Sky Route 4-day Trek (Antigua to Atitlan) My 5 friends and I just completed the 4-day Antigua to Atitlan "Sky Route" trek in mid-February. It was spectacular!... read moreMy 5 friends and I just completed the 4-day Antigua to Atitlan "Sky Route" trek in mid-February. It was spectacular! All of the staff were incredible - our guide Mario was very friendly and knowledgeable and the camp crew kept things running smoothly (the meals were especially good!). This is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime trip that you will always remember. Walking through and staying near tiny Mayan villages was special and not something the vast majority of visitors to Guatemala ever get to do. The trek is 54 km and some of the terrain is fairly challenging (and we were 6 fit guys in our mid-30's), so be prepared to sweat a little! I would highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a bit of adventure and something unique. read less

Sky Route 4-day trek with Trek Guatemala Nov 2021 - just finished 4-day sky route trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan with my kids and niece ... read moreNov 2021 - just finished 4-day sky route trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan with my kids and niece (ages 18-54) - completely epic adventure. Literally every step of the 32 miles was spectacular. Guide Mario, camp crew cook, Ana and driver Juan Carlos were incredible and amazing people to spend time with. Could not imagine a better adventure / exploration / vacation. Wouldn't change a thing and already scheming on a longer trek with Trek Guatemala. read less

Nine Day Discovery Tour My 4-person family (w two teenagers) completed the Nine Day Discovery Tour in June 2021. This was an epic... read moreMy 4-person family (w two teenagers) completed the Nine Day Discovery Tour in June 2021. This was an epic experience we will never forget. The entire staff (owner, guides, kitchen & support) during our 9 days with Trek Guatemala was so responsive, professional and kind. The intimate and detailed experiences provided an authenticity that could not have ever been achieved by unbeknownst visitors to Guatemala. This is an impeccable adventure that I highly recommend and personally would love to repeat. read less

May 2021 Acatenango hike - incredible views, great guide and overall fantastic experience We had such a great experience on our overnight Acatenango hike! It was as difficult as we expected, but our... read moreWe had such a great experience on our overnight Acatenango hike! It was as difficult as we expected, but our guide (Juan Pedro) and our porters (Jaime and others?) made it comfortable, safe, and fun. In particular, we were pleased with the quality of the gear and food. Matt was responsive during the booking process and even called our hotel to let us know our guide was a few minutes behind so we wouldn’t panic. And seeing Fuego erupt after the sun goes down is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! Just keep climbing 😬 Highly recommend! read less

Beautiful nature and communities This was the highlight of our 2+ week holiday in Guatemala. If you enjoy hiking this is an absolute must.... read moreThis was the highlight of our 2+ week holiday in Guatemala. If you enjoy hiking this is an absolute must. Leveraging the owners’ 20+ years in the sustainable tourism industry, Trek Guatemala enables tourists to visit remote villages in a sensible and sensitive way, contributing the the local economies and working with the local indigenous communities. The 4 day hike includes ~5 hours of hiking every day, including stretches of 40-60 minutes of steep uphills at a time. This shouldn’t scare you off — if you are moderately in shape, the hikes shouldn’t be a problem. The food is incredible, especially for camping standards: big breakfasts, snacks, big lunch, more snacks, and big dinner. You will not go hungry! The glamping is a nice reward at the end of the day; however, absolutely should not be the main reason for doing the hike. Seeing a side to Guatemala that would be nearly impossible to see otherwise was such a treat. My favourite was the second night, camping in the community with dozens of schoolchildren visiting and joking around with our group. Highly recommend this trek! read less

A Highlight of Our Trip! My boyfriend and I loved our experience on this 4-day trek! It’s a nice amount of challenging, with some intense... read moreMy boyfriend and I loved our experience on this 4-day trek! It’s a nice amount of challenging, with some intense steep portions, even with both of us being in good shape. But with frequent stops and never finishing the hiking portion of the day later than 2-2:30, it should be doable for most people in decent shape. But the real highlight of this trek is the cultural experience! You get to travel through farms and small towns, along long-used footpaths, and have the opportunity to interact with these more remote communities. Everyone we met was friendly and warm and welcoming and our small exchanges and time in these towns left a meaningful impression on us. The weaving, coffee tour, and tortilla-making were particularly fun! Matt does a fantastic job making you feel welcome and he’s assembled a thoughtful experience and a stellar team to carry it out. Mario was an enthusiastic and encouraging guide, Doña Ana made delicious meals (especially the pepian stew and the chapín breakfast!), Juan Carlos kept things running smoothly and with a smile, and the local guides were a lot of fun (special shout-out to Francisco!). It’s also a major treat to have hot showers, campfires, and a big tent with a warm bed. Some things to know before you go: the nights are quite chilly so pack nice warm things for the evening and for bed; bring enough local currency to buy snacks and cold drinks from tiendas on route, to buy weaving or coffee, and to tip the staff; brush up (or ask Matt or Mario) about local customs, how to respectfully interact with the Mayan people you meet, and how to say some basic phrases in Spanish and in Kakchiquel; if you’re curious about the flora and fauna you’re seeing, you may be best to bring a book on it - while the guides are excellent and share whatever knowledge they have with you, the focus of this trek is on culture rather than biodiversity and wildlife. Overall, the trek was fun, seamless, and a rare experience. Our trek-mates were also wonderful - we were a bigger group and had a lot of great conversations! If you enjoy the outdoors, being active, eating well, and interacting with other people and cultures with curiosity and respect, I highly recommend this trek!! read less

Wow - challenging and SO rewarding! First and mainly, this was a fabulous trek - highly recommended! This is the trek to take if you... read moreFirst and mainly, this was a fabulous trek - highly recommended! This is the trek to take if you want to get away from the touristy stuff and get a more in-depth look at the traditional way of life in Guatemala . My friend and I really loved the scenery, the ability to walk on indigenous footpaths, and were humbled at how hard the people have to work just to survive. Mario, our Guatemalan guide, was a patient and encouraging, and our camp helpers made sure we were well-taken care of. And we appreciated our fellow trekkers as well – really great folks to be hiking with. Also, this is a very challenging itinerary and will be tough for many hikers, given the intense uphills and downhills - very steep and seemingly relentless - at an altitude that most of us are not accustomed to. My friend and I are avid hikers, hiking double-digit miles without batting an eyelash - at sea level - and really had to scale back our expectations for ourselves on this trek, mostly because we just simply couldn't pull in as much oxygen as our muscles were used to for that amount of work. So, to train for this, find the steepest hill you can access (preferably at least 500' or more) and go straight up and straight down multiple times every day. And, if you're coming in from lower altitudes, at least bring a friend so you have someone to gasp with.Despite the daily physical challenge, this trek is SO WORTH IT - the rewards are many, and you'll have a real sense of accomplishment when you finally get all the way down to Lake Atitlan! read less

Fantastic Journey with an Experienced Local Guide This trek was very well organized. The food was very good, the hiking was challenging and it was a great... read moreThis trek was very well organized. The food was very good, the hiking was challenging and it was a great way to get to know Guatemala. read less

Best way to see and experience Guatemala This trek takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of Guatemala. The hiking is pretty intense but... read moreThis trek takes you through some of the most beautiful areas of Guatemala. The hiking is pretty intense but you are well taken care of both on and off the trail. Our guide, Juan Pablo, was fun and informative. We trekked through coffee farms, avocado fields and cloud forests. The food was amazing and the accommodations at camp were luxurious by camping standards. I highly recommend this trekking company for your outdoor adventures! read less

Acatenango overnight hike Was an absolute blast with Mario being an experienced and great tour guide. Fernando did a great job in leading... read moreWas an absolute blast with Mario being an experienced and great tour guide. Fernando did a great job in leading the group up to the summit and carrying up food and sleeping bags. Has top equipment, considers different levels of fitness and provides lip-smacking comfort food. read less

A marvelous way to visit and experience Guatemala Except for a missed connection with the driver at the airport, everything was well planned and executed throughout the trip.... read moreExcept for a missed connection with the driver at the airport, everything was well planned and executed throughout the trip. We spent our first two nights at a charming hotel in Antigua and were met on our first morning by a local guide who enthusiastically showed us his city. The information enlightened our understanding of Guatemala throughout the rest of our trek. The second day, we were picked up and taken to the beginning of the hike. It was fascinating to see the daily lives of the people in the mountains. We are glad we bought new hiking boots for the trip and glad they provided walking sticks. It was a tough climb, and when we arrived at our camp, we were greeted with fresh fruit smoothies as we learned about using the hot shower and flush toilet. (Not like a hotel, but better than the alternative). We could stand up in our large tents and had beds with cushy air mattresses that we heated with hot water bottles after dinner. The dining tent displayed a map with all the elevation and distances which turned out to be much more arduous than anything we had experienced in the US. Our guide, Juan Pablo, was fantastic throughout the trip. The support staff (cook and driver) employed local people to help set up, take down camp each day, and act as local guides. The detailed packing list helped us prepare for the changes in weather. While I struggled with my knees on the steep slopes, I marveled at the local men, women and children hauling large loads on their backs up and down the fields. It was an up-close-and-personal way to witness how other people live. At Lake Atitlan, we stayed at a very charming and atmospheric hotel on the lake. Though after all that hiking, the 103 steps from the dock to the lobby were a struggle. The next day was one of the absolute highlights of our trip. We were taken by boat across the lake to Santiago Atitilan, where a charming guide named Lola shared her love of her town with us. It included history, tragedy and culture as well as a visit to her sister's home where she tried to teach me how to make tortillas and then served us a traditional meal.On our last day, a driver met us and drove us back to the hotel in Antigua to pack for our flight home. Driving on the mountainous, winding steep roads for hours, we realized our hike had taken us on the shortest distance and most scenic route between Antigua and Lake Atitlan. read less

What an experience! An amazing way to see this beautiful country. Slowly (lol) walking through the fertile mountains, on tracks, many fallen out... read moreAn amazing way to see this beautiful country. Slowly (lol) walking through the fertile mountains, on tracks, many fallen out of use, prior to Matt approaching the local villagers. Only 3k on tarmac! And then Lake Atitlan! Oh wow! read less

Unworldly views of Fuego, Acatenango is a planned two day expedition with Trek Guatamala It can be done in a day, but the whole... read moreAcatenango is a planned two day expedition with Trek Guatamala It can be done in a day, but the whole point is the night view of Fuego erupting just a few miles away and the glowing lava flows on the now very active Pacaya. We initially booked a private tour with the caveat that if others wanted to join us they could. We were delighted when we receive a partial refund from Trek Guatemala to have Bethany and Laurie join us for the climb. Mario our guide was simply Awesome, not only knowledgeable on the trail and volcanoes but also providing information on flora and fauna as well as local culture along the way. And it must be added that Hyme our porter provided incredible assistance, support and motivation as wellWe climbed through the cloud forests to get to base camp at roughly 3200 meters. Only to find ourselves in dense cloud with barely 50 meters of visibility. We could hear the explosions next door, and then as dusk descended, we caught glimpses or Fuego spewing ash into the darkening sky. By night fall, the skies cleared, and the real show began. With each belch molten rocks and lava were thrown high into the air and a fresh release of lava poured out and down, brilliant red against the dark night sky punctuated by a lightning storm along the Pacific coast. Gear helps, physical conditioning helps, technique helps, but in the end, summiting takes a shear blind stubbornness not to fail. You ignore the bitter cold, lose footing, exhaustion of the thin air and put one foot in front of the other. Then you do it again. Over and over, never looking up, focusing on each step and breathing. Then you are suddenly there standing atop the world taking in unworldly views that very few mortals will ever enjoy. read less

Amazing. Richness in every step We went on a four day trek and also had Trek Guatemala plan the rest of our time in Guatemala... read moreWe went on a four day trek and also had Trek Guatemala plan the rest of our time in Guatemala and into Belize. We were a family of four (kids 13/15) and my mother (76). We all really enjoyed the entire trip with the trek being a highlight. The staff (guides and camp crew) were all great. The trek was actually more difficult than I had anticipated based on some of the other reviews I had read but did not surpass any of our abilities. I wanted to keep on trekking although the others felt that the length of time was perfect. I liked the diversity and authenticity of the trek as every few minutes brought a new experience whether it was a town, forest, agricultural landscape or views of volcanoes. We were all glad that we brought warm clothes. The company should be commended for its commitment toward working with the communities so that there are some local benefits. In general it exceeded my expectations and would recommend this trip who likes adventure, a bit of grit, and exercise. read less

Guatemala closeup The trek is very well prepared and allows to see the real country, people, and nature. It leads away from... read moreThe trek is very well prepared and allows to see the real country, people, and nature. It leads away from the tourist routes into the fields and villages and trails that only locals tread. We went in February and most volcanoes we passed by remained hidden in fog. Still the trek left a very deep experience. Some stretches are steep and each day provides a bit of workout, but the time for rest is ample and the camp is waiting for you in the end of the trek. The shower and toilet were actually quite comfortable to use. The company works in collaboration with local communities, and this is one of the best impressions of this trek. Each day we walked with a local guide and could partake of a local experience. This is totally recommended if you want to be off the beaten path, enjoy being jn nature and are curious about people and culture. Very immersive yet with enough comfort and very well organized. Lots of thanks to Matt and team, especially for respect for the native communities and the love for the country. read less

Fabulous Trek - Authentic, Strenuous and Fun! The trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan with Trek Guatemala was wonderful - from the landscape to the tents to... read moreThe trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan with Trek Guatemala was wonderful - from the landscape to the tents to the food to the company, I had a great time. I went alone, and was happy with the friendliness of the crew, the guide (Mario is amazing!) and the other hikers. The views are spectacular and I didn't see another tourist (apart from our group) the entire time. The hike itself is very strenuous at times, and strangely easy at others -it definitely felt like extremes from that point of view. My only question is whether they should stratify hiking groups, since there was a divide in levels and speeds of hiking. That said, it didn't really bother me to wait, I just felt badly and didn't want to put pressure on other members of the group.A few key notes: it's COLD at night in the mountains! I felt silly initially for bringing my Arcteryx winter coat, but it was totally necessary in the end. Also, a headlamp or little flashlight is super helpful, and it would have been nice to have cards or travel games for downtime in the late evening/early afternoon. Great trip, highly recommended! read less

Trek Off The Beaten Path We had an excellent trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. Matt amended the itinerary to 3 days as we were... read moreWe had an excellent trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. Matt amended the itinerary to 3 days as we were short on time, however by the end we wished the trek could have continued for longer. It was wonderful to trek through villages which rarely see tourists to get an impression of rural Guatemalan life. Hearing the church services with live music and singing in the villages over Easter weekend was magical.Matt's team with Luis the guide and Ana the cook looked after us excellently. The camp was set up luxuriously. It was the highlight of our trip to Guatemala. read less

Great trekking experience Climb of Acatenango volcano with overnight at the base camp right across from Fuego volcano. Trek over to Lac Atitlan... read moreClimb of Acatenango volcano with overnight at the base camp right across from Fuego volcano. Trek over to Lac Atitlan passing through coffee plantation and tropical rain forest. Gorgeous sun sets and relaxing by the camp fire after a full day of hiking. And despite our group size of twelve we had enough water to wash off the dust from the hike. Kudos to Matt for laying out the itinerary which gave us the opportunity to discover Guatemala with all its various aspects, our two guides Mario and Luis for their guidance, Cecilia for his local assistance and Ana the cook who made sure we didn’t leave the table still being hungry. read less

Fabulous Trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan Our 4 day, 3 night adventure with Trek Guatemala was a wonderful experience. We trekked through cloud forests, across hanging... read moreOur 4 day, 3 night adventure with Trek Guatemala was a wonderful experience. We trekked through cloud forests, across hanging footbridges, through coffee and avocado plantations. The trek was really well organised, our tents were comfortable and the hot shower was a really hit! The food served for lunch and dinner was excellent. We would recommend this trek to anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness. read less

Beautiful terrain, delicious food and even better company. My wife and I are avid hikers. We particularly enjoy hikes that are both physically challenging AND take us... read moreMy wife and I are avid hikers. We particularly enjoy hikes that are both physically challenging AND take us off of the beaten path, exposing us to undisturbed natural landscapes and authentic communities. Our hike with Trek Guatemala delivered these things and much more. The terrain was varied and beautiful with a lovely combination of segments that were seldom used and others that took us through fruit and coffee plantations. The food was delicious, the accommodations were very comfortable (definitely glamping rather than camping) and the service was excellent. The best part of the trip, however, was the company. Matt and the rest of his staff were genuine, kind, friendly and lot's of fun. By the end we felt like we were saying goodbye to new friends. In short, we loved it and would give it 6 stars if we could. read less

Wonderful way to experience Guatemala! We joined up with Matt, Mario, and the Trek Guatemala team for a trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan in... read moreWe joined up with Matt, Mario, and the Trek Guatemala team for a trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan in August, 2018. We were a group of 9, with 5 kids ages 8 to 11, so a lot to handle, but Trek Guatemala handled it all effortlessly. From start to finish, Matt and team had every detail covered without a hitch, and we had an incredible experience. The food was great, glamping accommodations top-notch, staff incredible, and experiences along the route unlike any other in Guatemala (having spent a lot of time there). The trek takes you well off any beaten, tourist route, through small villages and quiet jungles, allowing you to see the hidden beauty of this Mayan heartland and ecological paradise in a way few others do. Why simply drive to the Lake as everyone else does? Take a few days to walk with Matt and his team through the landscape - you won't be disappoint read less

Amazing family trek! Matt, Mario, and the incredible Trek Guatemala team provided an amazing experience for our family of five! They... read moreMatt, Mario, and the incredible Trek Guatemala team provided an amazing experience for our family of five! They were well organized, incredibly FUN, and ready to help immerse us all in the beauty and culture of Guatemala. Matt was able to accommodate our difficult dietary restrictions/allergies in remote locations. Our family felt comfortable by the fire and cozy our beds at night. It was a beautiful trek with the right blend of challenge and relaxation. We are very grateful for this experience! Thank you Trek Guatemala! read less

Thunder, Lightning, and Lava. It doesn’t get much better! In case you lose interest before finishing the review, the trip was fantastic and well worth the price. We... read moreIn case you lose interest before finishing the review, the trip was fantastic and well worth the price. We had a group of four that backpacked Acatenango on September 10th and 11th. 2018. The reason our trip was fantastic was the weather was perfect, the group was well prepared, and Trek Guatemala was was also well prepared. The only things you can’t control on the trip are the weather, your response to high altitude, and the other hikers on the trail. This is not an easy hike but the reward is well worth it for those who are prepared. Preparation. First you should be in good physical hiking shape. Our group was three guys in their late 50’s and a women in her early 20’s. All of us live near sea level and hike 3-5 miles a few times a week and at least 5-10 miles once per week. You’ll need to pack the right clothing. Sturdy high hiking boots that you’ve already broken in are the best. Descending from the top through decomposing lava scree tends to get lava rock in low hiking boots. Hiking pants with zip off pant legs is beneficial. Pant legs off for ascending and on for early morning ascent and around base camp. A second layer of light rain pants is also recommended for the early morning ascent or rain. Top layers like two wick dry t shirts (one to change into at camp), light fleece, thin down jacket, and rain jacket give you flexibility during the hike. A warm hat and gloves complete your clothing. All of us took Advil at the trial head, at base camp before bed, and in the morning as a precaution for altitude sickness. You may want to google more on altitude sickness if you are not familiar. For sleeping you may want to bring a sleeping bag liner and small blow up pillow. I’m not a big fan of sleeping in someone else’s bag so the liner solves that. However, the sleeping bags provided were new and clean so no problem.Trek Guatemala was prepared with a great guide who spoke Spanish, English, and French. The provided equipment, and rental gear if needed, was all new and of very good quality. The food was very good and our guide prepared lunch, dinner, and breakfast that other hiking groups were jealous of. Our guide made guacamole with tomatoes and onions at the stop. There were tortillas, chips, pastries, apples, bread, and refried beans. Dinner was sliced bread with tomato topping and a bottle of wine to start with. The entree was bow tie pasta, tomatoes, salad. Top off with S’mores at the end. Breakfast the next morning was after the ascent and included strawberries, granola, yogurt, apples, coffee and tea. The food was excellent and I may have missed a few items, but you won’t go hungry.The trail. It’s mostly a single track straight up. Very few switch backs and the ones that are there are steep. Did I mention it’s steep. To put it in perspective. The hike up Mt Whitney starts at 8800 feet and finishes at 14,500 feet. This hike starts at 7800 feet and finishes at 13000 feet. Basically the same elevation gain but in half the distance. Mt. Whitney is 11 miles up and this hike is just less than 6 miles one way. Base camp is at 11,700 feet which took us 4.5 hours. The next day is another 1300 feet up decomposed lava. If you’ve even seen movies about hiking Mt Everest, this is close to it. We had about 100 people on the trial trying to get up to the top before sunrise. It was a traffic jam but everyone was calm. Coming down the trail is hard on the quads and it’s best to take it slow although we did it in under 2.5 hours from the top. The weather. Unpredictable but for our trip is was overcast during the hike up which was welcomed because it would have been really hot even though there is cover most of the way. At camp the clouds covered Fuego while we settled in and then dispersed to show Fuego right in front of us spewing smoke, rock, and lava. Once it was dark, the lava and thunder and lightning show was amazing. Fuego erupted all night long. Up at 4:00am to make it to the top to see the sunrise at 5:40am. The weather was cool but not cold. We didn’t need all our cold weather gear but this was not usual the guide said. No wind at the top and clear skies to see all the volcanoes, the lake, and city lights. Miscellaneous. There are stray dogs on the trails and a few followed us all the way to base camp. Ours weren’t aggressive and one slept in the vestibule of our tent with his body next to mine separated by the tent wall. He benefitted more from the body heat than I did. Porters. I highly recommend getting a porter or two. We hired two. This was the first time for me. I felt guilty at first but it helps the locals. These guys are strong and with a mule they carried our water and sleeping gear. Our tents were set up when we arrived and a nice touch was the thermarest chair made out of the sleeping pad. The only improvement I would suggest at camp would be to have a few log benches at least to sit on because it’s all lava rock. You carry your own clothing and water you’ll need that day, about 3 liters depending on your level hydration.I know it’s a long review but hopefully it’s helps. Be prepared and have fun. It’s a trip you’ll long remember. read less

Amazing Acatenango We completed the overnight hike to Acatenango at the end of August. The whole process was awesome from the booking... read moreWe completed the overnight hike to Acatenango at the end of August. The whole process was awesome from the booking to completing the hike. Billy was our guide and spoke great english and his knowledge of the area was great. The experience was unreal from the change climate as you get higher on Acatenango from the fresh food we are along the way. I would recommend these guys to anyone that want to experience Acatenango as they had the best spot at base camp for viewing the eruptions.The hike was difficult but you can go at what ever pace suits you and when they say it gets cold at the top they weren't lying so i suggest taking extra clothes. read less

An unforgettable experience! Trek Guatemala made our first (but not last) visit to Guatemala unforgettable and magical. Our four day/three night trek from... read moreTrek Guatemala made our first (but not last) visit to Guatemala unforgettable and magical. Our four day/three night trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan was made extra special by our superb guide Mario as well as the founder Matt, who both went above and beyond throughout our stay to make it so very enjoyable. The camping set up is incredible - from the super comfortable beds (complete with hot water bottles!) to the bathroom/toilet facilities, the delicious food, and the beautiful campfire set up (where I tried my first s'more!) to welcome us after each day's trekking, we were thoroughly well looked after.As well as all this, we got to see amazing and breathtaking landscape along the way, with a volcano/panoramic view never far from sight. We didn't see a single tourist/other trekker during the whole time, only meeting Guatemalan locals along the way - some of the most friendly and hospitable people I've ever met. At each campsite we stayed at they made a concerted effort to work with the local community, leaving only a sustainable impact on the local way of life as we passed through. This being one of the key reasons why this company is the one to choose!I can't recommend Trek Guatemala enough - it's one of the most authentic travel experiences I've ever had! read less

Coffee, culture and colours! We have just spent the most magical four days with Trek Guatemala, exploring the Guatemalan countryside from Antigua to Atitlán.The... read moreWe have just spent the most magical four days with Trek Guatemala, exploring the Guatemalan countryside from Antigua to Atitlán.The route itself was beautiful, with enough challenging sections to feel like you’ve earned a rest at the stunning campsites! Some highlights include: spending hours playing games with a group of local children, watching Fuego Volcano erupt, meeting the incredibly knowledgable and welcoming family of coffee growers.Our team from Trek Guatemala - Matteo, Mario, Ana, and Juan Carlos - were fantastic and we felt so comfortable at all times! At each campsite and on 3 of the 4 walking days, the team were supported by local people as well, who were so friendly and welcoming.Overall, we have had an unforgettable experience- thank you Trek Guatemala! read less

The ONLY way to experience Guatemala, PERIOD. Guatemala is magical, but you can miss so much of its beauty if not careful about your planning and itinerary!... read moreGuatemala is magical, but you can miss so much of its beauty if not careful about your planning and itinerary! Enter Trek Guatemala. They have their finger on the pulse of this country and its people. Their insight, experience and love of Guatemala's culture add to this amazinging adventure and will let you see this country in a way that not only allows you feel the country's pulse but allows you to hear its heartbeat!My wife and I are adventure travelers and always try to backpack and hike when going to new destinations. We were after a mix of city exploration and backcountry trekking to get the most out of our 13 days in country. Trek Guatemala was the perfect way to help us experience the diversity Guatemala has to offer.We arrived in Guatamala City and we were met by our private taxi and took the 45 minute drive to Antigua. We explored Antigua for several days by foot and tuk tuk. An amazing city established in the 15th century that will not disappoint. You can eat, photograph and sightsee until your heart is content! We met up with Matt (owner/operator, Trek Guatimala) on our 5th day in Antigua and began our journey to lake Atitlan via a cross country trek that will submerge you in the essence of this countries rainforests, traditional villages, and agricultural countryside. This 4 day, 3 night hike has it all!The views, villages and indigenous people we experienced during our trip was enlightening. We could hear, smell and taste this country, from the rumblings of distant volcanoes to the fresh Guatemalan coffee Matt and his team served every morning. Oh, and a word about Matt's team of guides, chef and logistic coordinators... They are simply Top notch. Anna, cooked authentic Guatemalan cuisine every night, and our guide Billy provided expert insight during our days on the trail about flora and fauna and local agriculture. Eco-tourism at its best! Juan Carlos handled all of the camp movement logistics everyday and had our tent and accommodations ready every afternoon when we arrived in camp.The accommodations in camp were exceptional. The food was incredible. Matt and his team were awesome. From a custom sign on our tent welcoming us every night to warm water blatters to keep you toasty in bed at night. We arrived at lake Atitlan on the 4th day of the trek and took a private ferry to our hotel, La Casa del Mundo. From there we explored several villages on the lake, from the bustling village of San Pedro, the tiny hamlet of Jaibailito and a private tour of Santiago guided by a Lola, a local of the village and a charming host. Lola even had us to her home where she and her sister taught us how to make Guatemalan corn tortillas. Then we had lunch with the family and learned about the culture of Santiago.Volcano Fuego erupted the day before our departure but that didn't stop Matt's guides from picking us up and ferrying us to the South side of the lake for our private taxi back to Guatemala City and making our flight back to the states. This was an exceptional adventure Guatemalan style! We hiked to over 9,200 feet elevation, toured a coffee plantation, traveled by tuck tuk and mini trucks and slept in cloud forests. Everything we wanted out of our trip to Central America and Trek Guatemala made everything safe and exciting. This organization is top notch and made so many memories for us! Thanks to Matt and his incredible crew! Mucho gusto, Jason and Karla read less

Santiago Atitlan Tour We met up with local Trek Guatemala guide,Lola for a day of touring in Santiago de Atitlan. Visiting Maximon &... read moreWe met up with local Trek Guatemala guide,Lola for a day of touring in Santiago de Atitlan. Visiting Maximon & eating lunch at Lola's home were highlights of our week long trip to Guatemala!!! I highly recommend!! read less

Ranks Tops Among Our Camping Experiences Our family recently completed the four-day trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlán. It ranks among the best family vacations we’ve... read moreOur family recently completed the four-day trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlán. It ranks among the best family vacations we’ve ever experienced. From start to finish, Matt Humke with Trek Guatemala set up the perfect itinerary for us. We had never visited Latin America and booked the trip only six-weeks in advance. Matt promptly answered our questions via email and kept us updated with hotel and transportation details. As another reviewer mentioned, he met us at our hotel the evening prior to departure to answer questions and go over the trek itinerary.Our stay began with a day and a half to explore Antigua before departing on the trek. We stayed at D’Leyenda Hotel, which had beautiful rooms and was ideally located in the center of town. The highlight of the trip was certainly the trek. Away from the tourist sites and cities, we feel as if we had an opportunity to experience what our guide Mario called, “The real Guatemala.” We hiked through acres of farmland, tiny villages, cloud forests, and avocado and coffee plantations. Every S-curve of the trail offered breathtaking views. Along the way we met men, women, and children (and many friendly dogs) who were always welcoming and quick to greet us with a smile. Trek Guatemala is committed to helping the local communities and on days two through four, in addition to Matt and Mario, local guides accompanied us on the trails. We’re experienced campers and were not sure we could handle the “glamping.” It was however, a wonderful indulgence to enter each night’s campsite to find tents already set up, our gear ready to access, and beverages and snacks waiting for us. Matt and his crew went out of their way to make us comfortable, even offering guests hot water bottles at bedtime. The food was delicious and each night at dinner, Ana, the staff cook, prepared a different authentic Guatemalan dish for us to savor. Though it was the start of rainy season and the skies opened nightly, nature obliged us in the mornings as we awakened to the rumble of Volcán Fuego and a gorgeous sunrise. On day four of the trek, a local coffee farmer and his family treated us to a demonstration of the artisanal coffee bean manufacturing process. Later that day we descended to Lake Atitán, and finished our stay at La Casa del Mundo, a beautiful hotel perched on the cliffs overlooking the lake and accessible only by boat or on foot. One note for low-landers like us. Our town in the U.S. is located at sea-level. Though we were fairly fit, the trek is strenuous and on the first few days, the altitude slowed us down. We would recommend training on stairs prior to your trip, and if possible, spending a little extra time acclimating to the altitude so that you can enjoy those breathtaking views.We hope to return to Guatemala in the future. When we do, we’ll trust Matt and Trek Guatemala to show us more of the countryside. read less

Tour of Santiago de Atitlán We booked a day tour with a woman owned company in Santiago de Atitlán through Trek Guatemala. We stayed in... read moreWe booked a day tour with a woman owned company in Santiago de Atitlán through Trek Guatemala. We stayed in Panajachel and took a private launcha across Lago de Atitlán. More expensive than the public boat but worth it for convenience.We were met at the docks by Lola, our guide who took us through the markets and toured the church and town. Highlight of the tour for us was seeing Maximon. (Google for more info. Maximon is fascinating). Then went to Lola’s rural home where we made tortillas by hand (harder than it looks!) and had lunch made by Lola’s sister.Lola spoke good English, was very helpful and attentive to our needs. Highly recommend Lola and Trek Guatemala. read less

Stunning Acatenango Overnight Hike Three of us booked the overnight Acatenango hike with Trek Guatemala and had a fantastic experience from beginning to end... read moreThree of us booked the overnight Acatenango hike with Trek Guatemala and had a fantastic experience from beginning to end with this company. The hike was definitely the highlight of our Guatemala trip. The packing primer we were sent was really helpful in preparing for the hike. We lucked out and had perfect weather without any rain. I still found it cold at night though and would recommend packing extra warm clothes for sleeping.The night before the hike Matt came to our hotel and answered all of our questions and concerns related to the weather, altitude, safety, gear etc. The next morning, Matt picked us up at our hotel with our marvellous guide Mario and we drove to the base of the mountain to pack our bags, arrange porters and set off on the hike. It was really helpful that Matt kept our non-hike related luggage secure for us overnight. We hired two porters who carried our water, tents, and sleeping bags, which I would recommend as our bags were heavy with snacks, wet wipes, and clothes etc. and the hike is very challenging. It took us about 3.5 hours to get from the base to the top. We stopped halfway for lunch and coffee. Once we arrived the porters hired by the company had already set up the campsite and we had a spectacular view of Volcán de Fuego, which erupted about every 20-40 minutes. Two of us hiked to the summit of Acatenango with one of the porters Jaime and his dog Tarzan for sunset. It was a 1.5 hour slog through slippery volcanic scree, the hiking poles provided were invaluable for this portion. This was probably the toughest part of the day but so worth it for sunset at the summit. Running down the scree back to camp in the dark was the most fun part of the day. Back at camp Mario had prepared dinner for us and as a celiac I really appreciated the gluten free pasta provided and how accommodating they were with all the meals. We also enjoyed some red wine and marshmellow roasting to the backdrop of the erupting red lava of Fuego. At 4:30am Mario brought us coffee to our tent so we could get ready to summit Acatenango again for sunrise. It was more challenging the second time and much colder. We wore all our layers! Again though, so worth it!! The view of Fuego and being on top of the clouds for sunrise was unreal. After about 30-45 minutes at the summit we ran down the scree, had breakfast at camp, packed up, and hiked down in about 1.5-2hrs. We had just enough water for the hike down with 5L each to start. Matt met us at the bottom and drove us back to our hostel. It was a perfect experience! I would 100% recommend Trek Guatemala for the Acatenango overnight hike. read less

Amazing Acatenango overnight hike We booked the overnight Acatenango trip for two people on 02/20/2018. The night before our trip Matt came to our... read moreWe booked the overnight Acatenango trip for two people on 02/20/2018. The night before our trip Matt came to our hostel to answer any remaining questions and to go through the packing list! He came to pick us up in Antigua with the local guide and another couple so we where a small group of 6 people. We drove for an hour in a comfortable pick up truck to La Soledad, the starting point of our trip. We hired a porter to take our big backpack with the tents, sleeping bags etc. (highly recommanded, the hike is fysically challenging enough without the extra weight..). We started the hike at 9-9.30 and went through 3 different microclimates before lunch. That was the hardest part of the whole trip because of the steepness and neverending uphill. Matt en the local guide made enough stops so no one was left behind. We had a wonderfull lunch in the pine forest at 1 PM: chips, avocado, mashed black beans, bread, coockies... The final part much more easy because the path went up and down. We arrived at 3.30 PM at 3550m and sat up our tents (two sleeping tents and one dining tent). The view from our tents was AMAZING, the volcan Fuega was erupting very frequently (picture time!). The local guides made a campfire to keep everyone warm. Matt and the local guides made a tasty dinner: pasta pesto with red wine.. dessert campfire marshmellow s'mores. We went to sleep at 8-9PM to be awoken by the erupting Fuego a few times.. Early wake up call at 4.30 AM to make final ascent to the summit and see the sunrise at 3970m! It was pitch-black outside and we were very soon out of breath.. It took us one hour and ten minutes for the final part and everyone was really exhausted BUT THE VIEW WAS SUPERB! We went down after 30minutes because of the icy wind. Downhill was very easy. At camp we had the best breakfast ever: granola, yoghurt, strawberries, banana, honey... The rest of the trip downhill was easy and we were back at La Soledad at 11AM. We had an amazing time with Matt and his team and would recommand everyone to do this once-in-a-lifetime hike! read less