Cuchumantanes trekking

About five hours to the west of La Antigua, Guatemala lies Central America's highest mountain range, the Cuchumantanes.



These mountains have a feeling of remoteness similar to some of it's South American cousins. Life in many areas of these mountains goes in as it has for centuries. Mayan farmers and sheep herders work and walk the land. There are very few villages up here in these mountains, most of which only comprise of a few houses.


Taking advantage of the low population density, open space, huge views and most importantly, abundance of trail, Old Town Outfitters offers many different walks across these remote mountains. We can build day walks into an existing itinerary or build a custom five day walk across the altiplano from Nebaj to Todos Santos.



This past weekend we were fortunate enough to head out on an amazing three day trekking circuit taking in some of the best trail in the area. We stayed in community hostals and locals houses to fully immerse ourselves in the local surroundings. There is no better way to really experience the area than to gather around the hearth at meals times and talk to the folks from the area.



There is an amazing opportunity to take in more than just the natural beauty of an area when you are invited into their homes.
On day two we reached our treks objective of Laguna Magdalena, a hidden alpine lake that impossibly sits in a steep valley overlooking the low-lands below. It was a tough walk across the limestone studded hills but the Laguna made it all worth while.



The trails that cross cross the western highlands of Guatemala weave their way in and out of beautiful valleys, wide and vast plains and amazing pine studded hills. As you walk you are constantly reminded of a time long past, villages with no roads to get to them, houses with no power, and candle lit meals by the hearth.



This is truly one of the last untamed expanses in Guatemala. A place where back country lives up to its name.
This is a place that although requires a bit of effort to get to, pays off ten fold in what it gives back.


Come check it out! Get in touch with Old Town Outfitters and let us put together a trek for you that is for sure to leave a lasting impression.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

El Zur DH tour **NEW TRIP**

A few years ago some of our friends bought a mega swath of the south slope of Agua Volcano.  Being real estate developers, the idea was to create a mountain community much like the ones that we all covet back home.  These guys had the vision to take an immense piece of a giant volcano and turn it into an outdoor enthusiasts playground.



The vision was robust, the landscape enormous but the possibilities endless.  They got in touch with Old Town as they knew we were the premier mountain bike outfit in Central America to help create the mountain bike park aspect of the project.  Over the course of the next 2 or 3 years we toiled to carve out epic world class single-track bliss from as high up on the mountain as we could get our machines all the way down to the highway.  The trail was thoughtfully planned and cut in following IMBA trail building standard and concepts.

The result, over 25 kilometers of Downhill and Cross-country flow, so fun you might forget your on a bike and mistakenly take your hands off the bars as if you were on a roller coaster as a kid.
Starting this summer El Zur will be opening its doors exclusively to Old Town Outfitters to start running DH and XC tours there.  Our idea to make a day of it so we'll be packing a cooler full of beer and snacks for the end of the ride.

Call or come by the shop, or even email us for more information, tour departures and prices.
This really is a one of a kind place, not just by Guatemalan standards either.  Come with us and check out what 25 KM.s of handmade, purpose built mountain bike trail feels like.

See ya there,

Hike for Water

You hike. We hike

Last week Old Town teamed up with the good lads at Eco Filter to help sponsor a hike up Acatenango Volcano to raise money to take life saving water filters out to rural Guatemalan communities.

More than 20 hikers trekked up to the summit and raised more than $20,000 for the Eco Filtro: One project. 

With the average cost of each filter at roughly $35 you can see that the fund raising will get quite a few water filters into the homes of lots of Guatemalans.  

 This was hike number one of four with Pacaya, Fuego and an overnight return trip on Acatenango on the calendar for the summer.  You can join these future hikes by registering on the Eco Filtro: One site or by stopping by the Old Town Outfitters office on the of 5th ave and 6th Calle in Antigua, Guatemala.

Help Guatemalan families, get out and hike and have lots of fun. 

Black Tie service: Steve Johnson and Brian Zimmer serve up Wine on the summit.

Antigua Bicycle Co-op!!

Finally! 

 A good local bike shop for Antigua.  We blew out the wall between Old Town and the space next door and got the Co-op going.

  We have a full inventory of all the bits and bobs your bike could ever need.  The new Guatemalan National XC jersey is in too.  Stop in and see what we have or just come in to say hello and have a cold Brooklyn IPA or Lager.

 We have plenty of new Kona 29'ers in stock and a few used bikes as well.  Look for us on Facebook to find out about up coming events, rides and specials.

See ya on the trail!

Old Town now on Instagram

We're now on Instagram.  Check us out at Oldtownoutfitters and follow our adventures.

Search our Hash tags #oldtownoutfitters or tag photos from your adventures with us. 

Lost in the Western highlands

The lads at the shop recently headed out on an exploratory mission to find new trails out in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.  The idea was to find more of Guatemala's secret single-track and bring it into the catalog of Epic Guatemalan Mountain Bike Tours and Adventures at Old Town Outfitters.

 

We spent 3 days picking our way through alti-plano single-track and rock gardens to find the best new mountain bike tours.  There are some pretty huge climbs out there but the technical down hills make all the up worth the effort.

Quincy y Zon Dimmer coming out of the rocks

We think we found the making of a pretty amazing week long tour out there.   This is remote back-country type stuff and you better have your A-game when you come.  There's no better way to see the Western Highlands than from a mountain bike.

We head out here pretty often so get in touch with the shop and sign up for our next tour.  If you like big rides with bigger views, there's no better place the Huehuetengo for an epic out of bounds mountain bike adventure.

Afternoon sunburst on a sheep herders trail

Looking for that next adventure?  Get in touch so we can get you out there.

Lake Atitlan DH Run

Here is a sweet video of the "staircase" on the Lake Atitlan Santa Cat downhill mountain bike tour.  The trail winds its way through the forest and Mayan villages high above Lake Atitlan on some of Guatemala's nicest most scenic single-track.  This mountain bike trail rivals some of the best in the world!

Just before hitting the lake, the trail drops through the staircase maze of Santa Catarina, a beautiful lakeside Mayan village.  It is a one of the sweetest pieces of single-track around, but dont take my word for it, stop in at Old Town Outfitters and sign up!
See ya on the trail,
-Mateo