Guatemala mountain biking, Anyone?

[snowtulip]

Hi Everyone,
I am going mountain biking in Guatemala in March. I am going with a guide tour, which is a little weird for me since me and hubby really enjoyed our self-supported mtb. tour this past summer. Feeling a little pampered I guess.

The tour is going to be 50% singletrack, 35% jeep road and the rest tarmac. We will be doing this for 9 days, but we'll be there for 15 days, so I was wondering if any of you have been out to Guatemala and have suggestions for the other days?

Thanks, I'm getting so excited!

[Irulan]

are you taking your own bikes? if not, I'd find out very specifically what they are going to provide for you. Based on riding trip report I've read from folks who go "down south", you never know what you are going to get, and sometimes thier idea of good bike is not the same as yours.

[snowtulip]

Yup, we're taking our own bikes. I've vowed to always take my own bike so that whatever I do is enjoyable (plus I'm only 4'11, so I don't want to chance being on some huge bike). I'm also on 24" tires, so I'll be bringing some extra tires.

[fultzie]

I spent about a week and a half in Guatemala last summer-- it was beautiful!

What part of the country are you going to be in?

I was in the north, in El Peten (Ciudad Flores). Tikal (ruins) are right near there, as well as some more remote monuments. Tikal is a day, maybe day and a half (if you stay out at the hotels in the park)... if you hike to the more remote monuments it's more like four days. There's a pretty well-beaten backpacker's route around there, even in the north (the really popular area is Antigua).

I spent most of my time working with an environmental organization that specialized in week-long placements in the jungle (if you have enough time, also very cool).

If you go to Flores, be sure to eat at "Cool Beans: el Cafe Chillero"... their coffee is awesome, and try their brownie sundaes!!

i'm so jealous!! the entire time i was there i wished i had my mtb-- have tons of fun!!

[snowtulip]

Thanks for the info! What environmental group did you work with? We've been looking at some Proyecto Maya projects.

We'll mainly be riding in the Western Highlands. After that, I'm not sure. I know we'll definately be heading up to Tikal (we will fly back home from Flores) so I'll try your food recommendation. Is there enough (other than Tikal) to do up north for eight days? All the reading really only mention Tikal.

Thanks for the info, I'm getting so excited, only a month to go!

[fultzie]

i went through ProPeten, based in Flores. For a week it cost about US$70... it was very laid-back and quiet, included transporation and room/ sheets/ mosquito netting (!!)... supposedly you had to bring your own food, although we caught a lot of fish and the guys that worked at the biostation made fresh corn tortillas every day... which i deffinitely ate!

i was the only volunteer at the end of July... speaking spanish was a must (no one spoke any english at all)... it was a really awesome experience... i had spent a semester in Chile, and was on my way home, and it was a very interesting contrast. i was supposed to meet a friend (okay... more than a friend!) in Flores (where he was working) but things fell through at the last minute (literally... received an email as i was leaving Peru for Guatemala City). i found ProPeten by chance, and it turned out to be very lucky.

they also do "biotours" that stay in the "nice rooms" at the biostation and include food... i think those are about 2-3 days long. i think they are available in english as well. i would highly recommend ProPeten, as they are a very knowledgable, grassroots organization that does a lot in the community (with environmental education, etc).

as for things in addition to Tikal... there are tours to El Mirador, which is more remote and requires a 2-3 day hike. if you google "El Mirador Guatemala" you'll find a lot, and in Flores you'll see signs in front of all of the tour places in town. tours leave from La Carmelita, and you pretty much have to go with a guide (can be dangerous otherwise, hard to find, etc). most tours cost between US$100 and US$300. there are a number of smaller monuments as well, all within hiking distance (or perhaps jeep trails).

don't make too many plans before you go, as you will find a LOT out when you get there. i pretty much picked up an outdated lonely planet guide book in the Lima, Peru airport and was still more than occupied for 10 days with what i found in Flores. ask around and talk to people (locals and tourists... though there are quite a few locals that will steer you towards their friends).

Los Amigos hostel is a pretty good resource (next to the ProPeten office in Flores). They can also give you advice in Cool Beans (it's owned by a US expat and her Guatemalan husband).

I stayed in Hospedaje Donya Goya's second location, down on Calle Union. Also highly recommended... rooms with a fan, clean private bathroom, and clean sheets for only US$7/night! also, the hammocks on the roof provide beautiful views of the lagoon and jungle. it doesn't include breakfast, but Cool Beans is awesome.

one note about Flores: bring CASH! there are hardly any places to use an ATM/credit card (which about did me in!). US$ are easily exchanged at internet cafes and hotels, Quetzales that you got in the capital will of course be better to use (and a better exchange rate).

have lots of fun!!