GUATEMALAN HIGHLANDS 1-WEEK DUAL SPORT ADVENTURE
March 17-23 2024
Some of the Best Dual Sport Adventuring You'll Ever Experience!
Join me and your fellow WANDURO riders for a 1-week Dual Sport Adventure through the Guatemalan Highlands this March!
~~ Trent
Active Volcanoes, Deep Jungles, Green Mountains, Waterfalls, and Colonial Towns. And some of the finest dual sport routes you'll ever experience. Beautiful gravel and dirt roads, flowy single track, and endless twisty mountain pavement. Dual-sport adventure riding at its best!
Treat yourself this winter!
Here are some highlights:
- Some of the best dual-sport adventuring you'll ever experience.
- Banking through endless twisty blacktop.
- Challenging the fun, flowy singletrack.
- Powering through breathtaking dirt roads.
- Exploring picturesque colonial towns.
- Crossing jungle rivers.
- Marvelling at tropical waterfalls.
- Relaxing in comfortable local lodges and haciendas.
- Enjoying the amazing Guatemalan hospitality.
Maximum Adventure. Minimum Hassle.
We've taken care of all the details so you can just enjoy the fun! I rode in Guatemala with Jose a few years ago, so I know he puts together a great experience. So last winter after hosting our Costa Rica ride, I spent some time in Guatemala and sat down with Jose to plan a trip with intermediate-level Wanduro riders in mind.
If you like a combination of riding, culture, nature, history, and adventure, I think you'll love what we came up with! Guatemala is truly a dual sport adventurer's paradise.
Enjoy riding blacktop twisties, remote mountain jungle dirt tracks, stream crossings, and high ridgetops and passes. And all this mixed in with cloud forests, towering volcanos, Mayan ruins, waterfalls, and gorgeous colonial towns.
All you need to do is show up with your riding gear and your love of adventure and let us take care of route selection, hotels, bikes, luggage, safety, and all the other little details that make a trip great.
Here's what Guatemala Riding looks like:
And check out this video for a taste of the riding:
Here’s what’s included:
- Five full days of outstanding dual sport adventuring in the stunning highlands of Guatemala.
- 6 Nights of accommodation in comfortable local hotels, lodges, and haciendas. With breakfast.
- Choice of well-maintained motorcycles. KTM390 Adventure, Hero XPulse 200, DR650, KLR650.
- Gasoline.
- Continental Breakfasts.
- Entrance fees for national park visits etc.
- Support vehicle and driver to transfer your luggage.
- Boat trip across Lake Atitlan.
- Two bilingual local motorcycle guides/mechanics.
- Arrival and departure airport transfers on the 17th and 23rd (Day 1 and 7)
- And me! I'll be co-leading the trip and doing what it takes to ensure you have an outstanding experience!
These Are Your bikes
Late-model KTM, Hero, Suzuki and Kawasaki Motorcycles:
Which Bike Should I Choose?
The main factor in your choice of bike should be how well you'll be able to manage the bike in the tougher sections based up on your height, weight, and skill level.
The 650s are larger, heavier bikes and you should only choose these if you are over 200lbs or over 6 feet tall and at least an upper intermediate rider.
The KTM390 is nimble and relatively powerful. If you're under 200 lbs or under 6 feet tall and a decent intermediate rider, you'll have a lot of fun on these. I recommend these for most people coming on this tour.
The XPulse 200 is a forgiving, easy-to-ride bike that will get you through most anything. Best for lighter riders and those who want an easier ride. Not recommended for larger/heavier riders.
Itinerary Details
March 17-23, 2024
Day 1 - Arrivals and 7pm Welcome Dinner/Briefing
Airport arrival and 25-minute transfer from La Aurora airport to Antigua Guatemala. Antigua is a world heritage site and one of the most beautiful and perfectly preserved Spanish colonial cities in the Americas.
This evening we'll have our welcome dinner at 7pm and get to know each other. I'll do a ride briefing of what you can expect and how to make the most of your trip.
Day 2 - Volcanoes and Lakes
A stunning introduction to Guatemala as we ride from Antigua north past a parade of volcanos and down to the town of Panajachel, beautifully situated on Lake Atitlan. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes on the planet, Lake Atitlan is in the caldera of an ancient volcano and is surrounded by several newer volcanos.
We leave our bikes in Panajachel and head out on a stunning boat cruise across Lake Atitlan to San Pedro Laguna where we spend the night.
Day 3 - Off to the Jungle!
Get ready for a long day of riding east through semi-arid volcanic highlands dotted with towns and villages nestled in valleys and clinging to mountainsides far from the tourist routes. In the afternoon the landscape gets steadily more lush as we enter the green side of the mountains. We end the day in Lanquin for a well-deserved rest. The first half of the day will be on dirt roads and double track with a few spicy water crossings thrown in for extra fun. The second half is on glorious twisty pavement.
Day 4 - Canyon Paradise
An easy-going day as we ride down dirt roads to Semuc Champey, one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. This is a series of waterfalls and pools passing through amazing limestone formations. Enjoy the sights and swimming in this paradise.
If you feel like doing some more riding, the guides can take you out for a nice ride exploring the area.
That night we return to our hotel in Lanquin.
Day 5 - South to the Cloud Forest
Remote villages and farms, waterfalls, amazing views, and a pass high up in the cloud forest. This is a day of dirt and gravel roads with a short stretch of pavement in the middle. This is the realm of the Quetzal, one of the planet's most beautiful birds and the national bird of Guatemala. Since March is their mating season, we may even be lucky enough to see one! We end the day at an eco-hotel near the Quetzal Biosphere Reserve.
Day 6 - Back to Antigua
A nice mix of dirt and pavement as we pass through a series of historic colonial towns nestled in valleys and connected by amazing roads over ridges and passes.
We'll stop for a break at Mixco Viejo to see the ancient Mayan ruins.
To end the ride, we'll enjoy beautiful views of Guatemala's volcanos as we descend back down into Antigua.
That evening we'll enjoy our farewell dinner enjoying new friendships and memories of a great adventure!
Day 7 - Departure
Transfers back to La Aurora airport in Guatemala City to catch your flights back home.
The Lodges and Hotels
As much as we rough it during the day, we chill in comfortable lodges, hotels, and haciendas at night. Here's some of what you can expect (click for larger images):
Cuisine
There's nothing like a hearty meal of Guatemalan comfort food after a hard day of riding. With its roots in the ancient Mayan civilization, Guatemalan food has combined this with Spanish-influenced techniques and flavours. These are some of the dishes you may experience:
Is This Ride for Me?
This is the type of person that is a good fit for this tour:
- Your offroad skill level is intermediate or higher. If you've ridden in the WANDR event before, this means you are able to ride level 3 QuestPoints. This means long stretches of dirt and gravel with some challenges where you may need to put your feet down to make it through as well as unexpected obstacles such as rocks, ruts, and ditches for which you'll need to react quickly. Check out the riding video above for an idea of the riding. If you're unsure, please give me a shout at (403) 875-8500
- You are in decent physical shape. We'll be riding 3-7 hours per day in temperatures ranging from 7 to 30 degrees celcius with many kilometres of dirt and gravel as well as some tracks with rough sections. If you are on the lower end of the required skill level for this trip, you'll need to be in better shape because you'll be working harder.
- You get along well with others, you're easygoing and flexible, and neither occasionally waiting for people nor having people wait for you bother you. If you've dialed in your riding buddies to a select few who match your riding style and you don't really like group rides, then this may not be the trip for you.
Flight Recommendations
Return flights from Canada should cost around C$1000 or less and you can often find flights for around C$800. You can sometimes save a few hundred dollars by clicking on the "flexible dates" option and coming a day or two early or leaving a day or two late and using the extra time to chill, explore, acclimatize, or whatever you want to do.
We want you to be there in time for the welcome dinner on Sunday evening in Antigua, so you'll need to book your flight to arrive no later than 4 pm on Sunday. Most lower-cost same-day flights from Canada and the northern US tend to arrive late at night in Guatemala. There are some more expensive flights that arrive earlier. For this reason, we recommend you book a flight for Saturday arrival or an overnight flight for early Sunday arrival. We'll gladly make arrangements for your extra hotel night(s) if you arrive early or stay longer.
Sign Up!
We need a minimum of 6 riders to make a go of it. And the most we'll be is 10.
I've already got local guides who’ve set aside this week.
So go ahead and register below and make your $500 deposit to guarantee your spot. Once we've reached the minimum of 6 riders, I'll reach out to you for the balance payment. If we don't get that many, I'll refund your deposit. (please see the "Fine Print" below)
Pricing
Remember, this includes
- Some of the best dualsport adventuring you'll ever experience.
- Great late-model bikes from KTM, Hero, Suzuki, and Kawasaki.
- Gasoline for the bikes.
- Continental Breakfasts.
- 6 Nights of comfortable accommodation in lodges, cabins, and haciendas, including breakfast. Double Occupancy.
- Support vehicle and driver to transfer your luggage.
- Two cool local guides/mechanics who love riding as much as you do.
- Boat Trip across Lake Atitlan.
- Entrance Fees for National Parks and other sights.
- Arrival and departure airport transfers
- Plus I’ll be there to co-lead the trip and make sure you have a great time.
Price:
Price varies by your choice of motorcycle:
- XPulse 200: C$4400 (approx US$3200)
- DR650/KLR650: C$4600 (approx US$3360)
- KTM390 ADV: C$4800 (approx US$3500)
Does not include:
- Your flight to Guatemala
- Lunches, Suppers, drinks, tips.
- Medical/Travel/Repatriation Insurance.
- Riding gear. I've always found it best to bring my own, but there are gear rentals available.
Logistics
Insurance
I recommend travel medical insurance that includes repatriation. Make sure your medical insurance covers motorcycling. Some policies do not cover "risky" activities. I use TUGO as my travel insurance supplier as they also cover regions where there are "travel advisories."
Vaccinations
The CDC has a list of recommended vaccines. They tend to err on the side of caution, so check out the list and make your own decisions. A basic one that's good whenever you're travelling out of the country is the Hep A and Hep B vaccines, usually taken in a combined dose ("Twinrix").
Riding Gear & Clothing
Riding gear is available to rent, but I recommend bringing your own, even if it means paying for an extra piece of luggage. Since you're an experienced rider, you probably have your gear dialed in and it's no fun forsaking this for gear that may not fit you properly or provide you with the comfort and security you're used to. To save luggage space, you can even wear some of this gear on the plane!
Temperatures will range from 5C to 35C.
For what it's worth, this is how I gear up on a trip like this:
- T-shirt with a body protector or pressure suit over top.
- Fleece sweater to go either over or under the body protector to take the chill off.
- Lightweight rain jacket to go over everything to break the wind on the coolest days and for rainy days. The downside of this is that this type of jacket is more easily damaged in a fall. To mitigate this a bit, I wear my fleece over my body protector so there's a little give between the jacket and the hard plastic of the body protector.
- Offroad riding pants.
- Rain Pants.
- Offroad riding boots.
- Shin/Knee pads.
- Riding gloves.
- Helmet. Best to have a helmet with a lot of airflow. Most people prefer a MX helmet with goggles. Personally, I use safety glasses and a flip-up ADV style helmet that I can open up for extra air if it gets really slow and hot.
So that's my setup. But you do you based upon your experience and preferences combined with the weather conditions and the mainly off-pavement nature of the trip.
As far as the rest of your kit, pack light and easily washable clothes. A pair of casual shoes/runners is good enough for footwear. Don't worry about being too minimalist as there is room in the chase vehicle for luggage.
Electricity
The plugs and voltage are the same as in North America. The only hitch is that you'll often encounter two-prong sockets that won't accept a three-prong plug. So bring along a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter if you need to.
Arrival/Departure
Book your flight to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) to arrive before 4 pm on Sunday, March 17, or on Saturday, March 16. We want you to be there in time for the arrival welcome dinner on Sunday evening in Antigua. We'll arrange your transfer from the airport to Antigua if you arrive on either of these days. Book your departure on Saturday, March 23. We'll take you to the airport to catch your flight.
Additional Recommendations and Information
- Don’t forget your sunblock and insect repellent. (It tends to be a fair bit more expensive in Guatemala)
- Guatemala has an annual relative humidity percentage from 50% to 90% depending on the region and the time of the year. Hydration during the tour is extremely important. We will stop on the way if needed but we recommend that you have a camel back with you.
- You might want to pack some light snacks for between meals. I normally pack some granola or power bars.
- Don’t worry about your luggage, we will have a support vehicle, so you don’t have to be concerned about packing too minimalist. We will make sure to move everything from one location to the next.
The Fine Print
This trip is being organized by WANDURO. Payments are being accepted and reservations are being made by Mountain Quest Adventure Company Ltd. on behalf of WANDURO.
Skills You Will Need
Your program may include a large variety of activities, abilities, terrain, and durations. The factors you should consider are: your skill level, conditioning, and mental attitude. If you have doubts, please call, and we'll discuss it!
Deposits & Payments
The $500 reservation deposit guarantees your spot on this trip. Once you've registered I'll contact you to make arrangements for payment of the balance which is then due. If we don't get the minimum of 6 people to make the trip a go, you'll get your reservation deposit back. I will inform you as soon as we've reached our 6-person minimum so you can go ahead and book flights and prepare for the trip.
Cancellations
If you must cancel your reservation, notify us as soon as possible. Due to the fact that many of our costs are committed well in advance of departure, the following refund policy applies:
Reservation Deposits: Refundable only if we do not reach the 6-person minimum. Non-refundable after we reach the 6-person minimum.
Full trip cost: If you cancel after we have received your full payment and up until a week before departure, we will refund 50% of your full payment. After that, there is no refund.
Please read carefully! Mountain Quest Adventure Company Ltd. Acts as an agent for and makes arrangements with transportation companies, accommodation providers, and adventure outfitters as described in our trip descriptions and other independent parties to provide you with travel services and accommodation. Although great care is taken in choosing suppliers, we are unable to directly control them and therefore cannot be held responsible or liable for their acts or omissions. The travel services are subject to the conditions imposed by these suppliers and their liability may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, and international conventions and agreements. Many of these suppliers will require you to sign liability release waivers.
Discrepancies in Service
In the unlikely event that you experience a problem during your program, please forward a written account of your concerns to Mountain Quest within 30 days of the completion of the service(s) in question. Mountain Quest cannot assist in resolving claims involving supplier(s) that are received after 30 days. Mountain Quest will make best efforts to deal with the supplier(s) in question and endeavour to receive a fair settlement for you from the supplier(s).
Remoteness
Many of our activities occur in remote areas. This comes with inherent risks and logistic difficulties. Participants recognize that these risks are inherent in the enjoyment and adventure of remote areas and accept these as part of the experience. Mountain Quest is not responsible for emergency evacuation, travel, or communication costs. Please purchase your own insurance for this if you so wish.
Possible Program Alterations
Mountain Quest reserves the right to cancel, modify, or alter all or any part of the program when necessary or advisable. In the event of such a change, Mountain Quest shall endeavour to substitute comparable services or provide a full refund for the unused portion of the program. A full refund of monies for the unused portion of the program shall constitute a full settlement between Mountain Quest and yourself.
Welcome Aboard!
A good relationship is built on mutual respect and understanding. With these terms and conditions, we've declared our mutual responsibilities and duties. Please contact us if you wish for clarification on any of these points.
Tel. 403-270-0000 email: info@mountainquest.ca