Project Life
Charity Challenge in Guatemala

The Itinerary

The Challenge will be undertaken with the full support of Old Town Outfitters (www.bikeguatemala.com) whose professional team have over 20 years experience in Guatemala. There mission statement is basically:

"...to get you out there off the beaten track and out of the tourist shuttles. In doing so we are committed to the preservation of the Guatemalan environment and culture, and supporting the local economies." Matt Hartell, Old Town Outfitters

See up to date info on the Volcano Challenge Blog

Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala

Upon arrival in Guatemala City we pick you up and transfer back to Antigua and check into our hotel.

Accommodation: Las Camelias
Meals: N/A

Day 2: Acatenango

The ascent of Guatemala’s third highest volcano, begins with a bumpy ride for one hour to Soledad at 7,680 feet. The climb is quite steep, but continually interesting, as we pass through four different zones of vegetation beginning in the cornfields of La Soledad and traversing bamboo-clad slopes, then cloud forest and finally pine forest, before reaching the summit cone. We plan to have lunch at the summit. The view from the 12,723 foot-high summit is very impressive, with all of our ‘Magnificent four’ volcanoes visible - from distant Tajumulco to the nearby and spectacularly active Fuego and Pacaya. This promises to be one of the more remarkable places you will ever have lunch, with the sight of Fuego blowing rocks and dense black clouds into the stratosphere being particularly unforgettable.

Accommodation: Our exclusive Acatenango Campsite
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Down Acatenango and transfer to lake

A couple hours back down off the mountain and back to Antigua in time for a big lunch. We’ll get cleaned up and head out to Lake Atitlan where we will have time to enjoy the nightlife of Panajachel.

Accommodation: Hotel Utz Jay
Meals: B,L,D

Day 4: San Pedro Volcano and transfer to Xela

In the early morning, as dawn creeps across the lake, we take a fast boat to the small town of San Pedro. After breakfast here, we drive for 15 minutes to the start of the trail at 1,800m/5,906ft. The path is steep in places as it winds its way, firstly through a large plantation of coffee and then between cornfields, before entering thick cloud forest. The summit of San Pedro affords us a superb view of this truly beautiful place. We take our lunch on the summit before making the descent back to San Pedro where we return to Panajachel and catch our transport to Xela to prepare for our next adventure.

Accommodation: Hotel Modelo
Meals: B,L,D

Day 5: Tajumulco Volcano

We make an early start for the 30 mile drive to Tuican, which lies close to the border of Mexico and is the starting point for our climb on Tajumulco, the highest of Guatemala’s volcanoes. The trekking today is not difficult but we do have a longish day. We begin traversing beautiful forest trails, and then a pine studded ridge to a shoulder below the final summit cone, reached in 4 hours from our start point. From here it is a steep climb of 20–30 minutes to the lowest point of the crater rim followed by a short scramble to the highest point in Central America at 4219m/13,842ft. The summit views over the surrounding countryside and eastwards along the volcanic chain are quite breathtaking. We descend to a very pleasant and sheltered campsite with great views.

Accommodation: Campsite
Meals: B,L,D

Day 6: Down off Tajumulco and transfer back to Antigua

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head out from the campsite and make our way back down this beautiful mountain and head back to Antigua. It’s a long day back from Tajumulco but time permitting we’ll stop for a few breaks to stretch the legs and maybe even get a chance to stop in at some smaller Mayan ruins on the way. Once back in Antigua we’ll head out for some dinner.

Accommodation: Las Camelias
Meals: B,L,D

Day 7: Pacaya Volcano day hike

The active Pacaya (2,552m/8,373ft.) is set in its own national park, which also contains the Amatitlan lake. Pacaya is a storybook volcano with a continuous plume of smoke drifting from its summit. It is a 1½ hour drive to the trailhead beneath the peak, beyond which our walk starts out very easily, through delightful woodland. The ascent culminates in a final, steeper section of trail on cinder scree. The ascent is neither difficult nor long, taking around 2 hours. The prevailing state of Pacaya’s volcanic activity will dictate how close we can get to the edge of its summit crater.

In the afternoon we will head out to see the projects nearby.

Accommodation: Las Camelias
Meals: B,L,D