GUATEMALA GRAVITY
MTB Skills Clinic with Ryan Rodriguez
Jumps, Tech & Steeps

Welcome to Guatemala!

Our Guatemala Gravity MTB Skills Clinic with Ryan Rodriguez starts in Antigua, Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its cobblestone streets, colonial-style architecture, vibrant buildings, enchanting courtyards, churches, bustling markets, and lively cultural events, Antigua truly stands out as one of the gems of Latin America. And did we mention it’s surrounded by three volcanoes?

Upon arrival at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, our 2Wheel team will pick you up and transfer you to our Antigua hotel.  After settling in, enjoy some free time to build your bike and relax before this evening’s Welcome Meeting (7pm).

If you arrive early, take some time to explore Antigua. The city is relatively small, and easy to explore on foot.

• Accommodation:  Hotel in Antigua
• Meals Included:  None

Today we head to the Carmona Trails, a mountain bike park and coffee plantation just outside of Antigua, for our first day of mountain biking in Guatemala.

With over 50 km/30 mi of flowing, rolling, blow-your-mind purpose built single-track bliss, and Guatemala’s very own jump park, Carmona Trails is the only system of its kind here in Guatemala. 

We shuttle up the top of the Carmona Trail network (2,500 m/8,500 ft above sea level), then drop into the beginning of an unreal ride down.

After our first downhill ride/warmup, we will have lunch and then start our jump clinic, sending it through the afternoon until the sunset.

Tonight, enjoy free time to explore Antigua. Try some delicious Guatemalan cuisine at a local restaurant or shop at the local artisan markets. Don’t forget to keep an eye on Volcan de Fuego, as its frequent eruptions are visible from almost any part of the city!

• Distance:  20 km / 12 miles
• Max Elevation:  2,500 m / 8,500 ft
• Ascent:  250 m / 800 ft
• Descent:  1,700 m / 5,000 ft
• Accommodation:  Hotel in Antigua
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Today, we head back to the Carmona Trails for a full day of skill building, focused on jumping tables, hips, drops, and doubles. We will also work on cornering and other fundamental bike handling skills.  

In the late afternoon, we head back to Antigua for free time.

• Distance:  20 km / 12 miles
• Max Elevation:  2,500 m / 8,500 ft
• Ascent:  250 m / 800 ft
• Descent:  1,700 m / 5,000 ft
• Accommodation:  Hotel in Antigua
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

The name of today’s ride, ‘La Infinita’, says it all — downhill tracks that seem to go on forever!

The La Infinita ride starts in a region known as ‘Alaska’, a plateau that acts as a geographical divide between the Lake Atitlan region and the surrounding western highlands. At an elevation of approximately 3,400 m/11,500 ft above sea level, breathtaking vistas unfold in every direction, revealing the magnificent Guatemalan Ring of Fire. The exhilarating descent covers a wicked fun mix of terrain, dropping nearly 2,300 m/7,500 ft, from Alaska down to Lake Atitlan.

Tonight we spent the first of two nights in San Juan La Laguna, a picturesque village situated on the western shore of Guatemala’s magical Lake Atitlan.

• Distance:  20 km / 12 miles
• Max Elevation:  3,400 m / 11,500 ft
• Ascent:  270 m / 900 ft
• Descent:  2,300 m / 7,500 ft
• Accommodation:  Hotel in San Juan La Laguna
• Meals Included:  B, L, D, Snacks

Today we enjoy a free day in San Juan La Laguna, at Lake Atitlán.

Known for its rich Mayan culture, traditional weaving and textile industry, eco-friendly practices, and stunning natural beauty, San Juan La Laguna is the perfect place to rest and recharge before the 2nd half of our trip.

And so many options for your free day!

Choose to adventure on Lake Atitlán adventure. Rent kayaks or paddle boards, or go swimming in a watering hole. Or go for a hike.

Immerse yourself if the local Mayan culture. Explore the charming village of San Juan La Laguna, visit the local artisans, or explore the art galleries.

Or just relax enjoy the lakeside views.

• Accommodation: Hotel in San Juan La Laguna
• Meals Included: B, Snacks

Today we shuttle up to nearly 3,000 m/9,500 ft above sea level, high above Lake Atitlan, to experience one of Guatemala’s best MTB rides – Slickrock.

The Slickrock ride starts with a 5 km/3 mi climb on trail and Atitlan slickrock to an area known as ‘El Corazón de las Nubes’, a Mayan ceremonial site AND home to a unique mix of alpine grass, grazing sheep, and agave plants. Here we follow rocky, technical singletrack through pine forests while passing through small Mayan communities. Enjoy breathtaking views of the canyons and surrounding volcanoes.

After a picnic lunch and short shuttle, we continue our descent to Lake Atitlán, with a 1,000 m/3,500 ft downhill. At the end of the Slickrock ride, we may have the opportunity for another sweet drop only minutes from the trailhead.

Tonight was spend the first of two nights in Panajachel, also known as “Pana”.  Located on the northeastern shore of Lake Atitlan, Pana is the main gateway for the lake, and has vibrant artisan markets and a lively nightlife scene. 

• Distance*: 28 km / 17 miles
• Max Elevation*: 3,000 m / 9,500 ft
• Ascent*: 300 m / 990 ft
• Descent*: 1,700 m / 5,200 ft
• Accommodation: Hotel in Panajachel
• Meals Included: B, L, Snacks

*total stats variable

Today, we enjoy two amazing shuttle runs on the eastern rim of Lake Atitlan: La Santa Cat and the San Antonio Maya trail. These remarkable trails trace back centuries, serving as Mayan trade routes that united the prominent Atitlan villages with their eastern counterparts.

The La Santa Cat trail starts above Lake Atitlan, with scenic vistas and technical sections, and finishes with an unforgettable urban downhill through the lakeside village of Santa Catarina Palopo. Have the time of your life as you descend through a series of twisty, narrow staircases and alleys, with friendly local villagers looking on!

The San Antonia Maya trail is arguably the oldest of all the footpaths into the Atitlan basin. It is also one of the most technical trails of our trip, as centuries of foot traffic have worn steps into the rock, creating an almost Inca Trail-like feel, as you drop 400+ m/1,500 ft to the lake.

Tonight enjoy another night in Pana. 

• Distance:  28 km / 17 miles
• Max Elevation:  2,895 m / 9,500 ft
• Ascent:  300 m / 990 ft
• Descent:  1,700 m / 5,200 ft
• Accommodation:  Hotel in Panajachel
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

Today we travel back to the beautiful town of Antigua where we started our journey.

Along the way, we make a stop at the Mayan ruins of Iximche, also known as the Tecpan Ruins. This remarkable ancient Mayan archaeological site holds great significance as one of the most important Pre-Columbian sites in the country. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the ruins’ plazas, temples and monuments.

After a delicious local lunch, we continue onto Antigua to spend the night.

• Accommodation:  Hotel in Antigua
• Meals Included:  B, L, Snacks

For our final day of riding in Guatemala, we head back to the infamous Carmona Trails for another day of epic biking. Dial in your jumping with some final coaching tips from Ryan, and get stoked to bring your freshly-honed MTB skills back to your home trails and race runs.

Tonight, celebrate the trip during a farewell dinner with the whole crew!

• Distance: 20 km /13 miles
• Max Elevation: 2,552 m / 8,373 ft
• Descent: 1,500 m / 4,600 ft
• Ascent: 1,000 m / 3,300 ft
• Accommodation: Hotel in Antigua
• Meals Included: B, L, D, Snacks

Today we will look back on our incredible Guatemala Gravity MTB Skills Clinic trip, do some last minute shopping around Antigua, and get your bikes packed up and ready to go home. Our 2Wheel team will take you to La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City and say goodbye until your next 2Wheel Epix Trip!

Meals Included:  B