Multi Sport FAM - OCT 12-16 - Only for FIT, Active People :)

MULTI-SPORT FAM TO THE WESTERN GUATEMALAN HIGHLANDS
October 2011

COST

• $200 per person if sharing a room
• $350 per person in single occupancy

SUMMARY ITINERARY

• 12^th Oct: Arrive into Guatemala City - transfer to colonial Antigua. Biking / hiking if time.
• 13^th Oct: Bike & hike to Cucurucho hill & transfer to Volcano Surrounded Lake Atitlan.  
• 14^th Oct: Kayak the famous crater lake of Lake Atitlan and visit Solola indigenous Maya Market
• 15^th Oct: Hike / Bike the Atlas Highlands and overnight in the deep highlands.
• 16^th Oct: Transfer overland to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico - land border crossing.
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• Arrive on the 11^th and hike the active volcano of Pacaya with extra night in Antigua for $60 p.p

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

For guests that want to arrive a day early we can arrange for a trip to hike the active Volcano of Pacaya and spend an additional night in Antigua for an additional cost of $85 per person in double occupancy.

12th Oct: Arrive Guatemala & transfer to Antigua.

Guests should aim to arrive into Guatemala City as early as possible. They will be met by our Viaventure driver for the 1hour transfer to Antigua. Depending on your flight arrival time we can arrange optional activities like mountain biking or hiking in the Atnigua area of guests can just enjoy relaxing in the many cafes and bars, go shopping in the markets and boutiques or relax at the hotel.

• Overnight mid range hotel Antigua – no meals included
  

13th Oct: Mountain Bike to Lake Atitlan

This morning the trip proper begins and we start the day with a welcome breakfast and trip briefing from your guide / tour leader and also technical aspects such as bike fitting. We then begin the adventure with a land transfer into the picturesque altiplano region taking us to the start of today’s  mountain bike adventure. We start at almost 2300m elevation and our destination lies at 1500m elevation. There are a few short but challenging climbs before we enjoy a single track downhill to the shores of Lake Atitlan.

• Overnight mid range hotel at the Lake. Includes Breakfast & Lunch

Daily Details

• Times: Departure from Hotel 9:00am, Driving time: 2 hours :Approx arrival at hotel 5pm
• MTB  details: Distance : 42 kms,  elevation gain 562/ elevation drop 1240    surface : tarmac, dirt track and single track (technical). The single track is optional and can be substituted by a tarmac downhill

14th Oct: Atitlan, Kayak and Hike, Santiago town

We start off the day by kayaking on what many called the most beautiful lake in the world, often we encounter local fisherman on the water and community farmers on the hike. Guests can enjoy views over the entire lake area, its villages and volcanoes. With a bit of luck we may be able to see the mountain range of Pico San Marcos, which awaits us on tomorrow’s adventure. We then transfer by flete (local form of transportation in the back of a truck) to the Santiago Atitlan for a stroll around the market and main square area and a visit to the famous Maya shrine of the Maya God - San Simon or Maximon. We return by motor boat to hotel in time for sunset drinks.

• Overnight mid range hotel at the Lake. Includes Breakfast & Lunch. Dinner on own

Daily Details

• Times: Departure from Hotel 8.30am, Boat time first leg: 1hour. Approx back at hotel 5pm
• Kayaking: 1.5 to 2 hrs,
• Hiking: Distance:5.5kms, elevation gain 402, elevation drop 240 surface : dirt and stones on tracks and single trails
• Technical level : medium

15th Oct: Climb Pico san Marcos & Transfer to the highlands to the Xela area.

This morning we take a scenic drive to the trail head for our ascent to the Pico San Marcos, which is nearly 3000 meters above sea level. Views are superb and often we will be the only visitors there.
We continue along a rolling ridge, exploring a sacred Maya site with a small cave which is still used for ceremonies often by the kachiquel and quiche mayas.  In the afternoon we transfer on to the Quetzaltenango region and if times permits we treat ourselves to a bath in the thermal springs of Fuentes Georginas.

• Overnight Mid range hotel in Xela. Includes Breakfast and Lunch. Dinner on own in Xela

Daily Details

• Times, Departure from Hotel 7.30am Transfer time 4 hours total: Arrive at hotel 6pm
• Hiking details:  Distance :7.8kms,  elevation gain 678, elevation drop 648 surface : dirt and stones on tracks and single trails
• Technical level : medium to advanced(for sections only)

16th Oct:  Chicabal Volcano & Transfer to San Cristobal de las Casas

This morning we take an early hike up Chicabal Volcano to view the crater lake and a traditional Shaman ceremony. This crater lake is nestled in pacific could forest and there is typically cloud cover the area around mid morning, so our aim is to be there early. For the last section of the climb we will transfer in the back of a local truck as the road offers true challenges in parts. We will take a box breakfast at the lakeshore or at a lookout point

For guests continuing into Mexico for the ATTA summit we then have a long but interesting land transfer across the border into Mexico and on to San Cristobal de las Casas and to your hotel.

For guests returning to Antigua or Guatemala City the transfer will be back through the Guatemalan highlands for about 4 hours.

• Includes breakfast, lunch en route at own, dinner as well at place of choice ion SCLC

Daily Details

• Times, Departure from Hotel 6.00am Transfer time 9 hours total. Arrive at hotel 6- 7 pm
• Hiking details:  Distance : 4.1 kms,  elevation gain 522, elevation drop 522 surface : dirt and stones on tracks and single trails, wodden stair ways
• Technical level : medium to advanced(for sections only)

Notes
All details like distances, transfer times etc are approximate and may vary due conditions of participants, mayor force etc

Honduras Staff Training Trip - Sep 2011

Honduras Viaventure Staff Training Trip

Day 01

Sunday morning saw Clelia, Hugo, Steph and Alfredo off to a groggy-eyed start at 4am; by 3pm we were at the ferry terminal in La Ceiba, having only stopped for a quick breakfast, even quicker lunch, and to stamp our passports at the border.

At 4pm we left La Ceiba by boat, arriving into Utila by 5… mercifully, the waters were calm. Curly haired Lisa from Laguna Beach Resort met us on the dock – of course, our luggage was the very last to be unloaded!

A short land transfer and an even shorter boat ride and were at Laguna Beach Resort – at last! – where a kind bartender awaited with a selection of ice-cold beers… mmm J

After dinner we headed into town to explore some of the local nightlife although being a Sunday, everything was pretty quiet.

Day 02

After breakfast we met with Sheena, our snorkel master for the morning. After kitting us out with masks, snorkels and fins, we departed by boat, accompanied by two diving pax and their dive master.

We spent the next couple of hours snorkeling the reef with Sheena pointing out many colourful fish and different types of coral. After a snack of cooled water, biscuits and fresh watermelon we moved on to a second spot before heading back to the resort for lunch.

After an early lunch we said goodbye to Lisa and Felicia and dropped our luggage at the ferry terminal to go and check-out Mango Inn.

Our luck held and the waters remained calm, meaning we were back in La Ceiba by 3pm and off to visit the Quinta Real hotel, before moving on to the Lodge at Pico Bonito where the receptionist was waiting with cold towels and refreshments.

Finally we reached Omega Lodge, where a cheerful Sunie greeted us and gave us a tour of the property. Clelia and Steph called dibs on the room with the private bathroom (sorry boys!) before heading down to a superb dinner.

Day 03

After breakfast we signed our lives away to Omega by means of a waiver (as Sunie put it – we will do everything possible to minimize the risk, but if anything does happen, we are very sorry) J, and were then hooked up with life jackets, helmets and wet shoes to march down to the river.

Down at the river we were given a crash course on swimming in rivers and currents, etc. before heading upriver to do some rock jumping, after which we headed back down-river for the instructions on the rafting part of the activity. After practicing paddling and rescuing people who fall in we set off. It hadn’t rained the day before so we had an exciting but not too hard core trip with our raft guide Tom.

Once back at the lodge we had lunch and then set off towards Copan, stopping along the way to visit Casa del Arbol in San Pedro Sula.

Day 04

This morning Fito met us at the entrance to the Copan archaeology site for an interesting tour of the ruins and some background history on the Mayas.

After a 3hr tour we picked up some refreshments and headed on to the Finca Santa Isabel where Fito showed us the nature trails and gave us some details on how the tour works.

After lunch in a local café we braved the heat to complete the hotel visits, ending in Hacienda San Lucas with a wonderful glass of lemonade.

Back in town we went to ViaVia for dinner and the Wednesday Salsa Night.

Day 05

An early start to our last day – we met Howard from Casa de Café and Terra Maya before setting off for Finca El Cisne where we met a very amiable Carlos for a delicious home-grown meal – scrambled eggs, beans, cream, hard cheese, plátanos and limes with coffee and milk, all from the farm!

Carlos then took us for a walk through the orchard showing us Maracuyá, Pommelo (similar to grapefruit), various types of bananas and plátanos, Mazapán (the bread fruit), Carambola (star fruit), etc.

From here a 10min drive took us to the paddock for another crash course – this time on horseback riding before saddling up on our steeds Diana, Josephine, Maximo and Beatriz.

We set off, with three other participants on the tour, through coffee plantations and the area designated for drying cardamom, through fields, over bridges and across streams whilst tasting coffee, cardamom, star fruit and guayaba.

Just before midday we waved goodbye to Carlos and the rest of the group, and headed back to the car with Don Arnulfo, our other guide.

We headed back to Copan Ruinas, stopping for a quick visit at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park, to have lunch, before beginning the homeward journey mid afternoon, finally arriving as very weary travelers around 9pm.