14/10/2000: Melchor de Mencos - Flores, 94 km
15/10/2000: day off, visiting ruins of Tikal
16/10/2000: Flores - Santa Ana - Poptun, 100 km
17/10/2000: Poptun - Rio Dulce - Morales, 140 km
18/10/2000: Morales - Zacapa - Las Carretas, 100 km
19/10/2000: Las Carretas - Chiquimula, 35 km
20/10/2000: day off, visiting Antigua Guatemala
21/10/2000: Chiquimula - Qeutzaltepeque - Esquipulas, 56 km
22/10/2000: Esquipulas - (crossing boarder of Honduras) Neuva Ocotepeque, 39km
Total Guatemala: +/- 500 km
2. Specific information
The east side of the country is rather flat comparing to the big hills at the west side of Guatemala. We wanted to see Tikal and Antigua Guatemala, both really worthwhile visiting, so we made two day-trips, because it would have taken too long to do it by bike.
3. Description of the route
The road from Melchor de Mencos till Flores is partially unpaved, the first 30 km., but even that part is in quite good condition. Flores is a cozy little village with many colorful shops. From this city you have to go to Tikal, it's only one hour by bus. The road to the south is a little up and down through a pretty scene. Take a break at Quirigua where you can see the big "stelae", which tell anecdotes from the past. In Rio Dulce you pass a bridge with a beautiful view on.
From Gualan to Zacapa we took the unpaved road, passing Las Carretas, a little village where no stranger had ever been. We advise to take that road instead of the big road going to Rio Honde and Zacapa. The next city is Chiquimula , quite a big city, with some nice hostels to stay, such as Rio Jordan, probably the cheapest in town. From here we took the bus to Antigua Guatemala, to visit this nice, old, cobbled road town.
From Chiquimula we cycled direction Esquipulas. In Quetzaltepeque you can go off-road again. It's a steep unpaved 10 km uphill and 10 downhill road till the place of pilgrimage, Esquipulas. There the huge white basilica is approached through a pretty park and up a flight of steps. From here till the boarder of Honduras, Agua Caliente, it's a 10 km. drive.