tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42429450365302344992024-02-07T20:01:29.179-08:00Old Town OutfittersOld Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-80672183105251903832016-09-14T15:32:00.000-07:002016-09-14T15:32:23.934-07:00Digital Storytelling with Peace Works Travel<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">In early
August, </span><a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/"><span lang="EN-US">Old Town Outfitters</span></a><span lang="EN-US"> had the privilege of hosting a group of
students from Harvard-Westlake high school (Los Angeles) on an itinerary
designed by </span><a href="https://peaceworkstravel.com/"><span lang="EN-US">Peace Works Travel</span></a><span lang="EN-US">. As a group of budding documentary filmmakers,
they were guided by their interest in finding stories they could tell. In order
to do so, their itinerary consisted largely of meetings and interactions with
Guatemalan non-profit organizations like </span><a href="http://www.dlgcoffee.org/"><span lang="EN-US">De La Gente</span></a><span lang="EN-US">
and </span><a href="http://starfish-impact.org/"><span lang="EN-US">Starfish Impact</span></a><span lang="EN-US">. This trip was the culmination of a digital
storytelling class, so for most of the kids, it was not just a travel
experience, but also meant daily hours spent on project work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Peace Works
offers socially conscious education travel, and in the past has successfully
conducted travel programs to destinations such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Rwanda
– not the first countries that usually come to mind when you think about school
travel. The intention behind this becomes more apparent when you consider one
of the key questions the class is driven by on these trips, which is how do
societies afflicted by genocide continue to evolve in the aftermath? It is in
this context that Guatemala, with a past troubled by an almost four decade-long
civil war, became a destination of interest – all the more so given the amount
of influence the U.S. exerted on
Guatemala’s domestic affairs in the 20<sup>th</sup> century. (For
further reference, the </span><a href="http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB4/"><span lang="EN-US">National Security Archive at George
Washington University provides online access to a number of declassified CIA
documents detailing its activities in Guatemala.</span></a><span lang="EN-US">) The class explicitly aims to trace the origin
of the Guatemalan civil war back to one of its root causes, namely a post-war
U.S. foreign policy driven by interventionism abroad, and really asks the
students to ponder some of the more difficult questions about the consequences
of such a policy. Not exactly business as usual for a group of U.S. visitors to
Guatemala.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Peace
Works’ founder and director, Alethea Tyner Paradis, elaborated on all of this
and more during our initial meeting over lunch. Going over their itinerary for
the week, we learned that one of the scheduled activities had fallen through on
short notice, and now a few hours had opened up on a Tuesday afternoon. Brainstorming
about potential alternatives, we mentioned that we knew a civil war survivor, one
of our local guides in the Quiché department. Alethea was excited about the
idea of having the students hear a first-hand account from an eye-witness, and so
we decided to set up a meeting. Fortunately, Diego was very open to the idea
and agreed immediately. Living in a little village outside of Acul, Quiché, we
first met him while fine-tuning the route and logistics of our </span><a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/nebaj-to-todos-santos/"><span lang="EN-US">Nebaj to Todos Santos trek</span></a><span lang="EN-US">. Apart from accommodating our
groups in his home and accompanying them on the second day of the trek, he has
also been a valuable source of local history.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Obviously,
no single blog post is going to do justice to the complexity of the Guatemalan
civil war. To provide at least some background for the context at hand, it is
helpful to know that Nebaj (full name: Santa Maria Nebaj) is one of three towns
generally understood to form the Ixil community, named after the region’s
prevalent Mayan ethnicity. Nebaj in particular was the site of one of the war’s
worst massacres against the indigenous population, while the area surrounding
these towns in general saw some of the war’s most intense fighting between 1980
and 1982. Diego was eight years old when the guerrilla first came to his village
to garner support for their cause, and barely a teenager when the killing
began. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Returning
to present day now, we were able to use the exhibition space at a local
cultural center in Antigua as a location for the meeting. In another fortuitous
turn of events, Richie, one of our former full-time guides, had inaugurated an
exhibition of his paintings just a few days prior. He is self-taught and has
been painting for years, all while working on our trips and group itineraries.
Last year, he caught a big break that afforded him a chance to go ahead with
the decision to become an artist full time. The exhibit entailed a series of
works called “Voices of the genocide”, which provided a fitting backdrop for
the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Veteran
television and documentary producer Jeff MacIntyre, who accompanied the group
in a mentoring capacity, took charge to create a genuine interview setting: Once
the scene was professionally lit, Jeff engaged with his interview subjects
first on a general level, to provide some historic context, then gradually on a
more personal level. Diego also brought his cousin Santos along for the
occasion. A few years older than Diego, his memories of the period were even
more detailed. Over the course of two hours, the two recounted their
experiences. About first encountering the guerrilla recruiters, Diego
remembered hearing all the promises being made to the village’s farmers and
their families, about how political change was sweeping the country and how
they were all going to benefit materially and economically. Then, at a later
stage, how both he and Santos first became involved themselves, being made to
act as messengers and errand boys. Finally, how the guerrilla began engaging in
clandestine hit-and-run operations, growing bolder until the military
retaliated, quickly surpassing anything that could be considered even remotely
proportionate. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The longer the
fighting went on, the more desperate the measures employed by both sides
became: the military eventually burned down Diego’s village and all crops in
the area, implementing a now notorious scorched-earth campaign designed to
flush out guerrilla combatants. A common Guatemalan expression goes “quitarle
el agua al pez”, which basically means that if the fish won’t bite, just drain
the pond in order to catch it. The guerrilla, faced with thinning ranks,
resorted to forcing ever younger men and youth into picking up arms. Diego was
twelve years old, when his father was faced with the choice of either handing
him over to join the fight or being shot to death. The military, in turn, did
not stop at food and shelter when it came to metaphorically draining the pond.
Soon, a mere suspicion of conspiring against the state was enough to be
considered guilty by association and executed on the spot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end,
both Diego and Santos were among the lucky ones who made it through this period
alive. Being survivors, however, also meant having to live without closure for
the losses they endured, as the remains of multiple of their family members are
still buried in unmarked mass graves to this day. Steps are being undertaken to
enable the process of identifying and transferring the remains, but there is a
considerable paper trail involved, and political support is practically
non-existent. Any assistance people like Diego receive in this matter comes
from private initiatives. Guatemalan administrations elected since the peace
accords in 1996 have been ineffectual about coming to terms with the nation’s
bloody past, not to mention making amends for it. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hearing
firsthand from eye-witnesses really gave the Peace Works students a palpable
idea not just of the gradual escalation of the conflict, but also how civilians
unwittingly were drawn into a conflict that turned into full-blown armed
warfare before they had a chance to really understand that there was an underlying
ideological divide in the first place. This is of course especially true in the
case of Diego and Santos, who were merely kids who did not know any better. It
is not often that you get the chance to hear somebody talk about what
experiencing war is like. Even rarer is someone like Diego, who can do so in a
way that is neither bitter nor depressing, but rather gracious. As remarkable
as this is, it makes sense once you realize that he has long made a habit of
it: Once they had families of their own, both he and Santos have
been very open to them about their past </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">from the start</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. "I try to bring light to the dark I lived through", Diego says.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They were
so approachable, and the students so intrigued, that the group continued for
another 45 minutes of Q&A in a nearby park after the cultural center had
closed. For us, in terms of studying history and maybe learning a thing or two
in the process, the issue is now an abstract one, to be treated very
rationally. For those who lived through it, however, it will always be very
specific and emotional. This is both easy to forget and hard to relate to. But
the longer you listen, the more it becomes apparent that sharing their
testimony has really become the best way to turn what could have resulted in
crippling trauma into something positive and constructive. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is certainly part of the lasting impression
the Peace Works students will take away from their visit, according to some of
their feedback during the farewell dinner on the last night of their stay. Even
our lead guide Arnold, who was with the group every step of the way, explained
that he learned new things about Guatemala. So congratulations to Peace Works
on a job well done! We at Old Town were certainly happy to be able to help with
making this trip happen, and are already looking forward to future trips.</span></span>Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-14737809062031352322016-08-18T13:13:00.000-07:002016-08-18T13:13:59.305-07:00Epic Single track Ride at Lake Atitlan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hot off the press! Here's a short teaser of what you could be doing this weekend. This is one of our favorite mountain tours out at Lake Atitlan or Guatemala in general! But don't take my word for it, watch the video and see for yourself.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UsGn5gNd96s/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UsGn5gNd96s?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
The riding at Lake Atitlan is second to none, end of story! If its not the epic lake side singletrack, the big lake views, or the stellar company you'd be riding with, it could be the living Mayan culture you are riding alongside, the monster staircase DH run through Santa Catarina, the fresh lunch spread and cold beers waiting at the bottom. Whatever it is....it is epic and you should get on <a href="http://www.adventureguatemala.com/" target="_blank">Old Town's </a>next tour. Combine this with other rides here at the lake, a day sea kayaking and hiking along the shoreline and a relaxed night at the world famous hotel <a href="http://lacasadelmundo.com/" target="_blank">La Casa del Mundo</a>.....another one of our favs.Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-85085949995675281942016-05-12T09:25:00.000-07:002016-08-08T09:42:18.418-07:00Guatemalan Mountain Bike Adventure with Hans Rey and Tom Oehler<br />
Check out this sweet video on <a href="http://www.pinkbike.com/news/guatemalas-highlands-hans-rey-tom-oehler-video-2015.html" target="_blank">Pink Bike</a> of our Guatemalan backcounty mountain bike adventure touring at its best! When Old Town Outfitters got the call from world reknown mountain bike legend <a href="http://hansrey.com/" target="_blank">Hans Rey</a> to help he and fellow Red Bull rider Thomas Oehler put together an epic multi-day mountain bike tour we dug deep to find the sweetest remtote single-track Guatemala has to offer. The riding did not disappoint! <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8P_lDaqCtOU" width="800"></iframe><br />
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We of course started off by highlighting the great trails that the Antigua Valley has to offer as well as the famous purpose built mountain bike park out at <a href="http://www.elzur.com/" target="_blank">El Zur</a>. The real riding however started once we got to the Cuchumantan mountains in Western Guatemala. There's a gold mine of single-track out in them hills if you just know how to find it and link them together. This is something that Old Town Outfitters has been doing for nearly 20 years. We know how to find the best of the best terrain and pull the logisitics together so you only need to show up and ride. We pack the cars, buy all the food, make all the reservations, guide and of course, keep the beers cold!<br />
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The trip was one for the books ful of huge epic days, monster descents and super rocky technical trail. We pushed further and deeper into the mountains than any other biker before being sure that the treads we left on the ground were first tracks. If you want to retrace this epic mountain bike tour of Guatemala or plot your own be sure to <a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/book-a-trip/" target="_blank">get in touch with us</a>.<br />
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It was not all smiles for miles and cold beers at the end of a long day of riding as the true purpose of the trip to Guatemala was to support Hans Rey's NGO "<a href="http://www.wheels4life.org/" target="_blank">Wheels for Life"</a> whose mission is to provide transportation to folks in need in developing countries. The idea that something as simply as a donated bicycle which provides someone the necessary transportation to get to school or work can be life changing to those individuals. Wheels for Life donated over 25 bicycles to school kids in a village outside of Antigua, Guatemala. Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-24176070649377593152016-02-16T11:59:00.000-08:002016-02-16T12:05:54.003-08:00A 5,000,000,000 Star Experience<div style="text-align: center;">
Antigua to Atitlan Safari Trek</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Our sister company <a href="http://www.trekguatemala.com/" target="_blank">Trek Guatemala</a> has just
returned from its first customer trip, trekking from Antigua to Lake
Atitlan. A vision that was crafted from
a couple nights drinking bourbon around the campfire out in the back country,
brought the idea to connect the two tourist centers together via a well thought
out, carefully planned, community/culturally based trekking route. While the walking itself is pretty
spectacular the well-appointed safari style tent camps are down right mind
blowing. Trek Guatemala wanted to create a rewarding and engaging trekking
route while at the same time offering all the creature comforts that are
typically forgotten about on an ordinary trekking holiday. Think hot showers
and queen size beds with down duvets! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The current trek is a three day two night
experience starting just a few kilometers outside of Antigua. It was carefully hand crafted to combine
scenic trail passing through culturally interesting areas with rich community
interactions and stunning campsite placements.
Day one has the group cresting out high above the Antigua valley before
dropping in the Acatenango valley well known for its great coffee. The group
walks through working coffee farms and then climbs up to a seemingly forgotten Mayan
village at the end of a dirt road directly facing Acatenango and active Fuego
volcanoes. This is the “Fuego” camp,
fittingly named after one of the two volcanoes that dominate the view. With a little luck sipping wine around the
campfire you will get a front row seat to one of Fuego’s famous lava eruptions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Employing locals from the villages along
the route ensures that there is always an opportunity to gain some insight into
the lives of those who live in the area but to also give back to the
communities in which they pass through.
The group is always accompanied by a local guide who along the trek can
point out and share their personal experiences in the area, be it the hardships
of 35 years of civil war to peasant subsistence farming life. They have also trained women and men from
neighboring villages at each campsite as cooks, guides and camp helpers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Day two of the trek takes you through lush
cloud forest and up high on a ridge that separates the more arid highland
plateau and the lush Pacific slope.
Traversing the ridge there are amble opportunities to see bird life and
other animals. After a full day of
walking the group walks into the second overnight camp called the “Agua”, named
for its huge views over the distant Lake Atitlan, your next and final
objective. The campsite is nestled in a
hill top forest just outside a small village. Part of the philosophy with Trek
Guatemala’s vision was to create a rewarding cultural experience with the
people of Guatemala. In this village
there is a women’s weaving cooperative that create textiles on the centuries
old fashion back strap looms. These
textiles are then gathered together and taken to such places as Antigua or
Panajachel where they are sold to tourists.
Here you will be able to see first-hand how these wonderful textiles are
made and have an opportunity to buy direct from the weavers themselves leaving
a greater economic impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Leaving “Agua” camp on the morning of day
three, the trail dives down through beet, corn, broccoli and bean fields and
into shaded coffee and avocado farms on its way down to the Madre Vieja
river. It’s a steep climb up and out of
the river valley to the top of the shelf overlooking Lake Atitlan. The reward of nearly three full days of
walking is evident as the group crests out over the lake and starts making its
descent to the water’s edge. Moving now
through a distinctly different landscape the group drops steeply and steadily
on the rocky trails overlooking Lake Atitlan.
There is an opportunity for a stop off at a Mayan Altar in a cave above
the town of San Antonio. Continuing down
here the trail as it winds closer to town begins to weave through terraced onion
and flower fields where local farmers channel the limited water into their
terraces based on an age old water sharing practice.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Arriving to the lake trekkers can decide to
either pack it in the bus and head back to Antigua or stay out on the lake at
one of the many hotels there. Trek
Guatemala is in process to continue the trek from Atitlan across the altiplano
to Quetzaltenango locally known as Xela.
For now however, they are offering extensions to the Hotel La Casa del
Mundo in Jaibalito where trekkers can kayak or relax in a swinging in a hammock
lakeside. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">For about $150 per person per day, the trek
is all inclusive. All you have to do is
show up, lace up the ole boots and take in the sites of the trail. The well-oiled machine of Trek Guatemala will
do all the heavy lifting and logistical planning from getting you in from the
airport to setting up the camps to keeping the beers cold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Old Town Outfitters is excited to be
partnering with Trek Guatemala to help travelers find this unique, handcrafted
trekking one-of-a-kind cultural trekking experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-83271780512388537352016-01-22T14:19:00.000-08:002016-01-22T14:21:23.523-08:00The Best Restaurants in Antigua Guatemala - OTO Staff Picks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you find yourself visiting our lovely town of Antigua, Guatemala, you will be glad to know there is no lack of great restaurant options. Wonder around the cobble-stone streets and you will be able to find everything from local cuisine, Italian, Japanese, French, German, and so many more. A few of us here in the Old Town Outfitter's office decided to share a few of our top picks around town. We hope you try a few and enjoy your visit! </span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pitaya.bar" target="_blank">Pitaya Juice Bar</a>. Fresh fruit smoothies
(liquados) are popular throughout Guatemala, Pitaya serves some of the best
I’ve found so far. They also have a simple menu of fresh, healthy, and
affordable breakfast and lunch options. My recommendations are the Chia Mia
smoothie and the Mr. Aguacate wrap. Smoothies: Q20-30, Wraps: Q30-35</span></div>
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<a href="http://metiz.com.gt/restaurante/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">Metiz Delicatessen and Bistro</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">. This small French
restaurant has become one of my go-to spots among Antigua’s vast pool of
choices. I have yet to try something I did not like on the menu and the staff
is always friendly. It is hard for me to narrow down the choices, but my top
two recommendations are the large salad (probably my favorite salad in Antigua)
and the Croque Monsieur sandwich. Average dinner: Q60-80 per person</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Rincon-Tipico-682648765104621/?rf=122292497924315" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">Rincon Tipico Comedor</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">. This local restaurant has
grown over the years from a closet sized lunch spot to a sizeable dining room
that accommodates large groups. There is a reason they’ve grown over the years,
they offer good portion plates at a super affordable price. Ask for the day’s
options and then choose your meat and two sides. My suggestion: start with a side of guacamole and chips for
your table – hard to go wrong there. Lunch: Q30 including drink</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywD5KKGyaVKwLnU2DjD7HVqrZVUPTfTHMmjMEJhVCd6zQ3pGAe9SnJ7hRX9xJIa73Af8scRhSx_NZX8Cyeb101VpGMxa0RryHaPGoSZOG-2CfTcoHT5opsphii8K1tarvNI6IxlB-k4uG/s1600/Matt_bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywD5KKGyaVKwLnU2DjD7HVqrZVUPTfTHMmjMEJhVCd6zQ3pGAe9SnJ7hRX9xJIa73Af8scRhSx_NZX8Cyeb101VpGMxa0RryHaPGoSZOG-2CfTcoHT5opsphii8K1tarvNI6IxlB-k4uG/s200/Matt_bike.jpg" width="126" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matt's Picks</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Cactus-Grill-288444471225255/" target="_blank">Cactus Grill</a>. Mexican style tacos, cold Mexican beers
and margaritas!</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Need I say more?</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some of the best guacamole in town and do not pass
up the Shrimp and Bacon burrito!</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.25pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hbistro" target="_blank">Hector's Bistro</a>. An Antigua establishment for a
decade. What started as a buddy’s
(Hector) word of mouth restaurant without a name or sign out front has come to
define small, quaint well thought out dining in Antigua. Don't miss the original Antigua open faced steak
sandwich and sweet potato fries! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Quinchos-Ceviches/224796080890851" target="_blank">Quincho's Street Ceviches</a>. Starting Friday afternoon through the weekend
you can be sure to catch someone you know out on the street fighting off last
night’s bender with a 'picosito' (Antigua style prepared beer) and a shrimp
ceviche.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: 0px;"> _______________________________________________</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPY1AziMpNERLw7i36dPKcqFXNIVlKH592I345roEtzui-y9gvxtagxXe2wCLBR5qYpAgKuZNcza9AE4GpfKMKxb7WDkFsJWbIXzhg8IzvcFccMmzVcPw-Z_m0Gnu2mErAnHhK9CsOzuW/s1600/Reinhard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPY1AziMpNERLw7i36dPKcqFXNIVlKH592I345roEtzui-y9gvxtagxXe2wCLBR5qYpAgKuZNcza9AE4GpfKMKxb7WDkFsJWbIXzhg8IzvcFccMmzVcPw-Z_m0Gnu2mErAnHhK9CsOzuW/s200/Reinhard.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reinhard's Picks</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://www.saberico.com.gt/" target="_blank">Saberico</a>: If you like choices, get a load of
their extensive menu. Even vegetarians may have a hard time deciding,
which is usually not a problem they encounter in Guatemalan restaurants. Also
great: the selection of comida típica. Try the authentic Guatemalan enchilada,
you’ll see that it is a far cry from the Mexican variety!</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/casasantotomasantigua/" target="_blank">Casa Santo Tomás</a>: The best part about a smaller
menu is that you can focus on doing fewer dishes exceptionally well. Casa Santo
Tomás is great for entrées like spicy chicken with fennel seeds and Guatemalan
specialties like Suban’ik, an aromatic stew that is served with sliced, fried
tamales on the side. Extra plus: One of a handful of places that serves locally
brewed craft beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d2365832-Reviews-La_Canche-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" target="_blank">La Canche</a>: Not only is this a hole in the wall,
you have to enter walking through the adjacent mom-and-pop store before finding
a seat in the back room. Menu? Don’t look for one, it doesn’t exist. Just ask
one of the little old ladies what’s for dinner today. Whether it’s chicken soup
or Pepián, it’s bound to be simple, hearty, and a Guatemalan staple. If you go,
make sure you come prepared to burst the bubble that Antigua can be.</span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-3548355618974082872015-10-16T16:05:00.000-07:002015-10-16T16:13:29.885-07:00Nebaj to Todos Santos: All Saints' Day Special Offer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">High season
is about to begin and we are kicking it off with an Old Town Outfitters special!
We have been hiking and biking out in the <a href="http://www.adventureguatemala.blogspot.com/2015/07/nebaj-to-todos-santos-trek.html" target="_blank">Cuchumatanes</a> in the past, but now we
have finally wrapped our heads around a unique trek and made it work. “Nebaj to
Todos Santos, Hut-to-Hut” is a 6-day, 5-night hike across a roughly 70km
stretch of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, heading west from the center of the Ixil
triangle in Quiché all the way to Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Huehuetenango. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHJrC6TQU5VZSDTS4vcgYUXbizV5Ajc7UPon7nNi_rDUU8zBjIOlfX2BvleFYfwDY5y7QjeRH5DYJHKHV5y8jxzW6VWqvHX3fsD8En_jv7I5xAC760Wd2Vnq6lC67eqb5yq3d0AisOtnI/s1600/Todos+Santos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHJrC6TQU5VZSDTS4vcgYUXbizV5Ajc7UPon7nNi_rDUU8zBjIOlfX2BvleFYfwDY5y7QjeRH5DYJHKHV5y8jxzW6VWqvHX3fsD8En_jv7I5xAC760Wd2Vnq6lC67eqb5yq3d0AisOtnI/s320/Todos+Santos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Not
only are you hiking through one of Guatemala’s most serene and remote regions, rich
in culturally and historically significant references – you have the chance to
do so in time for one of the most important holidays of the year: Día de Todos
Los Santos, or All Saints’ Day. Every year on November 1<sup>st</sup>, Todos
Santos hosts some of the more remarkable and memorable All Saints’ Day
festivities you can experience. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsbsNzdwctLEMxMBDfGgGwFoYx4AdIkFOLcmHIOYx-J4SbKpppe4lEU4344sy9UajJoHCuIzximhdO_PUZE9m_kyOj8YScJkaMJHZv-jU6QXhIije3xf29qI7NbFibEgooz_1SYdrZyW1/s1600/Todos+Santos_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsbsNzdwctLEMxMBDfGgGwFoYx4AdIkFOLcmHIOYx-J4SbKpppe4lEU4344sy9UajJoHCuIzximhdO_PUZE9m_kyOj8YScJkaMJHZv-jU6QXhIije3xf29qI7NbFibEgooz_1SYdrZyW1/s320/Todos+Santos_6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This predominantly Maya Mam town is known
throughout Guatemala for the distinctive traditional garb that the locals wear
year round. And for All Saints’ Day, they bring out their Sunday best, so to
speak. Topping off the festivities is the horse race, an adrenaline-inducing
spectacle fueled by the fact that most of the riders are drinking and have been
doing so since All Hallows’ Eve, i.e. the night before. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSDz5gu1PnErxmOBSQ-_TqI48mDqwHfuv85gU8p4ngUePZkr4skzRxjxLf1Qb87437JvF7NdR3b9NmxXuRwZDefCxIekozbsKPvvUoSLLBFGjqTMQJrHn6-eRXV58ueMDX4uSfotKJ9Ve/s1600/Todos+Santos_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSDz5gu1PnErxmOBSQ-_TqI48mDqwHfuv85gU8p4ngUePZkr4skzRxjxLf1Qb87437JvF7NdR3b9NmxXuRwZDefCxIekozbsKPvvUoSLLBFGjqTMQJrHn6-eRXV58ueMDX4uSfotKJ9Ve/s320/Todos+Santos_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">After the relative
craziness of All Saints’ Day, things calm down somewhat on the following day,
when people gather to honor the deceased on Día de los Muertos (Day of the
Dead). You don’t have to participate in the race, just being there to watch and
take it all in will make for an incomparable adventure and an unforgettable
experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1RfxZBQ0eFeaYENMUMYSfvNW3uMfR7UP0CGet1d9bNPJjVh9oSaWdtCX6o9xbs_xLxPQ-wjaHC0IgTpyyz-mA-_baoLw_R1k7U5Lx44lfrcEPMQpcuX-FrPCCTNf97iATUl31Rmz6Tkh/s1600/Todos+Santos_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1RfxZBQ0eFeaYENMUMYSfvNW3uMfR7UP0CGet1d9bNPJjVh9oSaWdtCX6o9xbs_xLxPQ-wjaHC0IgTpyyz-mA-_baoLw_R1k7U5Lx44lfrcEPMQpcuX-FrPCCTNf97iATUl31Rmz6Tkh/s320/Todos+Santos_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Would you
like to know more about this trip? Here is the summary from our Adventure
Guatemala website: 6 days of “out there” trekking across the remote departments
of Quiché and Huehuetenango. This trek traverses areas only accessible by
foot. We’ll walk through small, seemingly forgotten Mayan villages of
people that were displaced by nearly 35 years of civil war. Along the way we
stay in small community run hostels and/or hotels and break bread with local
families. Much of the route is above 10,000 ft. across the Guatemalan
altiplano. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkbjXfjQGIQcKd8PbVpSCBmvHa4ZIyzn5JefKrhQlgTbHz1vMvFJUG4UnsTCPXesGQCRnRg9eG83SkQ-HmJydOwz1ZGC-X4qNjMo-kHQfJXbLel72e2bgkmH2wvEwgL6II8pHIPtfFYIn/s1600/Todos+Santos_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkbjXfjQGIQcKd8PbVpSCBmvHa4ZIyzn5JefKrhQlgTbHz1vMvFJUG4UnsTCPXesGQCRnRg9eG83SkQ-HmJydOwz1ZGC-X4qNjMo-kHQfJXbLel72e2bgkmH2wvEwgL6II8pHIPtfFYIn/s320/Todos+Santos_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We offer 2
options along this classic route; both treks start in the Ixil Mayan stronghold
of Nebaj and finish in the remote mountain village of Todos Santos, famous for
its “Day of the Dead” festivities. On our hut-to-hut option we rely each
night on the hospitality of the local communities we pass through. We will
spend 4 nights in community hostels that are set up across the highlands.
We’ll sit around the hearth of a local home and break bread with a local
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L02PQ9P2rV2MgQSYD8Sud7_Lftm2M3qUH0HQUOPWQVmtijJBEf-Venf2kNeYEy3Zx3tfql_jxQnv4Am1qnOgwqenQMpbhVsDGZjTiXoy3C7JzUNwcETMVlC-OEvA5N8M3BksPqQdLtOI/s1600/Todos+Santos_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L02PQ9P2rV2MgQSYD8Sud7_Lftm2M3qUH0HQUOPWQVmtijJBEf-Venf2kNeYEy3Zx3tfql_jxQnv4Am1qnOgwqenQMpbhVsDGZjTiXoy3C7JzUNwcETMVlC-OEvA5N8M3BksPqQdLtOI/s320/Todos+Santos_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Our hut and
hotel route plies much of the same route with a couple detours to visit 2
boutique hotels nestled in the area. This is the perfect mix between the
more rustic hut to hut and full luxury. We’ll spend two nights in
community hostels and 2 nights in beautiful unique boutique hotels; one a
working artisanal cheese farm and the other a horseback riding center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalOCPga2bHnm2cPa5MaAxfsZukclnL5KGtft21T-RrJ-Aoj11_0NI_8WtYg6NFmyjuYOaTUqzgexXTYWPJhVg0BXPpOfRjMVGDGOoGmrxYH_K5SWiFE2JksAV-6NWAKc8flH7PdELWGEu/s1600/Todos+Santos_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalOCPga2bHnm2cPa5MaAxfsZukclnL5KGtft21T-RrJ-Aoj11_0NI_8WtYg6NFmyjuYOaTUqzgexXTYWPJhVg0BXPpOfRjMVGDGOoGmrxYH_K5SWiFE2JksAV-6NWAKc8flH7PdELWGEu/s320/Todos+Santos_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Can you
think of a better way to spend Halloween this year? Thought so. Get <o:p></o:p></span>in touch
with us at <a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/nebaj-to-todos-santos/" target="_blank">adventureguatemala.com</a>, and do so sooner rather than later! We only
have 4 spots left on this trip, and Todos Santos is a popular destination this
time of the year.</div>
Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-8548501727008956552015-08-10T12:25:00.000-07:002015-10-16T16:08:57.514-07:00Chasing the elusive Quetzal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPPjSBSIKDjP8G4hp_BG0w5zIW370HjDjgLhNaC4gdC4tLvicJLD1wGnXcRH59Cd6hMRgLWpTyaKogFhiWooGzNCvvWfh_wfmOQIYr_dCZjFN0iE7O5VspxnQmfg2hFabymXCWNJPhsyt/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPPjSBSIKDjP8G4hp_BG0w5zIW370HjDjgLhNaC4gdC4tLvicJLD1wGnXcRH59Cd6hMRgLWpTyaKogFhiWooGzNCvvWfh_wfmOQIYr_dCZjFN0iE7O5VspxnQmfg2hFabymXCWNJPhsyt/s320/IMG_2712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This past weekend we headed back up into the Sierra de las
Minas to scope out logistics to re-open our "<a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/trail-of-the-quetzal/" target="_blank">Trail
of the Quetzal</a>" trip. Our trek into the sierra is a unique
opportunity to get out in to very remote and pristine Guatemalan backcountry.
The Sierra encompasses more than %60 of Guatemala's remaining cloud forest.
It is home to the highest concentration of the elusive Quetzal, the
national bird, icon and currency, tapirs, monkeys and other large mammals.
The park is the key attraction of the conservation organization<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.defensores.org.gt/" target="_blank">Defensores de la Naturaleza</a> who are largely responsible
for its creation as well as management. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8ZvxymHTAuYBhDg9b0cgGwYYi8RgfoQ_-mH9Ng0P10J9tAxnmcMaFW8WiAfOBRalYZgdUC69KBSmPuIlSvZgdYQ4i4tZSJoSZyKgFZU2x1X4_73wMIG1glEG_OgPIE5teBx42HSo_lS4/s1600/IMG_2702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8ZvxymHTAuYBhDg9b0cgGwYYi8RgfoQ_-mH9Ng0P10J9tAxnmcMaFW8WiAfOBRalYZgdUC69KBSmPuIlSvZgdYQ4i4tZSJoSZyKgFZU2x1X4_73wMIG1glEG_OgPIE5teBx42HSo_lS4/s320/IMG_2702.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Working with the Defensores, we have
create two different trips into the park. Both trips start in a local
community high up in the mountains at the base of the park. One itinerary
is a three day trip will focus of those who want to get into the core area of
the park called the "zona nucleo" where we will have great chances to
see Quetzales. The "zona nucleo" stays high up on the ridge in
prime cloud forest. We will take two separate day hikes out to beautiful
rock formations and high points to get an amazing view out over the park
dominated by what seems to be a million shades of green.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-Q7o1gd0AR1jJsT9I1oeBDmEJg-ILT8lnqLx3lv0YsOnEwIv_CqABxMg5ds1iM8a66_anXlVNkgXJXLqzlg_-NKeVNQjqp7BK0MZxTn8KL0WHDPFwUAjGnddO9b24glQlt8h_RR9uTGH/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-Q7o1gd0AR1jJsT9I1oeBDmEJg-ILT8lnqLx3lv0YsOnEwIv_CqABxMg5ds1iM8a66_anXlVNkgXJXLqzlg_-NKeVNQjqp7BK0MZxTn8KL0WHDPFwUAjGnddO9b24glQlt8h_RR9uTGH/s320/IMG_2722.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Our second itinerary is a 4 day trip that
will not only focus on the "zona nucleo" but will push further
through the park. We will have the opportunity to trek through areas that
almost no visitors see. We'll stay in small rustic "park ranger
cabins" nestled around the park. This is a much more intense trip,
not for the faint at heart, but the payoff is amazing! Hiking deeper into
the woods you will have more opportunity to see the abundant wildlife that make
the Sierra las Minas so unique. Troops of monkeys swing through the trees
above, birds seem to be everywhere, and follow fresh tapir y puma tracks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXNPpqtQyDWa_jpCRvpSNVR5gQUQob0ZNDmFktvlezWWBqKxLC_CmyO21zOg9PaBZ8p7FhCeiYFpAeMX7dUPf9IYfBLYMWvZ7RDZbM-9CEJ9zMNDJzJ7gy9_ypqqE1aIIIwBd8D-6NRvy/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXNPpqtQyDWa_jpCRvpSNVR5gQUQob0ZNDmFktvlezWWBqKxLC_CmyO21zOg9PaBZ8p7FhCeiYFpAeMX7dUPf9IYfBLYMWvZ7RDZbM-9CEJ9zMNDJzJ7gy9_ypqqE1aIIIwBd8D-6NRvy/s320/IMG_2659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">While in the park we walk each day with
locals from nearby communities who are employed by the Defensores to act as
resource officers. These guys really know the park! They point out
everything of interest along the trail as well as help us to identify the songs
of the birds overhead. They know where to look to find the Quetzal, how
to follow tracks on the forest floor and everything else about the forest.
We stay each night in the cabins that they use while out on patrol.
There are cabins places strategically around the park. The nicest
of which are located on the ridge in the "zona nucleo". The
rest of the cabins are more modest and rustic but still serve their purpose: to
give us shelter for the night, a nice cozy warm place to dry out and tell
stories around the campfire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuD24r3JCHyL8GTltW3Y_kdhNBWwEYQcHNm-MLzbykxm8uFrXcBUqU_QWLBjph1SqRCZ62cUN9FhIrl94gTRnd2eLJuE20LUCTMnx7pPLQxoOHoprkqNC3LLD5uEIlUH8yL55o4SifQ03/s1600/IMG_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuD24r3JCHyL8GTltW3Y_kdhNBWwEYQcHNm-MLzbykxm8uFrXcBUqU_QWLBjph1SqRCZ62cUN9FhIrl94gTRnd2eLJuE20LUCTMnx7pPLQxoOHoprkqNC3LLD5uEIlUH8yL55o4SifQ03/s320/IMG_2723.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Sierra las Minas is currently not a
major well-known attraction like Tikal, Antigua or Lake Atitlan and is thus
often time passed over when planning a trip to Guatemala, which is a huge
shame. The Sierra is a world class destination, ground zero for
Guatemalan wilderness. It should be part of your next visit to Guatemala.
Get in touch with us at Old Town Outfitters if you are interested!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">See ya on the trail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-25363468335690381032015-07-20T10:43:00.000-07:002015-08-21T10:57:20.112-07:00Nebaj to Todos Santos Trek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_vnU0voEQtOM06Dv-ZsZlAy5VHtl2EDnVQZ0xiyQmagVtCIMq3oTJ_W4HKszsT8cOkkV40UrVTd3RI1_Q9-ELZ74Igsan6Yt5PqCyjHHyqarikt4GWeMaLfKA7v_XED87PtLnYihZnmi/s1600/IMG_2791%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_vnU0voEQtOM06Dv-ZsZlAy5VHtl2EDnVQZ0xiyQmagVtCIMq3oTJ_W4HKszsT8cOkkV40UrVTd3RI1_Q9-ELZ74Igsan6Yt5PqCyjHHyqarikt4GWeMaLfKA7v_XED87PtLnYihZnmi/s320/IMG_2791%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: black; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">So we went and got
ourselves back on the road to Quiché, one of Guatemala’s most populous
departments. The work at hand was to scout out the “Nebaj to Todos Santos
trek”, a trip that is essentially a traverse of part of the Sierra de los
Cuchumatanes. This mountain range runs for 400km in west-east direction through
the neighboring departments of Huehuetenango and Quiché. With peaks clearing
3800m, it is considered the highest non-volcanic sierra in all of Central
America. The name “Cuchumatán” btw is derived from the Maya Mam words “cuchuj”
(=to join) and “matán” (=with great force), and thus means “what has been
joined with great force”.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRu5TuTeSx0coUmj20DZSOV1gKBj9XNOozNG74jHlYup1c7ho2ZtU8OLTNwXKl5cmZcWIqj5biUzqSo4gopHIRhgHO832KZmxPuATuhHnSu9NDZWG1EkIR_UESYODLJ2JMHzwOEMpoLcc/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRu5TuTeSx0coUmj20DZSOV1gKBj9XNOozNG74jHlYup1c7ho2ZtU8OLTNwXKl5cmZcWIqj5biUzqSo4gopHIRhgHO832KZmxPuATuhHnSu9NDZWG1EkIR_UESYODLJ2JMHzwOEMpoLcc/s320/IMG_3396.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: black; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">When crossing the Sierra de
los Cuchumatanes, we set out from Nebaj, one of the villages that form part of
the so-called Ixil Triangle. This is the first hint as to the historic cross
references that come into play on this trek. The hike entails clearing roughly
70km of trail in 6 days, most of which while crossing the flats of the “altiplano”,
the Guatemalan highlands. The initial climb onto the plateau contains most of
the elevation gain (ca. 1300m/5600ft.), with the rest coming as part of the
ascent to La Torre, one of the highest points of the sierra
(3832m/12.646ft.) </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QBHoO4AR8swQ7hTz3tAGtasMM1Ygq4NqBQ5WmqJlRJutfutMioajA0hyNq_H_R4zXv9lnCqVQGLEoRxHnLkh1AWbkaEBMtK30ksUfEI2SSSPTaeM9qBtNYazeZFWBr1Ai3UHi3lf3H_-/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QBHoO4AR8swQ7hTz3tAGtasMM1Ygq4NqBQ5WmqJlRJutfutMioajA0hyNq_H_R4zXv9lnCqVQGLEoRxHnLkh1AWbkaEBMtK30ksUfEI2SSSPTaeM9qBtNYazeZFWBr1Ai3UHi3lf3H_-/s320/IMG_3388.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">The trail on this hike
comes in all kinds of terrain, from pine-needle strewn forest floor, to
limestone scattered over dirt roads, to grass-covered flats. The occasional
mudfest is also not unlikely, as we learned this time around: After some
torrential downpour in the night, descending through Pajuil País became
somewhat of a unexpected challenge. As we were going downhill, our boots, caked
in mud, were about as useful as soaped up cement blocks on our feet.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimePGV3fDZmXUNmCXCK4cAGSMxs3V_hcArWqqNZmiupU8r4jm0ryzvsp3B7wnBsO5usqn4i8VFDQPP73WYCBKv4NQ-LzGajXzOOR_tWD2A6d6BJF7STRh8t8xDHih808wTkji4NdM1FC6T/s1600/IMG_3413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimePGV3fDZmXUNmCXCK4cAGSMxs3V_hcArWqqNZmiupU8r4jm0ryzvsp3B7wnBsO5usqn4i8VFDQPP73WYCBKv4NQ-LzGajXzOOR_tWD2A6d6BJF7STRh8t8xDHih808wTkji4NdM1FC6T/s320/IMG_3413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: black; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">The Cuchumatanes are something
else. I still can’t quite put my finger on it, even after two visits it’s hard
to describe. Hiking there is not a spectacle, not a show as, say, hiking up
Acatenango to see Fuego erupt. Some of the most gifted turns of phrase (and
most of the lesser gifted; this very piece here not excluded) about Guatemala
revolve around its beautiful landscapes, so I wonder if it bears repeating: but
there really is no way around acknowledging the views, and to a great degree,
it is the remoteness of the area and the vastness of the views that make up the
lasting impression. They give the hike an even more contemplative quality than
usual, especially when you happen to walk flat, green pastures in a soft rain
with sheep in distant sight. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-rwdPKlwFMwe9aGA8UrbwGMqwK7e6W4qPWSHDdILiA1Wqv2QcWZKKiWypMoRfcp76ZaoKXtlQFOQeWKPcpo0rDN2S8SdRMDC0Oubzj_tDlkIcltNXEqAAqrxt48dw8-lbg48YYvXXBcA/s1600/IMG_2761%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-rwdPKlwFMwe9aGA8UrbwGMqwK7e6W4qPWSHDdILiA1Wqv2QcWZKKiWypMoRfcp76ZaoKXtlQFOQeWKPcpo0rDN2S8SdRMDC0Oubzj_tDlkIcltNXEqAAqrxt48dw8-lbg48YYvXXBcA/s320/IMG_2761%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">But it’s really when you’re
walking through the villages that the slower pace of life becomes strikingly
apparent. In so many cases, you get sensory overload from all the
sensations around you before you can really get a sense of place, and by the
time you’re leaving, you’ve forgotten half of them. Hiking the Cuchumatanes
provides a good balance between perceptive details and ample time to process
them. Here you have distinct notions of architecture, clothing, and pastoral
lifestyle that you can observe and grasp in order to get this area’s unique
geographic and cultural identity. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsBF9vuoPwB-3Y4j7wtEeivSS4L88kfnTogG8ADSX-0uNRBpgDBVP7yzfCcvm2TIZhI7KwJihpK9wA1yEe58H4FfVGSRDvkoZy-qVUZ1t9kmtyWHcck4nrXozTEbb3f4Scpm4c7_4yvJf/s1600/IMG_2803%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsBF9vuoPwB-3Y4j7wtEeivSS4L88kfnTogG8ADSX-0uNRBpgDBVP7yzfCcvm2TIZhI7KwJihpK9wA1yEe58H4FfVGSRDvkoZy-qVUZ1t9kmtyWHcck4nrXozTEbb3f4Scpm4c7_4yvJf/s320/IMG_2803%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">Would you like to know
more abut this trip. Check out the</span> <a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/nebaj-to-todos-santos/" target="_blank">5 day Nebaj to Todos Santos hut to hut <span style="color: white;">trip</span></a><span style="color: white;"> on our website. See ya on the trail.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I9Xq_InsI83SUNJ1C6UfrtIXm7xDe8Zp9rZQdzaR9MU_0J0fn94708Ks6IYjkcMkzy3__LsYFdcAj-oxkL0zhyphenhyphenjkrTg2GszxG7PdqgSSYIw7B9AKTcsNaw8PnN6L7TNO5SH0F_bRQ9rD/s1600/IMG_2808%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I9Xq_InsI83SUNJ1C6UfrtIXm7xDe8Zp9rZQdzaR9MU_0J0fn94708Ks6IYjkcMkzy3__LsYFdcAj-oxkL0zhyphenhyphenjkrTg2GszxG7PdqgSSYIw7B9AKTcsNaw8PnN6L7TNO5SH0F_bRQ9rD/s320/IMG_2808%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ES-GT;"><span style="color: white;">Eventually useful bit of random
trail advice: when you come across a sheep that's tied to a tree trunk and
effectively stretching the rope across the trail, don't step over the rope.
Because once you spook the sheep, which you will, it will try to cut across
into the field while still ahead of you and, with the rope, take your feet
right out from under you. See the sheep understands the implications of being
tied to a tree just about as much as the courtesy behind trying not to spook
it. And since you're going to do that anyway, there is no sense in trying to be
polite about it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-63164430575046415052015-05-22T21:45:00.001-07:002015-05-29T09:51:39.773-07:00The 2nd Annual El Mirador Jungle Epic<div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week we headed out again from the nice temperate weather of the Guatemala highlands to the steamy humid jungle of thePeten, Guatemala's Northern department and home to perhaps the highest concentration of Mayan sites known in the Mayan world. We have done this before, this was to be our second time out, and quite frankly, after the first time I wasnt sure thatI would be returning. However, they say time heals and I must admit that in the car ride out last year I was happy to see the jungle disappear in the background as the lush, light and breezy highlands came into focus. However, oddly enough just a few short days after being back at home in Antigua, I found myself missing the jungle and all the hardships that she brought with her. So we decided to make this a yearly pilgrimage.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV0K3kWoomdnwPtdRtglsxuTo81niTgUCFgKqi2jLNiJ131g70ZosoPMZFbKCzYok2B9ddixUXkKJPq4KF5yVGrPPrB2nrlQxDPGtpE0E102G0bMNqIQuRVpe-zxx5nC57phXBD1eWmQ8/s640/blogger-image-312489639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV0K3kWoomdnwPtdRtglsxuTo81niTgUCFgKqi2jLNiJ131g70ZosoPMZFbKCzYok2B9ddixUXkKJPq4KF5yVGrPPrB2nrlQxDPGtpE0E102G0bMNqIQuRVpe-zxx5nC57phXBD1eWmQ8/s640/blogger-image-312489639.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />For this years edition we headed out with a more paired down and better prepared (even if just mentally) team. Three returning riders, Matt Hartell and Nico Marceca from Old Town Outfitters, Brian Zimmer from the Antigua Bicycle Coop and Tom Vanderbuilt, a free lance writer who was documenting this trip for the New York Times. When Tom asked me about joining on this years edition we exchanged emails about the ride, timing, conditions etc. in preparation for the upcoming trip. More than anything this was an opportunity for us to vet Tom. After all, this was one of the hardest 42 km ride I had ever done. When we got to topic of distance, 42 kms. or 26 miles, essentially the distance of a marathon, I remember Tom's disbelief that last year it took us nearly 8 hours. That's 4x longer than it takes a world class runner to run the same distance. "How could 26 miles with only 1350 feet of climbing take that long" he asked me. "That's the distance of my lunchtime ride" he said.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />I told him that I understood that it seemed inexplicable to take that long but that last year the trail conditions were brutal. The usual method to get out to El Mirador is on foot, a two journey through the jungle. Mules carry all the gear so that hikers wont have to contend with the heat and their equipment. These mule trains absolutely destroy the trail especially in the rain. They create these deep ruts, channels and churn up these mud post holes that when dry become boulders of cement hard dried mud. Last year there was apparently late season rain so when we go there in Early may when it was dry there hadn't been enough time for the mules and people hiking out to smooth out the boulders. This year however, I was assured from our friends out there at the trailhead that the trail was in "great shape" a it had been dry since January and thus has had sufficient time for the mud to be smoothed out. Armed with the knowledge that this year the trail was going to be great we headed out to Carmelita heads held high with the confidence that this year would be different.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLROOFq7DU6EHrw_HmzVbuadMJ63C_nmHJ6FfBN_v03XFg98IoEBQx7c2k-sjuVEn7uXuP-DD3-EVlwB-QQM4gHm9J0MXJwQzpWzRF1hT7oeCj_DHQeTkS-jFpou8wk3n9zwVXynF4oR6m/s640/blogger-image-460605532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLROOFq7DU6EHrw_HmzVbuadMJ63C_nmHJ6FfBN_v03XFg98IoEBQx7c2k-sjuVEn7uXuP-DD3-EVlwB-QQM4gHm9J0MXJwQzpWzRF1hT7oeCj_DHQeTkS-jFpou8wk3n9zwVXynF4oR6m/s640/blogger-image-460605532.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />Indeed it would. We arrived in Carmelita after 11 hours on the road and quickly went to the tienda to find few cold beers to fight the heat while unpacking and prepping our gear. We talked to the folks out there who all told us that we were in luck that the trails were in great shape to to not worry about the ride. The following day we set out on the trail and quickly found that yes, the trail was in better shape. In fact, they were right, it was in great shape. Now I must back up to say that even in great shape the ride is still tough. The low, boggy, dried mud "bajos" as they called them were still bumpy but much better than last year. You could actually ride them as opposed to last year where you had to surgically attack them with precision, balance and a huge amount of determination. We bumped our way through the bajos, cruised the fun rocky altos and made it out to El Mirador in just about four and a half hours of riding time. Again, even these times are mind boggling if you were only to see the stats. How could 26 miles take that long? Some how it just does. If its not the bouncy bajos, its a short techy rocky climb to the altos and always the heat. If you are not accustomed to the heat and humidity of the Guatemalan jungle you WILL suffer. After nearly 8 liters of water, more than I probably drink in a week, my pee was still dark yellow, if I could even go. The jungle takes every ounce of it out of you. Arriving in Mirador, a trail and heat weary Tom looked over at me and told me that now he "gets it". He finally understood what I was talking about when I said it was the toughest flat 26 miles you'll do.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwk15noy1vkJxCEKtfynON7wQQRD0mS8c7_y0o8nwTaYKllhzKMgAGXKas7NuDRoyLUFROWqr3rUkfvNWGGlDCN1yOvycnLQU0HvVysr_umDzaU0rSbZZAoknDzsE-utCNA9YH8QWkP2b/s640/blogger-image-1503624071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwk15noy1vkJxCEKtfynON7wQQRD0mS8c7_y0o8nwTaYKllhzKMgAGXKas7NuDRoyLUFROWqr3rUkfvNWGGlDCN1yOvycnLQU0HvVysr_umDzaU0rSbZZAoknDzsE-utCNA9YH8QWkP2b/s640/blogger-image-1503624071.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><br />It sounds like a lot of pain and suffering, which it is, but the payoff is amazing. El Mirador is very remote and hard to get to. Unless you have the funds to helicopter in, which on more occasions than one I wished I had had, you have to walk 2 days to get there or in our case one long brutal day on the bike. And that's only one way! Only about 3,000 visitors a year make this trip overland so there is definitely a sense of accomplishment. The site of El Mirador is nestled in a unique part of the "protected" Mayan Biosphere. This area is being threaten by the communities near by and the devastating slash and burn practices for clearing cattle grazing land. El Mirador boasts the highest man made temples in the Ancient world. Bigger than the pyramids of Egypt and larger in volume than the entire main plaza of Tikal. With only a handful of other tourists out there who had made the walk we felt that we nearly had the site to ourselves. The sunset from the top of the temple alone, made the journey worth while. There is something special about looking out from the top of the temple seeing nothing but jungle as far as you can see in every direction.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br />Forest covered Mayan pyramids dot the landscape on the horizon and leave you imaging what other sites are still out there to be discovered. Unconsciously the planning for next years ride had already begun. How to tie the trail into El Mirador to other further a field sites out in the jungle. Next year we will push past El Mirador, now our old friend, and find new brutal trails that will lead us to another temple and another sunset over the jungle. I can only imagine that sitting on another new temple at sunset will only mean yet another new ride the following year. As hard as it is, I'm already looking forward to future rides.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br />Get in touch with us if you are interested in next years 3rd annual ride which will be weather permitting around the end of April or the beginning of May.</span></div>
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-51222381556895309262015-04-20T08:02:00.001-07:002015-04-20T08:06:24.120-07:00The Double Header<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">
Check out this sweet client posted video of a recent Old town Outfitters trip up the twin summits of Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes. </div>
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-83305043161836153362015-04-15T09:48:00.000-07:002015-05-29T09:49:25.132-07:0036 Hours in Antigua<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/column/36-hours" target="_blank">New York Times 36 hour column</a> just featured Antigua as one of its destinations! Our Old Town Outfitters trip to Pacaya Volcano was featured as one of the top experiences while here in country. It is indeed a great trip. If your thinking to visit Guatemala, get in touch and lket us get you out there off the beaten track and onto a unique adventure trip. Congratulations to all the other folks that also were featured.<br />
<br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-19613555357866591662015-02-04T21:32:00.000-08:002015-05-29T09:26:54.374-07:0037 in 27<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: start;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">January of 2015 4 hikers set out to hike 37 of Guatemala’s volcanoes in just 27 days. This would be quite the undertaking to get up and down and then on to the next peak in that short amount of time. This is remarkable not only because of the feat of climbing that many volcanoes in that sort of time but these four guys were doing it not for themselves or any sort of fame, but to raise awareness and money for four different developmental organizations in Guatemala that they each had a special link to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span lang="EN-US">Old Town’s own, Nico Marceca, Reinhard Prosch and <span class="textexposedshow">Luis Galindo</span> were supporting Niños de Gua</span><span class="textexposedshow">temala, Integral Heart Foundation and Asociación Q'ukumatz</span><span lang="EN-US">. <span class="textexposedshow">Steve Cook was trekking for Habitat For Humanity Guatemala.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These selfless 4 some pulled together Guatemalan and International sponsors to help not only fund the trip but also to fund their respective projects. At the end of the month they had managed to climb the 37 volcanoes with a day or two to spare. Using their home base of Antigua and her four resident volcanoes as the grand finale the group invited folks to join on the Acatenango/Fuego overnight as well as “sold” spots to donors for famous Pacaya Volcano. All said and done the group was able to raise a over $20,000 and plenty of awareness for their organizations. </span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Good work lads and Old Town is happy to have been able to help out! For more information on the trek visit their website at: 37in27.com. Donations are always welcome and will go to a good cause. Visit their crowd rise page as well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-3743205724218937862015-01-21T08:26:00.000-08:002015-05-27T13:40:39.632-07:00Guatemalan Highlands Hut to Hut<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: start;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the past year or so we have been working to open a few new routes out in the Western highlands of Guatemala. This has always been one of our favorite areas to ride as its aboslutely criss-crossed in single track. One of the challenges of riding up here is that to truly get out there and away from it all it unfortunately means that you will also be away from any sort of lodging. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We wanted to open a route like those epic rides in Colorado or Europe where cyclists can basically leave the worry behind of camping gear and cooking and focus on what you are there for: the riding!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We came across a couple pretty cool communities on our rides that have started to create some basic lodging options in the way of community hostals or <i>posadas</i>. Last year we started working to find creative ways to link these hostals together to create a pretty unique adventure mountain biking experience. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The trails are great, the scenery is even better and there is a cultural freshness to the rides that is second to none, anywhere! The going is tough in some places, hell, most places but to reach such untouched, unridden areas means that you will have to push you bike at some points. The beauty is that you can do this and not have to carry mush with you in terms of camping gear. At the end of each day there is a warm bed, good filling food and in most cases cold beers, and if no beers there’s most likely moonshine.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">About the same time that we were thinking to head out to link all the rides together, about 5 or 6 days depending on how you do it, we were contacted by none other than Hans No Way Rey who was coming to Guatemala and wanted to do something unique. He was en route to hand out about 50 bicycles to school kids in need via his NGO W<i>heels For Life </i>in the Antigua valley and was looking for something to do afterwards. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This seemed like the perfect opportunity to head out into the Guatemalan backcountry with a couple seasoned pros. Over the next 5 days we would push through areas that rarely receive foreign travelers, much less on bikes, and ride a huge swath of Guatemala much of which probably hasn’t ever seen a mountain bike.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This area of Guatemala between Huehuetenango and Quiche doesn't receive that much tourism. Let alone mountain bikers pushing through the backcountry and villages where roads ad power are non-existent. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">If you are looking for a unique once in a lifetime sort of ride, our new Highlands Hut to Hut is it. Get in touch with us a Old Town and ask for it. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">See us on the trail!</span></div>
Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-36948243494277345842014-10-13T16:20:00.000-07:002015-04-20T16:24:00.258-07:00Here is a video of a recent trip down to the pacific coast of Guatemala to the beach town of Monterrico. Old Town Outfitters offers a one a two day sea kayaking trip in the mangrove canals of this quaint little beach town. This trip is a great opportunity to see the diverse waterfowl and other animals that make this mangrove ecosystem their home. We head out to the sea turtle conservation project on the beach to see what is being done to help the resident population of turtles and with a little luck during the right time of year you will be able to sponsor your own turtle for release.<br />
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<br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-39834205712420522092014-05-19T11:07:00.000-07:002015-05-22T21:45:38.135-07:00Biking to the ruins of El Mirador<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just just recently got back from an one of a kind mountain bike trip out to the Northen Jungles of Peten, Guatemala. Our idea was to be the first to ride the famous Carmelita to El Mirador trail. This trail has long existed, infact it dates back to the Mayan pre-classic period and follows much of the original Mayan Sakbe or Mayan highway from Carmelita to the ruins themselves.</div>
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In its heyday Mirador was one of the largest Mayan city/states in the area. It still boasts the largest pyramids built by ancient peoples, ANYWHERE! In modern times these trails have been used by Chicleros, or the men who walk out into the junlge to harvest Chicle. This is the stuff that we used to use to make gum. Today the chicle trade isnt quite what it used to be but the trails still exist. Most of the traffic on the Sakbe these days are adventurous backpackers and gear laiden mules headed out to the ruins.<br>
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After having hiked this trail years ago I wanted to be the first to take a crew in on bikes. Having seen the trail, the lack up elevation that I am acustomed to in the Guatemalan highlands, and mapping the distances it didnt seem like this was going to be too hard. After all, the trail is only 43 kms. from Carmelita to Mirador. Most groups walk this in two days overnighting on day one at the ruins of Tintal. <br>
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We sent an advance team to Carmelita with the gear and food that we would need and loaded the mules. They set out a day ahead of us so that, assuming all went to plan that they would be arriving in Mirador about the same time as us. We had caluclated that the mules would take a full 2 days to get there while we on bikes moving much faster (we hoped) would be able to cover the 43 kms. in a hard day. <br>
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We didnt really take into account the heat and humidity into our calculations of effort and time needed to make it to Mirador. It is totally do-able in a day. But you need to be prepared to have access to a LOT of water. Upon planning the trip everyone that we spoke with out in Carmelita tod us that it was going to be hard going and hot but at the very least that it was dry. What no one told us was that it would be potentially better to go a little later in the season. They had gotten a lot of late season rain which with all the mule train traffic had created this lunar hardened mud post hole effect that was like riding through a 43 km. boulder field in 35* heat and 90% humidity.<br>
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We did make it though. Crossing the many altos and bajos (high and low ground) where the terrain would change from rolling, beautiful singletrack to hardened mud post hole hell out to the ruins. We slung our hammocks and listened to the sounds of the jungle and mosquitos lull us to sleep. We decided that we would give this trip another shot the next May a little later in the season when enough mule traffic would work to smooth out the crusted mud formations and thus make it a slightly easier ride. <br>
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We spent 3 nights in the woods riding from ruin to ruin far away from anywhere. It was a pretty amazing experience. One that although was the hardest 43 km ride ive ever done and looking forward to next years trip. We are hoping to create a tour to help the locals promote and protect this amazing resource. Stay tuned to jump on the next ride out.Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-45285085462414681202013-12-24T08:23:00.000-08:002014-01-31T08:25:44.588-08:00Acatenango Volcano<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OKOUdSA_atY?list=UUxer4VVpB5ORpkLHXVXsnBw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-84397837547743904182013-12-09T07:14:00.000-08:002014-01-31T07:20:51.022-08:00Volcano Bashing in El SalvadorOur neighbor to the East, El Salvador doesnt seem to get the tourism focused on the outdoors quite like we do here in Guatemala. So we decided to head over and check things out.<br />
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I must say we were pleasantly surprised by what we found. Only a few short hours from La Antigua, Guatemala you can be cruising the "Ruta de las Flores", an old back-roads Salvador feel with cool little colonial and artisan towns with quaint B&B's and fun bars. <br />
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But crusing Salvadors backroads wasnt why we went. We wanted to check out the rarely visited interior of the country with her National Parks, caves, waterfalls and volcanic peaks. We headed first for the sulfuric crater lake volcano of Santa Ana. Its an hour or so hike up to the cone where you are looking down on this super cool blue crater lake. Its not a super hard hike but is very different from the Guatemalan peaks that we normally hike. <br />
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Its an easy 4 hour drive to Santa Ana from Antigua and after your hike its only a bit further to the Ruta de Las Flores where you can find food festivals, outdoor beer gardens, scenic lakes, caves and waterfalls. We headed to Juayua first and caught up with the street-side feast that was going on. It was like a little piece of Guatemalan Europe. Folks drinking beers and eating food in the streets. <br />
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Just outside town is a waterfall with a system of caves that you can swim through. Each tunnel takes you further into the mountainside and into a larger chamber. Pretty sweet! After lounging in the pools we headed back to town for beers and a night out before we headed over to Lago de Coatepeque, the Salvadoran version of Guate's Atitlan. It wasn't as big but it sure was pretty, we had seen it from the tops of Izalco and Santa Ana volcanoes and knew we wanted to head over and check it out.<br />
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Funny how after so much time here in Guatemala that I had neglected our Central American neighbor. She's so close and offers so much to do than just hanging on the beach and surfing. Dont get me wrong, Zonte and the rest of the beaches are pretty stellar. But this highlands "Ruta de las Flores" side of Salvador was a great change from my normal trip.<br />
We'll most likely be adding this to the long list of amazing trips on the <a href="http://adventureguatemala.com/" target="_blank">Old Town Outfitters</a> website. Stop in and get yourself booked up on our next adventure!<br />
<br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-11775589077245865982013-11-19T13:26:00.000-08:002014-01-31T07:21:50.067-08:00Surfing the Pacific Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have teamed up with our good friends down at the <a href="http://paredonsurf.com/" target="_blank">Paredon Surf House</a> on the sleepy but up and coming surf beach of El Paredon. <br />
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Unlike many other Guatemalan beaches Paredon as its known, has a good surf break and super fun waves even if your not a surfer. Our new trip will be sea-kayaking and surfing focused. Like our kayak trips to Monterrico we will spend some time exploring the back waterways and mangroves before heading out to the beach for a fish lunch. <br />
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We'll overnight in ocean front thatch bungalows. We'll have an afternoon surf lesson as well as one the following morning before breakfast. <br />
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Get in touch with us at Old Town Outfitters for more information on this new great trip down to Guatemala's Pacific coast<br />
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-72932292331019835732013-11-08T15:23:00.000-08:002014-01-28T15:27:52.346-08:00An Exploratory trip to Guate's Green HeartThis past weekend we took off and headed north from Antigua the the lush green department of Alta Verapaz to the hidden travelers hang out near Las conchas. This is a place that we had heard about for years but just hadnt for whatever reason found the time to get out and check it out. It had always be rumored to be what Semuc Champey was before the tourist crowds had taken it over and made it a mainstream Guatemalan dstination of the "Gringo Trail." <br />
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No, no, this place is legit! It is a bit far removed from Antigua but perfected placed in the middle of the country to become THE stopover spot on an overland trip between Antigua and Tikal or the Rio Dulce. <br />
Las Conchas definitely lived up to all the hype that had been circulating about the remote jungle river and cave system.<br />
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We loaded up the 4x4 and rolled out to our friends hostal on the Rio Chiyu just downstream from Las Conchas. We set out not only to take advantage of cold beers, jungle swimholes and jumping off the staircased waterfalls but to create an all-in-one tour of this area of Guatemala that is not focused on Semuc Champey and the overrun town of Lanquin. <br />
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What we found was pretty amazing! A short pick up truck ride away from the lodge is the trail head to the Setzol caves system. Its an hour hike through the lush forest to the entrance of Setzol where a beautiful river emerges from the cave. We spend an hour or so exploring this cave before heading further down the trail to yet another cave that seemingly no one knows the name of! This cave still has Mayan artifacts inside, making it a truly special place. <br />
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Our recee trip has turned into a new classic Old Town Outfitters tour called the <a href="http://www.adventureguatemala.com/caves-and-waterfalls/" target="_blank">"caves and waterfalls"</a> tour. Get in touch with us and join onto our next adventure to Las Conchas before it gets turned into another Semcu Champey!Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-56628270439110214722013-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:002013-12-22T06:34:07.841-08:00Opening new routesWe're always looking to find that special trip, something that hits the bucket list of every person who comes to Guatemala. The must do, must see and for us at Old Town, must ride. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/12/22/539.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/12/22/s_539.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />We've certainly found our version if it! There's a sweet cross country ride from the cobblestone streets of colonial Antigua to the amazingly picturesque blue waters of Lake Atitlan. Not to mention all the views, culture and glory lines in between. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/12/22/540.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/12/22/s_540.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Called the Atitlan XC this ride takes two or three days depending on how hard and long you want to go. We hit all our favorite pieces of trail in between and add as much highlands culture to the mix as possible. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/12/22/541.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/12/22/s_541.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Much of the ride passes through places that most tourist will never get to see or if they do at all it's from the inside of a turismo van. This ride gets you out there in the "real" Guatemalan outback crossing ravines the Maya have been hiking across for hundreds of years. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/12/22/542.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/12/22/s_542.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The ride is a mix of terrain. Anything from sweet technical single track to jeep track and a bit of pavement. There's a bunch of up and down, some long tough climbs but to crest over the rim and see Lake Atitlan for the first time and then drop in in some of Guatemala's sweetest trail seems to equalize all the effort it took to get there. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/12/22/543.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/12/22/s_543.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />If you're looking for something unique and have a few days to spend in the back country get in touch with us at the shop and let us show you the goods. <br /><br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-46108521115455266082013-10-10T15:40:00.000-07:002013-11-12T15:41:10.144-08:00Tis the season<div>
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The rains have stopped and the trials are open for business and better than ever! <br />
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We fight through the rainy season because we are cyclist and to be a cyclist here in Guatemala means that you have to ride during the rainy season too.<br />
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However, every year about this time, just as you are about at your wits end with muddy bikes, rutted trails and soggy shoes the clouds break and the sun comes out. The days are crisp and warm and afternoons turn gloriously golden and the temps start to give way to evening. <br />
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This is when the single-track in Guatemala is just right. The trails are technical, tacky and everything is green. Now we drop the wet lube for dry, leave the rain coats behind and get out as much as possible. You shouldnt take my word for how nice it is though, grab your steed and head down to Guatemala and join us on the trail.<br />
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Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-75868144220484014782013-09-09T15:13:00.000-07:002013-11-12T15:14:01.564-08:00Nebaj to Todos Santos Trekking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past weekend we headed out to the Ixil triangle town of Nebal to start a pilgrimage to the western highland indigenous town of Todos Santos. Every November 1st there is an enormous celebration honoring those loved ones that have moved on to greener pastures. The "Dia de los Muertos" as its called is a a day to fly kites, party at the cemetery and remember loved ones.<br />
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Depending on what route you take you can make the journey in 3-5 days. We always take the path less traveled and opted for a route that not many tourist take. It is harder and takes a couple days longer but the vistas and trails are absolutely stunning. We extended our trip with a cushy start hanging out at the "Finca San Antonio" the day we arrived to the area. It was a great chance to tour the pueblo of Acul, one of the first military "model villages" during the civil war. <br />
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The Finca has a few guest houses where you can chill out and enjoy the Swiss-like surroundings. We got dropped off at the trailhead and started our 3+ hour grinder up into the mountains. It was tough but the views made it all worth while. We stayed the night a cool community hostal high up on the plateau and enjoyed an afternoon swinging in hammocks.<br />
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The rest of the days push further into the Guatemalan back-country on a myriad of braided trails criss-crossing the rocky plains of the alti-plano. The trek takes you through lush green valleys, steep ravines, plenty of remote villages into a place where time seems to stand still.<br />
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It is a truly unique experience, one that should not be missed. If you make it to Guatemala and are looking for something different, something that feels connected to the people and places that you see, this is your trek. It really is a once in a lifetime experience. Peg it during the right time of year and you can stop in at Todos Santos in time for the fabled horse race. For more information on this walk and many more visit our <a href="http://dventureguatemala.com/nebaj-to-todos-santos/" target="_blank">website</a>. <br />
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See ya on the trail!Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-42333569117202548742013-09-02T10:29:00.000-07:002013-09-26T10:30:31.211-07:00Xela Climbing TripThis past weekend there was a break in the rain and we were able to sneak in a trip out to Quetzaltenango to go climbing. "La Muela" as its called or the "molar" much like Devil's Tower, Wyoming or the infamous "half dome" is the core of an eroded volcanic complex.
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Whats left now is a jagged out crop of rocks with hundreds of trad and sport routes all over it. Most of the routes are 5.10 or higher which makes for some advanced climbing. Old Town Outfitters offers trips out to La Muela normally as a two day experience. There's certainly enough rock there to keep you occupied.<br />
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La Muela is a pretty unique place to climb. Not only because its in Guatemala, but as many of the volcanoes are Mayan sacred sites there are always groups of Mayan priests performing rituals and the base of the walls. The sounds of the chanting resonates on the walls and adds an interesting almost erie aspect to the climb. <br />
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We've got a similar rock climbing trip going out this weekend. This one is head to Lake Amatitlan just to the northeast of Pacaya Volcano. Its a super cool spot over looking the lake and with smoking pacaya in the distance its a pretty cool place to climb. We'll be giving a bit of a sport leading seminar so stop on in the Old Town Outfitters office or get in touch via e<a href="mailto:info@adventureguatemala.com" target="_blank">mail</a> us for more info.<br />
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Stay tuned to our online calendar on the <a href="http://www.adventureguatemala.com/calendar.html" target="_blank">Old Town website</a> for more upcoming climb trips. We have all the gear and more than 15 years experience guiding climbing trips here in Guatemala.<br />
See ya on the rock!Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-56732859775756219022013-08-18T11:38:00.000-07:002013-08-29T11:39:12.422-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Another successful Phoenix Fund raiser trip done. </div>
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We got back yesterday from our annual <a href="http://wp.adventureguatemala.com/beast-of-the-east/" target="_blank">Beast of the East</a> Rail Trail ride from Guatemala City out to the Mayan ruins of Copan, Honduras. The ride was a huge success and <a href="http://www.thephoenixprojects.org/" target="_blank">The Phoenix Projects</a> was able to raise $10,000! That is enough to cover about 5 of the 15 or so teacher salaries for the whole year! So as you can see, there is still plenty of need for more donations.<br />
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Old Town will be pitching in again this fall in October when we will be operating the Phoenix Volcano Challenge. This is a grueling trip that takes participants across Guatemala climbing 4 volcanoes in 4 days.<br />
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We'll climb Guatemala's and Central American's largest volcano, Tajumulco, San Pedro at lake atitlan, Chicabal and Santa Maria outside the town of Quetlzaltenango.<br />
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Its a fast paced trip and has to be to cover as much ground as we do. If you missed out on the last opportunity to get involved now is your chance. Get in touch with us at <a href="http://www.adventureguatemala.com/contact.php" target="_blank">Old Town</a> if you are interested in joining the group.<br />
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<br />Old Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4242945036530234499.post-10632442765041782092013-08-07T19:32:00.000-07:002013-08-07T19:33:38.119-07:00Beast of the East Rail Trail Fundraiser rideIts that time of year again...time for one of my favorite mountain bike tours! Each year we set out with the good lads at the <a href="https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/doreenwilliams1" target="_blank">Phoenix Project</a> to help them raise funds to support their educational programs, teacher salaries and schools for the under privileged rural Guatemalan youth. It really is a quite cool program. Check 'em out online for more info. <br />
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The ride follows the old United Fruit Company railroad line that connected the Capital with the banana plantations of the East to the Atlantic Coast port. It is definitely a throw back to a time long past. We ride through cool old tunnels, across big steel trestles and through dilapidated train stations. It really is a rolling tour through Guatemala's history.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyDs6rWYSnZHqEGkXzbD1W-kuFVd0Nxw9bUTRrJh2sgwFXLObnrSb1jvx5VuiI2EVWi2H15xkr5ITZpsxc0ORweisrkoOUYaqHu7bXcDSpsZXcveCPOQvBaTSv1rloCIJpDCJaYbzZ2-V/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyDs6rWYSnZHqEGkXzbD1W-kuFVd0Nxw9bUTRrJh2sgwFXLObnrSb1jvx5VuiI2EVWi2H15xkr5ITZpsxc0ORweisrkoOUYaqHu7bXcDSpsZXcveCPOQvBaTSv1rloCIJpDCJaYbzZ2-V/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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We ride 5 days from the outskirts of Guatemala City camping each night along the line passing through terrain that doesn't see too much in the way of tourism. Being a rail trail the ride itself is pretty non technical as there are no huge climbs or descents and the terrain is pretty moderately graded at %5. Most of the rails and ties have been pulled up long ago leaving behind a beautiful single track that traces the rolling hills and remote river canyon and valleys of the Eastern deserts of Guatemala. The bird life is pretty stunning and you might even get a glimpse of a rare Gila monster.<br />
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Our support van meets us for lunch each afternoon and at the end of the day to haul luggage, hand out cold beers, set up the horseshoe set and cook up tasty food at camp. The rides are about 50 kms on average but the heat can make them feel longer. We have found a couple sweet campsites, a couple along rivers and another in a very cool old Farmstead house. It even has a pool! <br />
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If you're looking to do something new, see a unique side to Guatemala and are interested in helping us help the locals, this is your trip! It combines an amazing mountain bike tour that has cool and quirky cultural and historical components to it with some quality opportunities to get involved and give back with an amazing grass roots NGO program. It is tourism with a moral compass !<br />
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It's probably too late to get involved in this years ride, but you can still <a href="https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/doreenwilliams1" target="_blank">DONATE</a> or sign up for next years ride.<br />
Hope to see ya on the trail.<br />
-Matt HartellOld Town Outfittershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03427666703487795317noreply@blogger.com0