It is difficult to imagine how in only a week (7 days riding – 8 nights) we can cross from the highest summits of the Sierra of the Cuchumatanes (12 000 feet) to the low and tropical lands of the department of Huehuetenango (2 500 feet), to finish just in front of the mexican border. The trek also leads us through different ethnic and linguistic regions (mam, jakalteco and chuj) and we will glance over chapters of both the ancient and recent history of Guatemala (rupestrian paintings aged of 3 000 years, mayan settlements during the classic period, repatriation of the guatemalan refugees from Mexico). The one way trip also make possible to see a larger part of the area.
In the mountain range, we will find large open spaces dotted with rocks, cactus, pine trees and small villages. The air is pure, sometimes the silence is suddenly interrupted by a herd going home or a gallopping rider. It is the country of oat and potatoes but mainly of sheep. We ride through the maze of paths bordered by stone and cactus walls or along trails that skirt the mountains where we meet only mules on their way home with bundles on their backs or we canter through the green carpet of the plains. The views stretch sometimes for miles towards the lower ground of the highlands or the range of volcanoes. In the Huistas region, can be found hot and dry lands as well as exuberant vegetation or wooded hills, crossed by rivers and torrents. We’ll overnight the first night in the riding centre, we’ll camp other five nights, one in a shelter and the last one in a lodge.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: After various open plains and some trotting and cantering, we climb to the highest place (outside of the volcanoes) in Central America: 12 000 ft ! The “meseta” becomes rocking and wilder and the trees are twisted like bonzais in the shape of clouds. On a clear day, there are spectacular views of the plains below, the chain of volcanoes and the Todos Santos valley. Night camping.
Day 2: Some trots and canter lead us to the edge of the “meseta” where we'll take an almost abandoned road with vertiginous views until a small “mam” hamlet nestled in the ridge of one of the giant arms of the Sierra; night in camp (8 200 ft).
Day 3: Different paths (including a long and difficult strech where we'll have to walk especially if it is muddy) take us down the mountain and lead us to the first of three indigenous jakalteco villages that we'll come across. The deep canyon of the “Blue River” forces us to follow the (non paved) road for some kilometers. Night in camp at 1 400 m.
Day 4: the morning will end with our leaving the Cuchumatanes and take us land to the hot and tropical Nenton region with its exuberant vegetation. After crossing an old suspension bridge, we will picnic on a riverbank (for a refreshing bath). Towards the end of the afternoon, we'll ride uphill (4 000 ft) to acamp between the pines with an impressive panoramic view.
Day 5: long descent between an unusual mixture of pines, coffee plantations and a more tropical vegetation. The very rough terrain which surrounds the river forces us to take various roundabout ways. Later, we will join a non paved and lightly used road before entering the corn fields that lie between the hills till our camp site.
Day 6: Before following our trip, we'll visit – riding - some rupestrian paintings near from our camp site. Later, to join Chacula, which was an old mayan settlement, later an hacienda and now the location of some 200 repatriated families, we'll cross corn fields and high pastures. We will spend the night in what was the old hacienda (now abandoned) surrounded by green pastures (4 500 ft).
Day 7: between the woods, we will arrive to the “chuj” village of Bulej before riding down to the comfortable and welcoming cattle farm which await us for the night. The view of the immense and misterious lake Yolnajab is magical; in front of us : Mexico .... Night in rooms.
Notes:
cost / client :
on a 4 riders basis : 880 US $ / person
on a 3 riders basis : 1035 US $ / person
on a 2 riders basis : 1175 US $ / person
Price Includes:
- all meals (european breakfast, picnic and hot dinner)
- lodging (room, tent or shelter depending on the place, on a double occupancy basis) from the dinner the day before the ride until the breakfast the day after the ride
- included are the horse and tack
- guide and logistic support.
Price does not include:
- bank transfer fees
- alcoholic beverages (available at night)
Also see tour packages in:
Hiking and walking outfitters
Central America and Caribbean
Guatemala
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