WE ARE GOING TO BUY AND PROTECT A TRACT OF STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT
RAINFOREST IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
JOURNEY TO THE HIGHEST POINT OF CENTRAL AMERICA THROUGH THE JUNGLE ON BIKE AND FOOT.
Guatemala is a land of forged by the fire of Volcanos past and present; set against a backdrop of ancient Mayan culture. Our route is rich in both; commencing from the sensational Antigua-de-Guatemala, with its picture-postcard colourful period architecture, ringed by active Volcanos.
DISTANCE:
107 MILES (171.5 KM) ON BIKE + 34 MILES (54 KM) ON FOOT
SLEEP STYLE:
HOTEL AND
CAMPING
LOCATION:
GUATEMALA, S. AMERICA
DURATION:
10 DAYS /
9 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY RATING: CAN I DO THIS?
If you love the thought of cycling through wild lands and erupting volcanoes then this mountain biking adventure is for you.
CHOOSE TO FUNDRAISE FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND EARN UP TO A £2500 REFUND ON YOUR ENTRY FEE. FIND OUT MORE.
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TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
WITNESS ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC SIGHTS ON EARTH: THE SPEWING LAVA OF ACTIVE VOLCANO ACATENANGO DURING OUR EXCLUSIVE ACCLIMATISATION TREK
A NIGHT CAMPING AT A WORKING GUATEMALAN COFFEE FARM, WITH ALL OTHER HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES AND CAMPING INCLUDED.
SUMMIT CENTRAL AMERICA'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN - THE DORMANT VOLCAN TAJUMULCO (4203m) ON AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY FROM SEA LEVEL TO SUMMIT ON BIKES.
START YOUR JOURNEY IN UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE VANTIGUA-DE-GUATEMALA, PLUS ENJOY A POST-TRIP R&R AT THE STUNNING LAKE ATITLAN.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
ACCOMMODATION
6 nights hotel / guesthouse and 3 nights camping.
SLEEP STYLE: HOTEL AND CAMPING
TRANSFERS
All in-event transfers from the moment you arrive at Guatemala City International Airport to the moment you get back there, overnight bag transfers and in-event gear transfers, PLUS all applicable park fees and permits.
ALL MEALS
All meals included as standard, at hotels and in camp, cooked up by our expert catering crew
EQUIPMENT
Mountain bike must be provided by you or rented for an extra charge (subject to availability).
SAFETY
Professional safety staff with you all the way including PLUS medical provision by qualified medics and full evacuation planning. mountain guides, drivers, route safety staff and Rat Race experts are on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.
POLICY
Flexible transfer policy.
GUIDES AND SUPPORT
Local Spanish-speaking crew and mountain guides, roadside Pit Stop support from our support vehicles on the bike legs with all bag and bike logistics PLUS professional bike mechanics and full vehicular support throughout the bike stages.
EXTRAS
High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.
MORE INFORMATION:
Guatemala is a land of forged by the fire of Volcanos past and present; set against a backdrop of ancient Mayan culture. Our route is rich in both; commencing from the sensational Antigua-de-Guatemala, with its picture-postcard colourful period architecture, ringed by active Volcanos.
We will come up-close and personal with one of the volcanos early doors as we acclimatise you to life at altitude with a trek to active Acatenango. We then journey to the coast, for our bike and foot assault from sea level all the way to the highest-point of Central America – the dormant volcano Tajumulco, towering above the continental divide at 4200m. Then afterwards, for some well-earned R and R we will journey to stunning and serene Lake Atitlan, another jewel in Guatemala’s crown. This is not only an outstanding physical journey to the high point of central America, but also a travel experience into the beating heart of this warm, welcoming and mysterious country.
The following schedule outlines our proposed itinerary and the disciplines and approximate distances, too. Please note at this stage, the plan is approximate. Distances, daily stages and in-trip logistics may change between now and departure and even during the trip, such is the nature of this major adventure undertaking.
DAY ONE: MEET AT GUATEMALA CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND HEAD TO ANTIGUA-DE-GUATEMALA
We will provide a transfer from the International Airport at 2pm on the first itinerary day, allowing you to fly in that morning for those who wish. For those who arrive earlier, we will provide you with details of where to meet in Antigua and we can arrange bespoke local transfers accordingly for those who wish (bespoke transfers from other locations than the airport offered at extra cost). We will transfer everyone from the airport to our cosy accommodation in Antigua. There will be some time to look around this stunning town and we will follow this up with dinner on us – a great chance to meet the rest of the group and bond over a couple of cold ones. If we are lucky, we may be treated to a live show from the active volcanos that surround Antigua, spewing red lava into the air while we enjoy our drinks from one of the rooftop bars in town.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
MEALS: Dinner
DAY TWO: ACATENANGO
DISTANCE: APPROX 11 MILES / 18 KM
After an early breakfast in our hotel and an introductory event welcome and briefing, we will transfer by bus to the trailhead for Acatenango. We will spend the rest of the day trekking to our campsite, which is in clear sight of one of the most spectacular things you may ever see – an erupting live volcano, Volcán de Fuego. Whilst this is a superb outing, it is also an important part of our safety system as we take you up to 2600 metres and assist in your acclimatisation for Tajumulco, later on in the week.
ACCOMMODATION: Camping
MEALS: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner provided at camp
DAY THREE: SUMMIT THE VOLCANO, DRIVE TO THE COAST
DISTANCE: APPROX 11 MILES / 18 KM
After an early start and a spectacular mountain sunrise, we will summit Acatenango and then descend the mountain to re-join road transport. We are now heading to the coast, to arrive at our starting location for the Sea to Summit journey at Champerico after around 5 hours on the bus to get there.
Champerico is a charming little seaside town that is popular with Guatemalan visitors looking for a bit of sea and sand (black volcanic sand). You are well off the tourist track here though and not many international visitors make it to this area of the country.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, packed lunch, Dinner at the beach!
DAY FOUR: SEA TO SUMMIT BEGINS!
DISTANCE: APPROX 46 MILES / 74 KM (Champerico to Coatepeque)
As we pull away from the coast, you are immersed fully into the Guatemalan countryside of subsistence agriculture, small settlements and houses and huts that pop up throughout the forests and fields of this coastal province. People are friendly and will be intrigued to see you on your bikes whizz through. The terrain begins quite flat but by the end of the day, it is decidedly more ‘lumpy!’ it is also very, very hot. Go steady and you have a long way to go, with several 1000m of ascent ahead of you. Surfaces alternate between dirt tracks, ancient, cobbled roadways and some singletrack. There is a bit of tarmac and concrete-surfaced road mixed in through villages. As we near Coatepeque in the foothills of the mountains of the Continental Divide, you will leave the road and descend down to a jungle river with a spot of ‘hike-a-bike’ required to ford the river – an exciting reminder of this wild terrain that you are traversing.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Pit Stop support on the bike stage, Dinner
DAY FIVE: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE
DISTANCE: APPROX 31.3 MILES / 50KM (Coatepeque to Finca Alabama)
The terrain has become pretty ‘chunky’ and you will be going up and down some serious hills, largely on cobble-stone roads and tracks of varying quality. It is a rugged landscape filled with agriculture of various sorts and a big part of that are the coffee plantations that surround you. Ultimately, after a sweaty day of toil on the bikes, including some refreshing stops to take in waterfalls, mountain streams and colourful communities, we will reach Finca Alabama, high in the mountains and shrouded in mist at certain times of the day. The aroma of coffee beans hangs think in the air as this is a major processing point for the coffee of the surrounding area. We will bed down for the night within the grounds of the Finca and of course, a fresh cup of local Guatemalan Joe won’t be very far away.
ACCOMMODATION: Coffee Farm Camp
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast, Pit Stop support on the bike stage, Camp Dinner
DAY SIX: ONE FINAL DAY ON THE BIKES – UP, UP AND AWAY!
DISTANCE: APPROX 18 MILES / 29KM (Finca Alabama to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta)
Deep now within the mountains of central Guatemala, our route continues to wind its way upwards, now starting to reveal Tajumulco itself looming large on the horizon. We will continue another amazing and challenging day on the bikes, to reach the small town of San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta.
ACCOMMODATION: Hotel
MEALS: Camp Breakfast, Pit Stop support on the bikes, Hotel Dinner
DAY SEVEN: FROM BIKE TO FOOT – TAJAMULCO BECKONS
DISTANCE: APPROX 11.7 MILES / 18.5 KM on bike + 5.2 MILES / 9 KM on foot (San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta to Tajumulco Camp)
This is a really big day, there is no other way really to describe it. You will ultimately end up at 3000m elevation high on the slopes of Tajumulco herself. This will involve a very early start, around 17km on the bikes (which doesn’t sound like much, but this is serious terrain with serious elevation gain). Ditching the bikes, you will tog up for the mountain and ascend around 1020metres to reach our camp, sitting around the 3000m contour. The going gets steeper and steeper as you approach camp and when you finally arrive, tents will be waiting for you, plus a freshly cooked local meal. The real business-end of the adventure has begun, and one (very long and epic) final day awaits tomorrow!
ACCOMMODATION: Mountain camp
MEALS: Breakfast, Pit Stop support on bike, own snacks on mountain (and packed lunch), Camp dinner
DAY EIGHT: THE SUMMIT OF CENTRAL AMERICA
CAMP – SUMMIT – SAN SEBASTIAN – LAKE ATITLAN
Rising in the early hours, you will ascend the remaining 1200m of vertical, through the dawn and up some incredibly steep slopes, to top out at the summit of Tajumulco and the high-point of Central America. This truly is an epic mountain day, and the crowning glory of your endeavours is the reward of stunning views all the way down the Continental Divide, littered with dormant and active volcanos along its length. Tajumulco is not a hugely climbed mountain by its regular route, but the route we take to the summit is virtually never travelled, so this is also a very special way to arrive here.
From the summit, we will descend to the village of San Sebastiàn and enjoy a well-earned lunch and some beers, before setting off in our transport for Lake Atitlan for some very welcome R and R.
ACCOMMODATION: Lake Atitlan Hotel
MEALS: Camp Breakfast, your own snacks on the mountain stage, lunch after the mountain stage in local restaurant, Dinner on us with some celebration drinks at Lake Atitlan.
DAY NINE: BACK TO ANTIGUA
After a leisurely morning enjoying the sensational scenery of Lake Atitlan, we will travel back to Antigua for further sightseeing and a final goodbye meal in town.
ACCOMMODATION: Antigua Hotel
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast, packed lunch en-route back to Antigua, Dinner in Antigua.
DAY TEN: HOMEWARD BOUND
Journey’s end. We will transfer those who wish back to the International Airport at Guatemala City and bid fond farewells after a stunning adventure.
ACCOMMODATION: N/A
MEALS: Hotel Breakfast.
Our accommodation is characterised by 6 nights in LOCAL HOTELS and GUEST HOUSES and 3 NIGHT CAMPING.
HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE NIGHTS
All hotel accommodation is generally offered on a double or twin room basis; sometimes there may be other configurations depending on the type of property, particularly in some of the more remote smaller countryside towns and villages. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with other participant/s of the same sex in a shared room. In Antigua and Atitlan, there may be a limited number of single rooms available at a single supplement rate, but any single supplements offered will only relate to those hotels in Antigua and Atitlan.
If you have preferences for who you share with, you can specify that prior to departure.
All our accommodation is of a good, clean standard. Bathroom facilities could be shared or en-suite and in general, the style of accommodation is always in keeping with the vibe of the area we find ourselves in – and always cosy and comfortable.
In Antigua and Atitlan, the hotels are of tourist-grade quality. In the more remote villages and towns, you should expect more rustic and basic facilities.
Where we eat at a hotel, or nearby restaurant, Rat Race will always provide meal choices and/ or a set menu, with Gluten intolerant and Vegetarian and Vegan options. You will be responsible for your own drinks in all instances.
CAMPING
Each of our camps has its own unique character, with the first one providing one of the most spectacular mountain views you will ever witness – that of a live Volcano erupting before your very eyes! Our Coffee Farm camp is just that, a camp within a working coffee farm and is a really unique and atmospheric. And the coffee will be great. Our Tajumulco camp is set high up on the slopes of this gargantuan Volcano set amongst the trees and is a truly wild and magnificent spot.
In all instances, we will use shared tents with up to 3 people per tent. Our crew will cook food and you will have access to fresh water.
MEALS
We will provide sit-down breakfasts and dinners when at the hotels and guesthouses plus up to 3 x daily Pit Stop support stations with loads of snacks and drinks when on the bike stages. Camps will be catered by our catering team and will provide hearty and rustic local fayre. We may look to augment this provision on the mountain stages with freeze-dried expedition meals, of which we will provide a choice, including selections catering to all dietary needs. Hot drinks (including good, local fresh coffee!) will be available at appropriate locations also. All alcoholic and soft beverages will be at your own expense throughout the trip, where available at accommodation locations.
BREAKFAST
We will always offer a hearty breakfast, both in the hotels and at the camps. At all times, you will never be far from a good cup of coffee. It is a Rat Race mantra to always pack the good stuff.
DINNER
We will provide you with a hearty meal each and every night. At the hotels, this will be a sit-down affair and when we are camping, the food will be plentiful and hearty. This will be a real highlight of the experience. At all times, we will cater for dietary intolerances and choices.
DRINKS
Throughout the trip, all other beverages are on you. In all cases where we provide catering, we will cater for all reasonable dietary requirements and will always ensure there are Gluten-intolerant and Vegan options available.
PIT STOPS
During the challenge we will endeavour to set-up our famously well-stocked Pit Stops multiple times throughout the journey: A minimum of twice per day when you are on the bikes stages. You will also be able to carry your own snacks (and stock up from ours) on the bikes also – meaning you always have snacks aplenty onboard.
On all stages, the Pit Stops will typically be set-up from our vehicle support team at set spots on the route.. At all times we will ensure that participants have access to adequate sustenance and supplies to keep them energised throughout all stages.
Pit stops will typically have a minimum of the following available:
Water – Ensure you leave with water bottles and bladders filled so you have enough to get you to the next Pit Stop.
Sports Food Bars – oat-type bars for maximum energy.
Salty snacks – such as chips and peanuts.
Savoury treats – We will feature some fresh local foods and other goodies at selected pit stops, around lunchtime.
A fruit option – such as oranges, bananas, melon and watermelon.
Sweets – including local speciality sweet treats.
Our Pit Stops are there to help supplement any personal sports nutrition plan you may have – if you use gels and other such products – you should plan to bring these with you. If you have any special dietary requirements, then please also plan for this and pack your kit accordingly. Rat Race aim to offer Pit Stop snacks that are tasty and functional, catering to as broad a mix of needs and diets as possible. We have options available that are suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets and availability of this will depend on demand. If peanuts are served these will be in individual portioned bags to reduce the chance of contamination but Rat Race cannot guarantee that the food does not contain contamination from allergens such as nuts or gluten in its preparation or serving.
Please make sure you sanitise your hands prior to eating any food. Please, please, please take care with your trash and help us in our aim of leaving these incredible islands tidier than we find them. This is even more critical in this environment, with any lost trash instantly becoming a choking hazard for the marine life we are here to admire.
The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertain becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so and we ned to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!
We will meet at Guatemala City International Airport and transfer you from there to your pre-trip accommodation at Antigua-de-Guatemala. At journey’s end, the trip finishes back in Antigua, where we will transfer you to the airport. If you want to travel to Guatemala early, or depart later, that is also fine. You can meet up with us, or leave us, in Antigua. Or you can choose to stay on a few more days at Lake Atitlan.
Rat Race classify and grade our trips in terms of difficulty and epic-ness and also in the style of trip undertaken. This trip has been designated as ‘BUCKET LIST.’
We have designed this challenge so that you may travel at your own pace, most of the time and subject to our safety planning and with some caveats.
On the bike phase, you can follow the GPS routings and go at your own pace. See below for our notes on route-finding and guidance. There will also be some ‘cut-offs,’ but in the true Rat Race tradition these will be generous, and we will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. If you do not quite make those cut-offs, you simply get collected by one of our support team and moved forward. You are welcome to start again the next day, subject to medical advice.
Of course, we will give you some early starts to allow the very best possible window for route completion. But, if you need us and if you need to abandon the route for whatever reason, we are there for you and can pick you up with our support vehicles. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey in paradise; at your own pace and within your own limits.
On the mountain, we will split you off into sub-groups and you will typically travel at a pace commensurate with your own comfort level and ability, in these sub-groups, with local guides. We may decide that the sub-group can spread out, or you may all travel together based on weather and other factors on the ground. On the mountain, there are few options to turn back, although in an emergency situation we can arrange this. It is very much a communal undertaking, and that expeditionary spirit will be alive and kicking on this trip.
We are in a remote part of the world here and at all times, we are vigilant to the fact that we may have to change the plan. If the weather comes in or if we dictate that we must switch it up for safety reasons, we may decide to bring the group together as one and travel at close quarters, everyone together, for safety – particularly on the mountain stages. Our staff will make these determinations whilst we are in the field and based on weather info available at the time.
We want you to concentrate on the hard work of putting one foot (or peddle) in front of the other. So, we don’t want you to be staring at maps or navigational aids any more than you have to. There is no formal waymarking (i.e. signs) used on this event.
For the bike stage, instead of waymarking, we will be providing you with a pre-programmed cycle-specific GPS device which will have the route bike uploaded. You will follow this ‘line’ and can use this as a back-up at all times. You may augment this with your own device – such as GPS watches for example. The route will show the stage start and finish locations of course each day, plus also show you pit stop locations, so you know exactly how far you are from support along the course.
Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – support is never far away – with highly experienced safety crew – plus support vehicles in the mix the whole time.
On the mountain, we will split you off into sub-groups of similar abilities and speeds and you will travel with local guides. You will also be issued each with a Garmin 66i navigational device to use as a back-up and of course, you may also use your own GPS watch. We may decide that the sub-group can spread out, or you may all travel together based on weather and other factors on the ground.
When on the bike, we will have vehicles travelling along the route and will establish set ‘pit stop’ locations at which we will offer you food and drinks, medical and mechanic support.
On the mountain, you will travel in sub-groups and each group will travel together at the pace of the group, with a guide. Splitting the group up into sub-groups like this means that you can travel at variable paces, catering to those of varying speeds and abilities. To all intents and purposes therefore, this means you will travel in a small group, at your own pace, with professional guide support. We also augment this with specific expedition-grade GPS devices issued to all participants. You will carry your own supplies on the mountain, however some communal supplies, camping equipment, camp food and water will also be carried by our team of awesome local porters.
If it does get too much, if you get injured, get too hot, too cold, need sustenance, motivational support or otherwise, we will be able to assist and our team will never be far away out on the route. You are in good hands.
It is always good practice to be self-contained when out on these types of challenges and of course there are sections here where you are in remote terrain. It may take time for us to get assistance to you. So when you leave pit stops on stages, for example, we will expect you to leave with some snacks on board plus a full supply of water…. just like any other expeditionary activity in the backcountry.
For this challenge, you will be spending a number of fairly major back-to-back days on mountain bikes. You do need to be a confident riding such a bike. This is not an overly technical riding route, for the most part but it has steep elevation gains, and the humidity and heat of the jungle does sap your energy much faster than in some temperate environments with similar terrain. We can help here for those based in the UK, with our mountain bike familiarisation days. These will soon be available on our training page so check back on our training page. Click here to learn more..
If in doubt, contact us to discuss this some more. We are happy to help on quantifying experience required and to point you in the right direction of recommended training local to you.
Click ‘Buy your event voucher now’ and go through the sign-up process, you’ll then be issued with an event voucher which will automatically reserve you a place in the event you have chosen.
You can, although unfortunately they can’t ride along with you on the bike or mountain stages. We can however arrange accommodation and local services for them in Antigua and/ or Lake Atitlan for them to enjoy while you are toiling on the route and you can then join up with them afterwards.
It’s hot! This is the dry season, but it can rain and when it rains, it tends to rain hard. But at all times, heat and humidity will feature prominently. As we ascend, the mountain particularly will cool and at night, it can be quite chilly up high on Tajamulco. Plenty of sunscreen and SPF-impregnated clothing is the order of the day for this challenge, throughout. A full kit list will be provided in due course.
Rat Race require you to be over 18 on the day of Registration for this adventure. If you wish to participate as a family group or with a responsible adult and you are 16+, we will consider applications on an individual basis. Please contact us if this is the case.
Yes. You need a decent travel policy covering you for general travel to Guatemala and which covers participation in outdoor sports. You will also need what is called an Evacuation Insurance Policy, which is for if we need to send you back to Antigua for urgent medical attention via a helicopter or similar. We also recommend you have this in place as soon as you enter this event and that if you book flights we highly recommend booking a flexible option for any last minute changes you might need to make or to ensure you have maximum flexibility if you cannot attend for any reason.
Travel insurance is compulsory for our events, so please make sure your insurance policy covers the activities you will be participating in. There are a number of specialist providers available including Mann Broadbent.
This is of course a big challenge set over multiple big days – on bikes and on foot. BUT the Rat Race ethos is to set extraordinary challenges for ordinary people. You do need a good base fitness and you should be prepared for a series of long back-to-back days out on the route. This type of terrain and humidity really does take it out of you – we say a jungle mile is like 5 normal miles. You will see what we mean! This route is however definitely designed to be ‘doable;’ and in no way would this be what we would call a ‘sufferfest.’ Our events are just not pitched that way.
But it is hard, make no bones about it. Ignore the KM distances. These are very long days, in the heat of the central American sun, on really, really rough (but extremely exhilarating) terrain.
You 100% have it in you to do this. We will ensure we support you the very best way we possibly can. This one is all tortoise and no hare.
If we were to pick 3 words to describe this outing these would be ‘gnarly, steep, cobbles.’ Once we leave sea level, the route gradually ascends on a mixture of good roads, ancient-cobbled tracks, dirt roads and trails. In all cases, the track and trail conditions are varied, and you should expect a bumpy ride for a lot of the bike stage. This is lung-busting riding in the heat of the jungle. Hard yacka it most certainly is.
For the mountain, it is all on a trail. On the lower stretches, this is a sustained 1:3, 1:4 gradient. Once we get higher on the volcano, well, it is volcano-shaped so it does get steeper. The upper reaches of the mountain route, before the crater rim, are exceptionally steep – think 1:2. These are not hugely exposed as there is a lot of treeline cover, but expect to be scrambling a bit, with a pack, in the darkness of the early dawn on summit day. It is a trekking route, but it is most definitely what we would call ‘punchy!’ This is also not the ‘main’ (route not that many folk go up Tajalulco in general). So we are likely to have the trail to ourselves.
Yes. We provide a fully inclusive service which includes most meals and accommodation, with 6 hotel nights and 3 camp nights.
No problem. Where we use hotels, rooms are offered on a twin / shared basis. If you wish to share with a fellow participant, you will be asked to add this information to your event participation form which we will issue you with approximately 3 months ahead of the event.
At Rat Race we are determined to get you on the start line even when life throws up its own obstacles! If you find yourself unable to join us on the start line of this event, you are able to transfer your entry into an event credit voucher once for use on a new entry into an event of your choice, whether that be the same event a year later or a completely new adventure! Transfers must be requested within the qualifying transfer window to be accepted and processed. For Guatemala this is 12 weeks from the Event start date.
Credit vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Credit voucher are exempt from the transfer process. To find out more information and how to submit a request, view of full transfer policy HERE
Race entry includes a brilliant finishers medal and bespoke event Rat Race tech tee. We will request your t-shirt size in the event details form 3 months ahead of the event and this will be the size you will be given at Registration.
A full kit list will be published in due course.
On the bike stages we would advise considering prior to each stage if you can complete it and sit it out if you are just not feeling it. If you do need to bail on a bike stage, we can normally pick you up in a vehicle – usually at a Pit Stop – and return you to the route the next day where you left off.
In general, our policy is that we will always look to move you forwards on the course (subject to medical advice if it is a medical issue that has forced you to pull out). We are unable to transport you backwards (i.e. we cannot take you back to the start of that stage). On bike stages, it is typically always best to bail at a Pit Stop, where we have support standing by.
We are not into the ethos of ‘once you stop you cannot re-start.’ That is not our thing. If you just aren’t feeling it and need bail on a stage – and you wish to restart the next day – as laid out above (and subject to medical advice and us being able to get you in position) – no problem.
On the mountain, bailing is harder given the one-way nature of the route. However, there are routes off the mountain and if we need to get you off in an Emergency, we will do so. You should note that there is no helicopter evacuation service in Guatemala, so all evacuation planning is based on foot and vehicle-based extraction.
Once you’ve signed up, you will receive a confirmation email. After that, you will be kept in the loop closer to the event when we will send out our Essential Event Information approximately three months ahead of the event, detailing the full itinerary, what you need to bring and other important information relating to the specific event you have signed up for. We will also host webinars which you will be invited to (again, closer to the event), where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and go through your kit. There will be a final email one month ahead of the event, just to check you’ve completed all the important forms and are ready for the event ahead.
If you have chosen to pay in instalments, we will also get in touch with you if any of your payments have been missed.
A finalised mandatory kit list for this event will be published here prior to the event. Anyone signed up for the event will be notified via email once this is available to view.
BIKE RENTAL
Bike rental is available in-country. The mountain bikes will be of a high specification suitable for the journey. They will come with a bicycle helmet and basic spares for the event. Bike can be ordered for rental in the buy extras section of this website here.
There is a limited number of rental bikes available, so be sure to order them quickly if you don’t have your own bike, we don’t want you to miss out.
GPS AND SATELLITE DEVICES
We will be providing you with state-of-the-art satellite GPS navigational aids, including a Garmin Edge bike navigation computer for the cycle stages and a Garmin 66i hand-held navigational aid for the mountain. You will also be supported by local guides on foot on the mountain, plus safety and support vehicles on the bike stages.
Our guides and staff will also be equipped with the latest generation of brand-new satellite ‘push to talk’ phones, so we are in touch with the outside world at all times in this extremely remote environment.
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ENTER NOW AND SPREAD THE COST INTEREST FREE WITH OUR INSTALMENT PLAN
We’ve put together a fantastic new instalment plan that allows you to choose how many months you want to spread the cost of this brilliant adventure over. You can pay it off all in one go or spread it over as many months as you like, totally interest free*. The payments will be split equally allowing you to budget and plan for this stunning journey. All payments to be made before September, the same year as the event.
*When you sign up to the instalment plan Rat Race will then set up a reoccurring payment and your card will be debited on the same date each month. If there is an error with your payment you will receive reminders from Stripe, our payment provider, and also the Rat Race customer service team. After 3 attempts to contact you if the outstanding balance remains unpaid we will assume you wish to cancel your entry and will withdraw you from the event and you will not be eligible to enter our transfer process and no monies will be refunded.
Please see here for full terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.
PROTECT YOUR NON-REFUNDABLE BOOKING WITH REFUND PROTECT
Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. PLEASE NOTE this protection is with our 3rd party partner Refund Protect and NOT Rat Race. In the event you make a refund application this is administered by the Refund Protect customer service team, Rat Race are not privy to the application and cannot intervene on your behalf to influence the outcome determined by their team.
To check the full list of qualifying unforeseen circumstances that are protected please click here to view Refund Protect terms and conditions.
To add Refund Protect (administered by a 3rd party) to your Rat Race booking simply select this option when presented during the entry process. Refund Protect cannot be added retrospectively. Rat Race will then send you name and booking details to Refund Protect in order to protect your transaction with them. If you opt to pay in instalments and transfer your entry before the entry cost is full paid you will be liable to ensure the cost of Refund Protect has been fully covered. This total amount will be deducted from any Rat Race credit due through the transfer process or you will be invoiced by Rat Race for the outstanding amount as Rat Race have paid this on your behalf to Refund Protect at point of entry.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
At Rat Race, we create extraordinary adventures for everyone people. We know we’re a premium brand and that those adventures are premium experiences. In our 20th year, we have decided that our commitment to investment in our standards, safety and quality of experience should be matched in our commitment to the transparency in showing how we spend your hard-earned cash in bringing these adventures to life.
So here it is. A pie chart of how we spend your money in bringing our events and trips to life.
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"Antigua-De-Gutemala feels like you are walking around a painting; period architecture everywhere, volcanoes in the back garden, smiling locals, colourful outfits and great coffee."
DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER AND READ ONE OF OUR TRIP REPORTS DETAILING FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE FROM OUR TEST PILOT
TRIP REPORT // 20.09.2022
Abbi Naylor
September 2022
A place overlooking a country forged by fire in a spiritual, historical location rich in Mayan culture. Standing together as a team, taking it all in and completing the mountain together is a special moment, it is one that will stay with us all forever. A feeling that we hope to bring to others who want to take on the adventure.
GUATEMALA SEA TO SUMMIT
Our NEWEST event, from the view of our Project Manager Abbi: “Antigua-de-Gutemala feels like you are walking around a painting; period architecture everywhere, volcanoes in the back garden, smiling locals, colourful outfits and great coffee…”
RAISE AT LEAST £5000 (EXCLUDING GIFT AID) FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER UK AND GET £2500 OF YOUR ENTRY FEE REFUNDED!
Our longstanding partnership with Children with Cancer UK gives #ratracers the opportunity to raise much needed funds for this great cause in exchange for a refund of their entry fee. So far our #ratracers have raised over £1.6million for Children with Cancer UK and we would love for you to join the team to help us chase down that £2million target!
The funds you raise will be invested into vital specialist research to improve survival rates in children and young people and help more of them ring the end of treatment bell.
All you need to do is set up a Just Giving page and start your fundraising! You will have until 1 month after the event date to hit your target and then send us the link to your page which will allow us to process your refund. Refunds will be made 2 – 3 months after the event completion date.
Refunds are not mandatory you are welcome to opt-out of receiving a refund. Should participants opt-out their refund will instead be used by Children with Cancer UK to help fund their research.
If you choose to support Children with Cancer UK and raise £5000, you will also receive:
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A Children with Cancer UK fundraising and training pack
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Regular Children with Cancer UK updates
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A dedicated point of contact at the charity
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A technical Children with Cancer UK t-shirt to wear with pride
For more information on Children with Cancer UK please visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Alternatively please contact the Sports Team on 020 7430 7788 or email sports@childrenwithcancer.org.uk.
Children with Cancer UK is a registered national charity (no. 298405)
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