GuateMania
We are Travel Maniacs
The Complete Guatemala Travel Guide
A largely agricultural country, Guatemala is absolutely covered in footpaths. Our hikes and treks retrace the ancient Mayan trails and trade routes that crisscross the Highlands.
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Whether you are looking for a half day hike or a multiday backpacking style trek, we have found amazing routes that link remote Mayan pueblos of Guatemala. The options are limitless so talk to our staff to find a hike that suits you!
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We will lead expeditions to any peak in Guatemala, or can provide logistical support for those groups seeking to climb volcanoes apart from those listed on this web site.
Hiking & Trekking
The most intense 1 or 2 day volcano experience we offer, not for the faint hearted!!
Acatenango volcano, cousin of the mighty Agua, rises majestically to the sky in the northwest corner of the Antigua Valley. Our tour begins in the agricultural pueblo of La Soledad, hid away on the flanks of Acatenango . The group will traverse the endless fields of corn and climb through the high-altitude pine forests near the lower peak of Acatenango . We summit both peaks of Acatenango. The bigger of the two is the largest in the region and third highest in all of Guatemala at 13,900 feet where we set up camp for the night. Our experienced guides provide all the gear and cooking equipment for a cozy night on the cone of Acatenango. With some luck Fuego will provide some entertainment with a high altitude firework show -- this volcano has been rumbling and firing lava from its crater during much of this year.
​Hiking Volcan Pacaya
Pacaya, one Guatemala's youngest volcanoes, offers climbers a unique look glance into the geologic bowels of the earth. A relatively easy climb of 1 hour brings us to the fertile shelf just below the cinder cone called "la Meseta." From here we get an awesome view of thousand year old lava flows. Hiking the volcanic scree up to the cone is a harder proposition but rewarding nonetheless. Depending on levels of activity we can walk right up to the rim of the crater and look in. We'll have a sack lunch on top enjoying the views before we make our way back down.
Pacaya is a fairly popular volcano amongst the travelers in Antigua. We leave early to avoid the "cattle rush" of climbers from Antigua in efforts to have the volcano all to ourselves.
‹Maya Highland Trail​
This is Guatemalan trekking at its best. The Mayan Highlands Trail is a 3 day trek following the ancient Mayan trade routes that once connected the Mayan civilizations of Lake Atitlan to those of Quetzaltenango.
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Much of this walk traverses above 3000 meters giving up huge views of 15 different Guatemalan volcanos. Watch the sunset over Lake Atitlan and look out to the volcanoes on the Mexican Border.
Trail of the Quetzal
The Sierra de Las Minas is perhaps Central America’s most progressively and advanced protected area that encompasses over 60% of Central America’s remaining cloud forest. The Sierra is not only home to Guatemala’s national Icon the Quetzal, but also Puma, Jaguar, Tapir and boasts the highest amount bio-diversity anywhere in Central America. Our trek across the Sierra Las Minas is a Pioneer trip. It is not easy, but to experience such pristine nature, untouched and raw never is. We are accompanied by local park rangers who know the forest inside and out. They are eager to point out the amazing diversity of birds, flora and other fauna. The trek traverses through this amazing forest following Tapir trails, Jaguar tracks and river crossings. We sleep each night in rustic cabanas used by the rangers while they’re out on patrol.

​This is an absolute must see, Guatemala untouched! This type of forest is all but disappearing in this part of the world.
