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Waterfalls, wild highlands and mountain villages. Three days in the Wild Cuchumatanes.
Leave Antigua before dawn and head into the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, the highest non-volcanic range in Central America. Meet the llamas of Chiabal, visit Laguna Magdalena and watch the sunset from the Juan Diéguez Olaverri viewpoint.
On day two, hike 14 km to the Jolotes and Pepajau waterfalls along the Quisil River and spend the night in family-run cabins. Finish at Laguna Encantada and the La Maceta trail.
👥 Small group departures: minimum 4 travelers. Private trips for 2–3 on request.
⚠️ Good to know: Pickup at your hotel in Antigua at 3:00 am on Day 1. Demanding 14 km hike on Day 2.
This trip is for active travelers with a good fitness level. Day 2 is demanding: a 14 km hike through the Cuchumatanes with steep ups and downs, river crossings and muddy or slippery sections, especially in the rainy season.
Expect a very early start (3:00 am departure from Antigua), long travel hours on mountain roads, cold nights at high altitude and simple family-run lodging in San Francisco Las Flores. Days 1 and 3 are easier, with short walks at Chiabal, Laguna Magdalena, Laguna Encantada and La Maceta. If you hike regularly at home, you’ll be fine.
We spend two nights in the Cuchumatanes. The first night is at Sierra Cuchus, a mountain lodge on the high plateau. The second night is in family-run cabins in San Francisco Las Flores, a small community where local families also prepare our dinner and breakfast.
Lodging is simple and cozy. Rooms are shared (double, twin or triple), and private rooms may be available on request, depending on availability.
Hotel nights in Antigua before and after the trip are not included. We’re happy to recommend options.
Please respect local communities, sacred sites and nature: no littering, no drones in protected areas without a permit, and ask before photographing people.
⚠️ Payments accepted by credit/debit card. Departures are confirmed with a minimum of 4 travelers; if a date doesn’t reach the minimum, we’ll offer you another date or a full refund. Traveling as 2 or 3? Private departures are available on request. Message us on WhatsApp for a quote.
Your hotel, Antigua Guatemala.
Our team will pick you up at your hotel at 3:00 am on Day 1 and drop you off at the same hotel in the evening on Day 3. Look for the XploraGt sign. Please share your hotel name and address when booking.
Don’t have a hotel yet? We can recommend or book one for you in the center of Antigua.
The trip starts and ends at your hotel in Antigua Guatemala. Antigua is about 1–1.5 hours from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. We can arrange a private transfer from the airport. Please plan to arrive the day before.
US, Canadian, UK and EU citizens don’t need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Bring cash in quetzales (GTQ). In the Cuchumatanes there are no ATMs and credit cards are not accepted. Withdraw what you need in Antigua before the trip, for breakfast and dinner on Day 1, snacks and tips.
As a guide: US$5–10 per day for your tour leader and US$3–5 per day for drivers.
No. Drink only bottled or filtered water. Bring a reusable bottle with at least 2 L for the 14 km trek.
The Cuchumatanes are a high mountain area: days are mild, but nights and early mornings are cold and can drop close to freezing. In the rainy season (May to October), trails get muddy and slippery, so waterproof gear and good boots are a must.
Day 2 is demanding: the trek connects the Jolotes and Pepajau waterfalls and the Quisil River in a single 14 km stretch, with steep ups and downs. Days 1 and 3 are easier, with short walks. If you hike regularly at home, you’ll be fine.
Yes. It must cover medical emergencies and hiking up to 4,000 m.
Only a daypack (20–30 L) with what you need for 3 days and 2 nights. We use local 4×4 vehicles between destinations, with limited space, so please leave your main luggage at your hotel in Antigua.
The places we visit are popular, well-traveled destinations. You’ll be with our local team the whole time, and we follow standard precautions.
Phone signal is very poor or nonexistent in most of the area. Let your family know you’ll be offline for most of the trip. Your guide carries an emergency contact plan.
Day 1 includes a picnic lunch; breakfast and dinner are not included. On Day 2, breakfast is served in front of the Jolotes waterfall, lunch at Pepajau, and dinner is prepared by local families in San Francisco Las Flores. Day 3 includes breakfast and lunch at a mountain cabin.
