Antigua to San Cristóbal de las Casas
 

Planning to do a ride from Antigua, Guatemala to San Cristóbal de las Casas sometime soon. Anyone done this route? Either direction, just looking for any insight, tips, must see roads, or roads to avoid.

thanks,
Chris

Hi Chris,

It's been a year and a half since I took that route, so others may have more current information. I love the mountains of Guatemala. From Antigua I headed towards Xela on the main road to go to the dentist. Before Xela there is a road down to San Marcos on Lago Atitlan, but I missed it, and turned down the steep paved road to Panajachel. Quite a lot of young travelers in that town since it is on the Gringo trail. But the lake is beautiful and I have heard it is nice to take a boat around the lake, although I prefer riding to boating so gave it a miss. I don't have a map at hand, so don't know what the main road is that heads towards the border, but it is a fun ride. Part of it had been widened and was one long sweeper after another winding through the mountains. The road narrowed heading towards the border past Chichicastanengo and Guatemala customs was in the little town of La Mesilla I believe. It is a crowded little town with lots of merchants selling their wares to the Mexicans from across the border. It is an easy border crossing. I was the only foreign tourist, and quickly got myself and bike stamped out at aduana/migracion which is right past the crossing gate on the left. There is a copy shop right there so easy to get a copy of your passport and bike papers. And then you continue down the hill to Mexican immigration building which is several kilometers downhill in the valley. There is a Pemex gas station right past Mexican immigration a few kilometers. Gas is quite a bit cheaper in Mexico. I met some Mexican riders and followed them on some wonderful backroads, but none of them were marked. I was intending to head to San Christobal de las Casas, but the riding was so much fun, I ended up following the Mexicans for 100 kilometers or so and ended up totally lost after they stopped. Chiapas has some great riding on the backroads. I ended up at the coast eventually. But the main road from the Mexican border going to San Chris is well marked, so easy to head that way I imagine. You will have fun!

Kindest regards,
John Downs

thanks for the post John. Sounds like you had some great riding around Chiapas! You missed a fun road going from the main road down in San Pedro Atitlan. I've done that a few times, great twisties and even better views of the lake.