Self-Guided Dirtland Mayan Discovery

Ride through a Mayan Paradise!

About This
Tour

The 12 Day Mayan Motorcycle Discover Tour visits all the most impressive and historic sites in Guatemala. We blend a perfect mix of incredible dual sport riding and cultural immersion and exploration. This tour is very similar to our Guided Dirtland Mayan Discovery Tour, but in the Self-Guided format you go on your own with a GPS and roadbook.

Itinerary

Day 1

Airport Pick-Up

Welcome to Guatemala! We meet you at La Aurora Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City with a private shuttle and bring you to the historic town of Antigua for the night (45 minute drive).

Day 2

Lake Atitlan

4 hours riding, 0-10% off pavement

In the morning we’ll meet at our shop and get you prepared for the tour. We’ll go over the bike and equipment. We’ll talk about the route with you and provide some general guidelines and recommendations for riding in Guatemala.

Today you will depart towards Lake Atitlan, a must-see destination. As you leave town you will zig-zag our way up a volcano to 8,500 feet of elevation, and cross canyons on your way to Lake Atitlan. As you arrive at the lake we’ll see amazing vistas of the coastline and surrounding volcanoes. Tonight you will spend the night in town of Panajachel right by the lake with wonderful views. You can enjoy a drink and watch the sunset come down over the water.

Day 3

Getting Remote

8 hours, 0-30% off pavement

You’ll head out in the morning for nice long day riding North to the Cuchumatanes Mountain Range – a large saw-like range of mountains that cut across the country. Today you’ll experience a wide range of terrain, climates, and cultures. You will have fantastic riding all day with great views.

You will sleep deep in the hills in a small mountain town. It’s a place where the local Mayans wear their traditional woven clothing, and tourists rarely visit.

Day 4

Weaving The Mountains

7 hours, 10-40% off pavement

In the morning, after breakfast on the farm you’ll head back up over the mountains on your way towards Coban. If you like the riding yesterday, you’ll love it today! You’ll wind through farms and mountains all day. The temperature will change with the scenery as you traverse the mountains and pass through many small villages. You will cross through a huge old landslide site as we head toward the center of Guatemala. You’ll stay in very comfortable accommodations with great restaurants on site.

Day 5

Tropical Landscape

7 hours

Today you’ll head North and drop huge elevation into the lowlands of Guatemala. The temperatures will raise and the scenery will become more lush. You’ll load the bikes onto a make-shift barge to cross river Sayaxche. Once across you’ll run some exciting two lane roads through tropical farmlands to the Island of Flores, where we stay for the night.

Day 6

EXPLORE TIKAL

Off day, visiting Tikal

The tremendous Mayan ruins of Tikal are just a short ride from Flores. Tikal is one of the ancient wonders of Central America and is a must-see. You can ride to the park or take a shuttle bus from the Hotel. There are local guides to walk you through the park and explain the history and significance of the pyramids. There is also the chance to see monkeys and many other exotic animals and birds.

Day 7

THE RIO DULCE

8 hours, 0-25% off pavement

You will have nice pavement and dirt all day on your way to Rio Dulce. You can stop at a small eco-farm for a great breakfast. There is a fantastic and very quiet waterfall site with opportunities for swimming. You’ll also have the option of taking a boat ride on the river and visiting the San Felipe Castle which was used to defend the region against pirates. You will spend the night in private bungalows in a jungle lodge on the river.

Day 8

Across the Jungle

7 hours, 75% off pavement

You’ll hug the coast of Lake Isabal on a mix of pavement and gravel roads. Then, as you reach the end of the lake the road begins to narrow and it starts to wind up into the mountains of Altaverapaz. Today will be mostly dirt riding and an incredible thrill. The roads are very twisty with great vistas in every direction. Tonight we will again stay in a Jungle lodge situated alongside a turquoise river.

Day 9

Semuc Champey

8 hours, 0-30% off pavement

Today you’ll have a chance to take a day off the bikes and explore the National Park of Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a popular destination in Guatemala for both tourists and locals. It is a series of cascading waterfalls and crystal clear water deep in the jungle. It’s a prefect opportunity to swim and relax in a very unique environment. At the park you can hike up to a lookout point with a full view down over the falls. There is a cave system to explore, waterfalls, and even natural water-slides. There is also a chance of seeing monkeys!

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Day 10

From Wet to Dry

5 hours riding, 25% off pavement

You’ll start the day at 1,200 feet of elevation in the rainforest and slowly climb up through a cloud forest and into desert-like areas of Guatemala. The roads today are beautiful and wind up and down through the hills of Central Guatemala. You’ll have great climbs, great views, and thrilling descents. You’ll have great photo opportunities, and a strong mix of dirt and pavement sections. You’ll spend the night in a cute hotel in a small local town in Central Guatemala and get a feel for what life is like in the hills.

Day 11

Home to Antigua

5 hours riding, 10-20% off pavement

You are in a very dry area of Guatemala, but as you get on the road the landscape will quickly change as you climb back up in elevation. Today has some spectacular dirt roads that take you South towards Antigua. You’ll have no shortage of ascents and decents today, and you’ll start to see the peaks of 3 volcanoes as you get closer and closer to town.

Once back in Antigua you can stop by the shop to return the bike and pick-up any luggage you may have left with us.

Day 12

Airport Drop-Off

Goodbyes are always sad, but you’re headed to the airport, and we’ll get you there. Our shuttle takes you to the airport for your departure.

Included
Honda Tornado XR250 Motorcycle

Liability Insurance

Wolfman saddlebags

All hotels

GPS with Tracks

Roadbook

Paper Maps

Tool Kit

Local Cell Phone

Airport pickup & drop-off

3rd Party Liability Insurance included on all Tours

Not Included
Airfare

Food & Drinks

Personal travel insurance

Gas

Route Map

Ride Data
Duration: 8-9 Days Riding, 11 Nights, 12 Days Total

Total Distance: 1441 km, 895 miles

Off-Pavement Distance: 230 km, 143 miles

Total Riding Time: 50 Hours

Elevation Range: 7 – 2740 meters, 20 – 9,000 ft

Elevation gain/loss: 30,769 meters, 100,948 ft

Landscapes: Volcanic Lake, High Mountains, Tropical lowlands, Cloud Forest, Jungle, Desert-Like Mountains, Caves & Rivers, Mayan Ruins

Notes: We include a couple alternate tracks in the GPS to add more dirt to your days – but make good decisions about your time of departure in the mornings, days can get long!

Pricing
Per Rider: $2149 USD

Price includes all 11 nights in single occupancy (private) hotel rooms.

Requirements
A prior reservation is needed for one of our Self-Guided tours.

We also require:
– Motorcycle License or Endorsement
– Must be 21+ years of age
– Must have sufficient riding experience to complete a multi-day tour on mixed terrain.

We also require a $1000 USD security deposit on a Credit Card at the time of pick-up. You are responsible for damage to the bike and equipment up to that $1000 limit. The deposit is refunded upon your safe return of the bike and equipment

NOTE: Each tour we offer can be customized depending on your riding ability and your interests. Please contact us with any questions about this tour.

Make A Reservation

This tour is available year round. To make a reservation you can go to our contact page and send us a message, or email us directly at contact@rideguatemala.com. Please include the dates you plan to travel and some information about your riding experience and skill level. We will get back to you promptly and if your dates are available we will link you to our online booking page where you can pay a 50% deposit to secure your reservation.

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