-track, freerides and biking of all sorts. You live for steeps, jumps, rock gardens, techy trails, long descents, big ascents and discovering new terrain. Mountain biking is one of your passions and you are ready and confident to do what you love in a new and challenging place. You can handle anything we throw at you — jumps, rock gardens, steps, technical descents, tough ascents, etc. Biking is a central part of your life. For you, the bigger the challenge, the more excited you get.
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I took a mountain bike trip to Guatemala with Haku Expeditions. The trails were a mix of climbing and descending and combined both XC and DH for some enjoyable days on the bike. They provided great lunches on each ride day and I loved seeing the culture in both Antigua and Lake Atitlan. The lake was stunning and the riding there was my favorite. Haku was great at communication and made sure everything was taken care of such as airport pickup, hotels and other logistics that made the trip easy to enjoy. I highly recommend riding with Haku Expeditions in any country!