Cycle Guatemala's Highlands

Meet your host at the airport in Guatemala City and get whisked to the colourful town of Antigua, located an hour down the road and nestled beneath the towering Acatenango volcano. Settle into your hotel before meeting up with your group and guide to chat through the adventure to come. The evening is free to rest up at the hotel or check out Antigua's many bars, cafes and restaurants.

Set off for your first taste of pedalling in the Guatemalan highlands with a ride through the valleys outside of Antigua. The Almolonga Valley just west of Antigua was home to the second capital of Guatemala - Ciudad Vieja. The old city met a fateful doom in 1541 as a result of a terrible mudslide released from the crater of the Agua volcano. You'll ride through several small towns, each with their unique flavour, as you loop back into Antigua for a well-earned dinner and drinks.

Head out of Antigua first thing to start your two-day ride across to Lake Atitlán on a backcountry route of dirt roads, trails, and gravel tracks. Head uphill on a jeep track traversing through Mayan cornfields to the town of San Andreas Itzapa, stopping at the Mayan shrine of San Simon. Continue on mix of varied trails across the highlands, crossing the Pan-American Highway on footbridges and pedalling through the town of Zaragoza. Pedal on to Tecpán through small agrarian villages, ending with a beautiful stretch of trail down through a forest to your riverside accommodation in a converted flour mill from the 1900s.

Today is a chunky day, but you'll have all day to make the distance and there is no rush. A support vehicle is on hand and there are several spots along the way where you can hop in if needed.

An epic day in the saddle awaits with a little bit of everything. Start with a nice gradual dirt road climb out of Tecpán, quickly turning into a narrower trail as you wind your way through the pine-clad hills. There are some downhill sections and a couple of tough steep climbs. The ride takes you through a Mayan settlement before flowing downhill on the famous Sendero de las Vacas ('Trail of the Cows'). A 4km climb follows, up to a viewpoint above Lake Atitlán - your efforts are rewarded with amazing views as you tuck into lunch here. After lunch, hit the amazing, contouring 'Santa Cat' trail. Finish off the day as you roll into Panajachel, and take the boat to your lakeside hotel on Lake Atitlán.

Enjoy breakfast overlooking the lake before heading out to explore without your bike today. Hop in a kayak on the private beach at your hotel, paddling westward along the north shore of Atitlán, passing by tiny villages perched on the sides of the sheer ridges that rise up from the azure waters of the lake. If the weather is kind you'll stop for a dip and a cliff jump before cruising into the bay between Tzununá and San Marcos La Laguna. Swap your kayak for hiking boots and climb out of town on the lake trail which connects village to village, treating you to spectacular vistas of volcanoes San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán. Pass through villages and agricultural areas as you follow the shoreline for 1½ hours, eventually returning back to the hotel. Enjoy a well-earned late lunch and then you’ll have the rest of the afternoon free to swim and relax in a hammock or hot tub, while taking in the beautiful views.

Lake Atitlán is such a beautiful spot - so kick back and fully soak in this special place. Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel and then do as you please with the rest of the day. You can head out to explore the area, which includes some of the picturesque villages specialising in traditional Mayan crafts and regional cuisine. You can take a public boat taxi to other parts of the lake, or head out on a hike to nearby towns. You can rent kayaks or paddleboards for more time on the water, or go swimming from the private beach at the hotel.

Take in the views from Casa del Mundo one final time, before taking the boat back to Panajachel and the van to the trailhead for today’s ride. Hop back in the saddle near the town of San José Poaquil and pedal east along the northern side of the Pan-American corridor. Roll through rural areas and small pueblos as you make your way through San Martín Jilotepeque and then onto the Mixco Viejo Mayan ruins. Also known as Jilotepeque Viejo, this Mayan ruin is surrounded by ravines with stone platforms protected by stepped stone walls. Leaving the ruins, head to your hotel for the night to rest up before the final ride tomorrow.

Fuel up on breakfast in the hotel before the final ride of the trip, following a now familiar mix of terrain and stunning volcanic backdrop to the town of Sumpango. Carry on with a gradual downhill towards Pastores, Jocotenango and finally rolling back into the cobblestoned streets of Antigua. The town is at your disposal this evening to toast a successful adventure with dinner and drinks in the lively parts of Antigua.

Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast as your host drops you back off at the airport in Guatemala City in time for your onward flight.