2 Day Lake Atitlán Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour (Medium)

Agua Escondida, San Antonio Palopó, Panajachel

Today is all about connecting sights and vising some of the magic villages at Lake Atitlán. This tour begins high above the lake. You will follow a serene paved road along the eastern crater of Atitlán, where amazing vistas abound. We will dip down into farmland following agricultural jeep and singletrack through plantations of avocado, coffee and fruit trees.

Our lunch will be at a cliff-top restaurant in Agua Escondida with a unique view of the lake and its three volcanoes. In the afternoon we will take a steep 4×4 road down to the shore to the town of San Antonio Palopó, 800m below. In San Antonio we will visit a weaving cooperative before continuing on the rolling terrain on the shore of the lake. Next, we’ll pass through the town of Santa Catarina Palopó famous for its textile markets and brightly painted buildings. The last climb to Panajachel will end with a rewarding ride along the beach of Lake Atitlán. Finishing on the docks, we’ll enjoy a cool beverage, finishing on the docks we’ll enjoy a cool beverage, catch the sunset from the market street Calle Sentender – and check into our hotel located just a few blocks away for the night.

Distance	Ascent	Descent	Max Altitude
33km 20.5mi	950m 3,117ft	-1,500m -4,921ft	2,186m 7,172ft

Highland Traverse

Today we will go deep into the indigenous communities above the lake. You will see rural life at its purest as we pedal along beautiful dirt roads and highland jeeptrack through sheep meadows and pine forests.

After a shuttle to the rim of the caldera of Lake Atitlán, we climb 3mi to an alpine plateau at 1800m (9200ft) El Corazón de Las Nubes (the heart of the clouds) – a Mayan ceremonial site. We will follow old logging roads with unmatched views of the lake and its environs. Canyons and volcanoes abound.

 

Gallery

 

Part 1: Panimaché Atiltán Slickrock

Part 2 San Andres Semetebaj – Panajachel

Day Two Totals:

Distance	Ascent	Descent	Max Altitude
2,836 m (9,305 ft)	733 m (2,405 ft)	-1,957 m (-6,421 ft)	2,836 m (9,305 ft)

 

Night 1: Panajachel

Hotel Utz' Jay

Located 2 blocks from Lake Atitlan in Panajachel, Hotel Utz' Jay offers lush gardens and fruit trees, a hot tub and a Mayan-style sauna filled with relaxing aromatic herbs.

Rooms here feature a balcony with garden views. The hotel is situated in a quiet street, just a short walk from Calle Sentender with its shops and restaurants.