Día de los muertos 2025

The best way to experience Guatemala is on two wheels!
—Brendan James, Director

UN VIAJE QUE CONECTA REGIONES

OVERVIEW

Guatemala’s rugged beauty is matched only by its cultural richness. This point-to-point itinerary links colonial Antigua, the misty highlands of Tecpán, and the shores of Lake Atitlán—each region offering its own distinct terrain, cuisine, and traditions.

You’ll be riding through the heart of the Día de Todos Santos and Día de los Muertos festivities—one of the most colorful and meaningful times of year in the Guatemalan highlands. Communities celebrate with kites soaring over cemeteries, local fairs, and centuries-old Mayan rituals that honor the cycle of life and renewal.

Expect an average of 6,000 ft of elevation and up to 6,000 ft of shuttle-assisted descents each day. The climbs are tough, the downhills are wild, and the rewards are huge.

Your TRIP INCLUDES

FULL SHUTTLE SUPPORT

All of our multi-day trips include full shuttle support with 4×4 vehicles that follow us along the route with various meeting points throughout the day. The vehicles provide a base for your luggage, snacks and water and allow you to cut out sections of riding or take breaks if necessary!

Roll Call!

We have 6 people confirmed for this tour

Vladimir Had 🇨🇭
Tine Petric 🇨🇭
Constantine Vaganos 🇺🇸
Maxwell Somers 🇺🇸
Connor Seery 🇺🇸
Cliff Hirsch 🇺🇸

PACKING LIST

Riding pack / Camelbak 10L

Overnight duffel bag 30L

Raincoat / windbreaker

Rainpants

Headlamp

Light puffy / insulated jacket for evenings

Sufficient riding gear for 6 days.

We will have access to laundry day 5

Sunscreen / Sunglasses.

Guatemala has strong UV due to its high elevation and proximity to the equator. If you have fair skin you will burn if the sun is out or not. 

Should I bring my full-face helmet?

Yes — but only if you’re already accustomed to riding with it. During this tour, we’ll be climbing at high altitudes where a full-face helmet can quickly feel heavy and restrictive.

The ideal setup for this ride is a modular or convertible helmet with a removable chin guard. This type lets you enjoy the protection of a full-face on the descents and the ventilation of an open-face on the climbs. You can easily pack the chin bar in your backpack for the uphill sections and reattach it when it’s time to drop in.

Comfort and familiarity are key: ride with what you’re used to, but aim for versatility and breathability in Guatemala’s mountain climate.

WEATHER

Our country has a unique density of micro-climates. Please bring a day bag / fanny pack that accommodates a light jacket / windbreaker or rain coat. Expect cool, clear days with the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms. 

Temperature in Guatemala varies with elevation, and is consistent year-round. In Antigua / Lake Atitlan 5,200ft temperatures get close to 80F during the day and drop to around 55F at night. Shorts for riding / pants for the evening.

At our base in mountains of Tecpán (9,500ft) the temperature gets up to around 65F during the day and drop to around 40F at night with the occasional frost.

The highest altitude on this trip will be 11,000ft on day 4

GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

Our local currency is Quetzales with a current exchange rate of around 7.6 to the US dollar. Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere.

Upon your arrival at the airport there are several ATMs in the baggage claim area. We would recommend taking out 1000Q -2000Q which should cover light spending for the week.

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CELL PHONES

If you want to enjoy the luxury of live posting and spending screen time abroad and you can get a data plan relatively cheap in Guatemala.

Before immigration at the airport are several stands that sell / install and configure local sim cards.  Installation costs around 30Q / $5. 

Providers

Tigo – Q.10  per 1.5GB

Claro – Q.10 per 3GB

FOOD CONCERNS

The food we prepare is sourced from reputable supermarkets and is sanitized and washed several times before preparation. We only use restaurants of confidence.

WATER

Don’t drink the tap water / don’t even wash your teeth with it. We will provide bottled / purified water throughout your trip. All hotels provide water stations with purified water. Consider refilling your water bottle or camelback from these stations to avoid the purchase of plastic bottles.

PRE TOUR FORM

Please fill out our Pre Tour Form to indicate your dietary preference. On our trips we are happy to accommodate Vegetarian / Gluten free diets. If you have any other special requests just let us know.

PRE TOUR FORM

Coming from the “first world” your bodies will not be accustomed to the level of sanitation in our country.  We would not recommend drinking a lot of alcohol or eating street food at least until the last days of the trip, its just not worth getting sick and jeopardizing your biking experience.

sAFETY aDVICE

Guatemala is generally a very safe country, and we’re proud to say that in over 10 years of operating tours, we’ve never experienced any security incidents. That said, as a foreigner, you may stand out and be perceived as a target for petty theft. To stay safe and avoid unwanted attention, we recommend following these three basic guidelines:

Carry only what you need. A few hundred Quetzales is more than enough for daily expenses—there’s no need to carry large amounts of cash.

Avoid walking alone at night in urban areas, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the surroundings.

Drink responsibly. If you go out, be mindful of your alcohol consumption and avoid walking home intoxicated.

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Guatemalans are known for being warm, jovial, and sociable. It’s common for locals to greet you or strike up a conversation—even if you’re a stranger. This is a normal and friendly gesture, not a threat. In fact, ignoring a greeting or failing to respond with a simple “hola” or “buenos días” is often considered rude. Most people greet everyone in small establishments when entering or leaving. Go with the flow. 

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Day 1 – Monday, October 27

Arrival in Guatemala – Transfer to Antigua

Upon arrival at Guatemala City International Airport, our private drivers will meet you in the arrivals area for transfer to Antigua. The drive takes approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic. Once in Antigua, check in to your lodging and take some time to rest. You can explore the cobbled streets or enjoy a quiet evening. Dinner is on your own.

Flight Information:

Vladimir Had – Oct 25 – IB0221 – 15:25
Brendan James – Oct 25 – AA1027 19:00
Tine Petric – Oct 26 – IB0221 – 17:00
Constantine Vaganos – Oct 26th – UA1902 – 18:39
Maxwell Somers – Oct 26th – UA1902 – 18:39
Connor Seery – Oct 26th – UA1902 – 18:39
Cliff Hirsch – Oct 27th – AA2395 – 13:37

Hotel Day 1 & 2

La Eterna Primavera

Antigua, Guatemala

Hotel Eterna Primavera Antigua is a perfect base for adventure travelers who want to stay close to the action without losing their sense of calm. Just a five-minute walk from Central Park, it puts you within easy reach of Antigua’s lively restaurants, coffee spots, and music venues—ideal for winding down after a day on the trails or volcano hikes.

The hotel’s colonial charm and leafy courtyards offer a comfortable retreat to recharge your batteries, while its location makes early departures for mountain rides simple. It’s quiet when you need rest, but close enough that the city’s energy is always right around the corner.

Each morning, you’ll enjoy a complimentary breakfast on the garden terrace, surrounded by flowers and the rich aroma of fresh Guatemalan coffee.

Day 1

Carmona TRAILS

On this our first day on the bike we’ll do a quick 15min shuttle to Carmona Trails, Antigua’s newest bike park.
In recent years, Carmona Trails has become Guatemala’s premier destination for gravity-oriented mountain biking. Located just outside Antigua in one of the region’s oldest coffee fincas, the park boasts over 50 kilometers of groomed trails suitable for all skill levels.

Today’s ride begins in the heart of the historic coffee finca, where we’ll start with a five-mile introductory loop. This route circles the flat, lower portion of the property, offering views of the coffee operation, including plant preparation and a small on-site dairy farm and processing area.

After the loop, we’ll divide into groups. Advanced riders will take a 4×4 shuttle to the summit of Cerro Cucurucho (8,700 ft), where panoramic views stretch across Pacaya Volcano, Lake Amatitlán, and Guatemala City. From the summit, we’ll ride two intermediate downhill trails.

Carmona Warm Up Loop (Part 1)

Loop through the lower part of the coffee finca (all Riders)

Distance	Gain	Loss	Max Altitude
4.72 mi	1,168 ft	-1,168 ft	6,352 ft

Carmona Shuttle 1 – Caffeine Fix

Distance	Gain	Loss	Max Altitude
4.72 mi	1,200 ft	– 1,200 ft	6,352 ft

Carmona Shuttle 2 

From the top and back to to the hotel in Antigua

Distance	Gain	Loss	Max Altitude
6.19 mi	407 ft	– 3,018 ft	7,644 ft

Day 4

Tecpán to Lake Atitlán

Experience a diversity of climates in the heart of the Kaqchikel culture on this legendary ride from high-altitude pine forests, a maze of dry canyons, and small towns, finishing on the shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

With years guiding in the mountains of Tecpán we have created the ultimate route to reach Lake Atitlán by bike! Two days of riding more than 2300m of downhill a day – come experience the MTB Guatemala difference with this mega classic that connects the high mountains of Tecpán to the shores of lake Atitlán below.

After lunch, we will shuttle to Mirador Mario Montenegro, a lookout point above the lake, which offers breathtaking views of Atitlán surrounded by its incredible volcanoes. Here we will descend through La Culebra (The Snake) – an epic Guatemalan classic – all the way down to the docks of the colorful town of Santa Catarina Palopó.

Logistics

Breakfast: 7am
Departure 8am
Estimated Finish 4pm
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch

BOAT TRANSFERS

At the end of the day we will transfer our luggage to a boat to reach our hotel. The hotel is located on a cliff with steep stairs. For the sake of your back please limit the amount of luggage you carry as we will only be there one night

Day 5

Atitlán Oeste

Today brings the biggest climbs—and the most breathtaking views—of the entire trip. We’ll start the morning with a 4×4 shuttle up one of the lake’s steepest roads, rising from the shores of Atitlán to the high ridges above San José Chacayá. Here, the ancient Mesoamerican trade route winds past the region’s terraced onion fields, cultivated for over a thousand years.

Our ride follows the northwest rim of Lake Atitlán, tracing 4,000-foot cliffs with sweeping views of the southern volcanoes. We’ll pass through the cool pine forests of Santa Lucía Utitlán, stopping for a picnic lunch at Chuiraxamoló Ecological Park, a panoramic lookout perched 3,000 feet above Santa Clara Atitlán. In the afternoon, a fast, technical descent drops us through misty cloud forest to the lake far below, where a short boat transfer carries us across the water to Santa Catarina Palopó for the night.

Logistics

Breakfast 7:30am
Boat 8:30am
Estimated Finish: 4pm
At the end of the day we will transfer by boat from San Juan la laguna to Panajachel about 30min
Your luggage will be moved to the other side of the lake
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel Day 5

VILLAS JUCANYA

Panajachel, Sololá

You’ll stay just a short walk from the beach at Villas Jucanya, a peaceful lakeside property surrounded by tropical gardens. Each private villa includes two bedrooms—one with a queen bed and another with two single beds—plus two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a balcony with beautiful views of Lake Atitlán and its volcanoes. It’s a comfortable and quiet place to unwind and a good jumpoff for our visit to the kite festival tomorrow!

Day 6

REST DAY / KITE FESTIVAL

Today is dedicated to one of Guatemala’s most vibrant cultural traditions. Each November 1st, families come together to celebrate the Day of the Dead, a day when communities honor their ancestors through color, music, and ritual. In the town of Sumpango, enormous handmade kites—crafted over months—are flown high to send messages of love and remembrance, guiding spirits toward the heavens.

We’ll make the scenic two-hour drive from Lake Atitlán, stopping in Tecpán for a hearty local breakfast before continuing to the famous Giant Kite Festival, just 20 minutes from Antigua. As the kites fill the sky over the cemetery, the atmosphere transforms into a dazzling blend of art, faith, and celebration—a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into Guatemala’s living heritage.

Departure: 8am
Estimated Finish: 3pm
A late Breakfast will be included en route
Meals included: Breakfast

Hotel Day 7

PACIFICO EL PAREDÖN

Hotel Pacífico is a laid-back beachfront retreat located on the black-sand shores of El Paredón, Guatemala’s most famous surf town. Just steps from the Pacific, it blends tropical simplicity with comfort—open-air rooms, palm-thatched palapas, and a saltwater pool overlooking the waves. You can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean and wake to the smell of coffee and sea breeze.

The hotel has an easygoing social vibe, with a beach bar, hammocks, and sunset views that draw travelers together after a day in the surf. It’s a perfect spot to unwind at the end of an adventure-filled week—ride the last waves, sip a cold drink, and let the rhythm of the Pacific slow everything down.

Day 8

RETURN

The last day we will be offering shuttles to the airport or returning to Antigua, please let us know your onward travel plans!