8-Day Best of Guatemala Multi-Sport Adventure

What to Expect

Day 1: Welcome to Guatemala – Arrival & Transfer to Antigua

Our shuttle will pick you up from the airport today. Our driver will meet you outside of customs as you exit the building, with your name on a card.

From the airport, it's a 1.5hr transfer to your hotel in Antigua. For those who arrive earlier during the day, your Guide will meet you at the hotel at 5:00 PM to welcome the group, give suggestions for dinner that night, and answer any questions.

LODGING: Hotel Casa Antigua (or similar)

Day 2: Bike tour of surrounding villages, farms, and ruins

We’ll meet at the Old Town Outfitters shop and walk over to where the bikes are stored for sizing and quick gear explanations.

Riding to the south, we’ll head out of Antigua and onto the base of Agua Volcano. The focus of the ride will be to explore and experience the various towns and villages of the Almolonga Valley.

Your guide will make plenty of stops along the way to show off the magnificent churches and Spanish colonial ruins. We’ll also visit an experimental macadamia farm and go through local textile markets.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: Beginner-level ride, mostly paved route
LODGING: Hotel Casa Antigua (or similar)
MEALS: Breakfast

Day 3: Pacaya Volcano Day hike

In the morning, we’ll drive out of the Panchoy Valley and through the lowlands of Guatemala’s Pacific slope. A 1.5hr drive will take us to the base of Pacaya Volcano, where we begin a warm-up hike for the rest of the volcanoes to follow.

Pacaya has been one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes since its recorded history began. It has erupted over twenty times since the Spanish arrived and has a constant smoking crater.

Arriving below the crater, we can explore the vast dried lava fields and lunar-like landscape. We’ll even toast marshmallows in active heat vents!

Returning to Antigua, the evening is free to stroll through the streets and enjoy the many markets, cafes, restaurants, and bars that make it such a great city.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: Beginner to moderate hike, 1.5-2hr climb, 400m elevation gain
LODGING: Hotel Casa Antigua (or similar)
MEALS: Breakfast & lunch (picnic)

Day 4: Ride to Lake Atitlan

After meeting your guide and checking your gear, we load bags and bodies into our vehicle and set out for a ~2 hr road trip up into the highlands towards Lake Atitlán. We’ll stop on the road for a coffee and bathroom break at a quaint rest stop outside the mountain town of Tecpán (breakfast not included).

Upon arrival at the Lake Highlands area, we unload bikes and cyclists and fit group members to their bikes and gear. We give instructions on bicycle operation, safety tips, and a brief orientation of the surrounding terrain. Everyone has a chance to ask any questions they may have, apply sunscreen, and adjust clothing layers.

We start down a country road traversing the high tableland above Lake Atitlán. This mostly downhill ride takes you through several small villages and towns before rounding a final ridgeline and joining the road up from the Pacific coast bound for Panajachel.

At the first vista overlooking Lake Atitlán, your guide will stop and prepare a picnic lunch (included) and orient you to the lakeside towns and geographic features of Lake Atitlán.

After lunch, we’ll continue breezing down the quick and windy road to the lakeside town of Panajachel. From here, we will catch a boat to Jaibalito, and the beautiful cliffside hotel Casa del Mundo.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: All paved roads today, mostly downhill
LODGING: Hotel La Casa del Mundo (or similar)
MEALS: Breakfast, lunch (picnic) & dinner

Day 5: Kayak and hike around Lake Atitlan

After waking up to gorgeous views of the lake and its towering volcanoes, we’ll begin our morning with the adventure of open-water kayaking on Lake Atitlan’s deep blue-green volcanic waters.

Our paddle will take us along the northern shore and beneath the towering hills. After a couple of hours on the water, we’ll switch our paddles for our hiking shoes and walk along the cliffside trails high above the lake.

The hike will take us through local towns and complete the spectacular trilogy of viewpoints by bike, kayak, and foot.

After a nice lunch at Casa del Mundo, we grab our belongings and jump on a boat to catch our private transfer back to Antigua.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: Beginner to moderate kayak/hike ~1.5-2hrs each way
LODGING: Hotel Casa Antigua (or similar)
MEALS: Breakfast & lunch

Day 6: Acatenango Volcano overnight hike

Our morning begins with scenic transport up Acatenango’s slopes and into the small, sleepy mountain village of La Soledad (2,390m). Then, a 5hr hike takes us through changing microclimates and provides many scenic views of the surrounding countryside.

We spend the night at our private campsite, a bench cut into the side of Acatenango, and overlooking the nearby Fuego Volcano, just 4km away.

Fuego is the most constantly erupting volcano in recorded history, and during our night in camp, we will have plenty of time to appreciate the incredible sights and sounds of its eruptions.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: Moderate level hike, 4–6hr climb, 1,200m elevation gain
LODGING: Acatenango campsite
MEALS: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 7: Descent from Acatenango Volcano & Return to Antigua

After an early rise to enjoy the sunrise over the Antigua Valley, we start our last push to Acatenango’s summit (3,975m). We ascend on a sand and gravel scree trail dotted with dwarf pines, taking in incredible views the whole way up.

Atop the impressively large summit, we enjoy unparalleled 360-degree views of the entirety of the Guatemalan Highlands, including the peaks that make up the volcanic spine of Guatemala, stretching all the way to Mexico.

Then, we hike 3hrs down to the local community of La Soledad, where we meet our transport and drive back to Antigua.

You’ll have the whole afternoon to explore Antigua, do some last-minute shopping, or just relax back at the hotel. Enjoy the many dining options in Antigua for your last night.

ACTIVITY DETAILS: Moderate level hike, 1hr climb, 400m gain & 1,600m descent
LODGING: Hotel Casa Antigua (or similar)
MEALS: Breakfast

Day 8: Farewell & Safe Travels Onward

Our shuttle will meet you at your hotel in the morning or afternoon depending on your departure flight for your transfer back to the airport.

MEALS: n/a