Guatemala mountain bike tours

Enjoy the excellent trails in and around the beautiful colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala. There is plenty of singletrack surrounding the city, through coffee fields and down the sides of volcanoes.

In the Antigua area, we will ride the fun and flowy trails at Carmona Bike Park, as well as some off the beaten path singletrack only the locals know. The rest of our trip is on natural trails in between Antigua and Lake Atitlan, where we will ride and experience the unique culture. Bring your sense of adventure along for an incredible experience!

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Guatemala mountain biking trip dates in 2025

• October 26-November 1, 2025
• December 7-13, 2025-This trip is with Brice Shirbach, see his Sight Unseen Guatemala film here!

Don’t see a date that works for you? Contact us for custom trip dates!

Skill and fitness level requirements

Fitness level: ● ● ● ○ ○
Skill level: ● ● ● ○ ○

What do these ratings mean?

What to expect after you’ve booked your trip

• Once you’ve booked your trip, you will get a confirmation email through our booking system and a trip information sheet for your trip.
• Please hold off booking your flights until we confirm that the trip has enough participants to run. We will send out an email to let you know.
• Once the trip is confirmed, please go ahead and book your flight and upload your flight information into your WeTravel account (this is the account you will have booked your trip through).
• If you plan to extend your visit on either end of the trip, please let us know and we can help arrange for extra nights at the hotel if needed.
• Make sure to read through your trip information sheet, and always feel free to reach out with any questions to Julie!

Day 1

Arrive in Guatemala City and take on one of our shuttles (two offered on this day) to the colorful city of Antigua, about an hour away. Relax at our hotel or take in the sites and sounds of the city. Today is a good day to visit the artisan markets or visit the Santa Catalina Arch. The local mechanics can also help you get your bike built up and ready to ride.

Day 2

Just outside of Antigua, Carmona Trails Bike Park offers a flexible and fun day on the bike with something for everyone. The park is nestled in the foothills of the surrounding volcanos and we will spend the day doing shuttle laps on the parks downhill trails that drop about 500 meters through the lush forest and rugged terrain. We will have a relaxed lunch at the top and finish the day with a short, scenic trail ride back to Antigua.

Distance: 15-20 km, between 500-1000 m descent

Day 3

Today’s ride combines high mountain terrain with a rich, cultural experience as we journey from from the slopes above Antigua in the shadows of Volcan Acatenango and down into the heart of Guatemala’s countryside. We will shuttle into the highlands and then pedal along scenic ridgelines and flowy cross country trails that weave through the farmlands and the small Mayan community of San Andres.

San Andres is also home to San Simon, known locally as Maximon, a unique folk saint deeply revered by many in this region. Blending aspects of Mayan spirituality and Catholic tradition, his shrine is an important cultural site and a fascinating window into local religious practices. We’ll enjoy sweeping views, ride historic paths and find ancient pottery and obsidian soil. The route offers a mix of adventure and insight into the region’s natural and cultural heritage, finishing with a delicious lunch and time to unwind or explore Antigua.

Distance: 21.5 km, Elevation: +356 m, -909 m

Day 4

On our third day of riding, we drive from Antigua to the Mayan ruins of Iximche near Tecpan to start the day’s ride. We will shuttle to the highest point of the pass and the rest of the ride features cross country and enduro-style trails through the rolling highlands surrounding Tecpan. After a morning of riding, we will make our way up to a stunning viewpoint above Lake Atitlan for a relaxing lunch with panoramic views. From there, we will enjoy the iconic paved descent from the Mirador into the lakeside town of Panajachel, an exhilarating way to finish a diverse and memorable day.

Distance: 36 km Elevation: +1042 m, – 2098 m

Day 5

Today’s ride features the famous Slickrock trail above Lake Atitlan, a morning ride along a progressive mix of jeep track and singletrack trails. We will enjoy a lunch break before shuttling to the highland town of Godinez. From there we will dive into an incredible XC section along ancient Mayan footpaths that trace the rim of a vast river canyon. The trail flows through dramatic landscapes with sweeping views of nearby villages and coffee farms. A short climb brings us to the Godinez-San Lucas Road, followed by a fast and fun descent on steep jeep track and concrete road into the vibrant village of San Antonio Palopo on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

Distance: 28.7 km Elevation: +473 m, -1485 m

Day 6

We will enjoy breakfast and a relaxing morning at the lake with plenty of time for a swim or hammock time. We will then take our private shuttle back to the Antigua area where we’ll gear up for a short ride through the coffee farms and meet up with a local farm from De La Gente coffee for an insider look into local production and a full tasting.

We’ll finish up in Antigua for a farewell dinner and drinks to cap off a great week!

Distance: 4 km

Day 7

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then your departure shuttle to the airport will depend on your flight time. We will leave Antigua approximately 3 hours prior to your departure to allow for travel and check-in.

Note: Itinerary is subject to change.

Download our Guatemala Trip Information Sheet for all of the details about this trip.

• Beautiful and comfortable accommodations in the heart of Antigua—walk to the main square and all of the sites.
• Two nights on the beautiful Lake Atitlan: one at La Casa del Mundo or similar.
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners at restaurants hand picked by our local crew to get the best meals and experiences.
• Airport pickup (two shuttle times available). Our crew will transport you from Guatemala City and drive you to Antigua to start your adventure.
• Professional local guides that know the trails and have an excellent knowledge of the local culture and traditions.
• Support on the trails with a vehicle, trailside lunches, snacks, and clean drinking water.

Price – $2095

*$700 of your trip cost is tax deductible. We will send a separate donation receipt after your trip.

Book more than 90 days in advance and get a pair of World Ride Guatemala socks and a hat! A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot.

Deposits are non-refundable and can be put toward any other World Ride trip in the future.

The remainder of the cost of the trip is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip and can be made in payments. Trips require a minimum of four people in order to run. Please check with us to confirm your trip before you book your flight.

Fundraise for your trip

Fundraise for your trip! We can set up a personalized fundraising page for you. We offer $100 off your trip costs for every $1000 that you raise, up to the cost of the trip.

The money you raise supports World Ride in building bike and gear libraries and offering guide training and certification in the countries we work with.

Get in touch with us for more details on the fundraising process.

Christa had been curious about mountain biking while working as a volcano hiking guide for Antigua, Guatemala based Old Town Outfitters.

After World Ride started their program in Guatemala, she got asked to be the first female mountain bike guide. She immediately fell in love with the bike and now works guiding mountain biking and hiking. She also organizes a weekly group ride of local Guatemalan women with her group Aventurandose con la Christa. Some of the rides now have 25-30 women!

She loves the way she can connect with herself and nature through mountain biking. She has also climbed 21 volcanoes throughout Guatemala and loves poetry, reading, jazz, Ayurveda and any type of adventure.

Christa is making steady progress recovering from an injury and we hope she will be able to guide our next Guatemala trips! If she is not able to guide, she will be joining for dinners and rides as her schedule allows. We can’t wait for you to meet her!

Guatemala is a warm and welcoming country, but like any place in the world, you will need to be cautious of your valuables during the trip. The bikes will be securely stored throughout the trip.

Please see the US State Department website for any other travel safety information.

For any travel related vaccines and health questions, be sure to check the CDC website and consult your doctor.

Wondering what clothes to pack, how many pairs of underwear to bring (you do you!), or what charger you’ll need for Guatemala? We’ve got you covered! Check out the lists below and take a look at the Guatemala information guide for more details.

More insights into your Guatemala mountain biking tour

• Hike a volcano in Guatemala
• Why going on a World Ride mountain biking trip is the best way to support our mission

Other things to explore in Guatemala

There are many sights to see in Guatemala! Depending on when you arrive and depart for your trip, here are some suggestions.

The Santa Catalina Arch and Antigua Cathedral

Both are within a short walk of the hotel and you will enjoy exploring the vibrant city of Antigua. Make sure to stop into some local shops and cafes.

Acatenango Volcano Hike

This is an overnight hike that can be added on to the trip if you are staying a few extra days. This hike will take you to the top of Guatemala’s 3rd highest volcano, right next to Volcan de Fuego- a still active volcano. Stay up late or wake up early to see Fuego erupting from a safe distance away.

Pacaya Volcano Hike

This is a great half day hike to see Pacaya Volcano. The hike itself is a couple of hours and moderately strenuous. This hike includes roasting marshmallows over steam vents coming out of the volcano, as well as a picnic lunch overlooking Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes.

If you are interested in a volcano hike, check out our blog to see more about each!