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Chris Gwinner

I am passionate about adventure travel and feel very lucky to be able to share that passion with others through Old Town Outfitters.

I'm originally from Savannah, Georgia but have been living in Antigua, Guatemala for 10+ years now. I head up the team at Old Town where we strive to provide unique, high-quality trips which create rewarding experiences for our clients.

My friend and business partner, Matt Hartell, started Old Town Outfitters 20 years ago and we continue to be the leaders in Guatemalan adventure travel. Our philosophy is based around supporting the local economy via employment of local guides, promoting responsible travel, and sponsoring meaningful local NGO's.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"We specialize in adventure and experiential tours throughout Guatemala and into neighboring countries. Our main adventure sports are volcano hiking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and rock climbing. Our local guides will take you into the mountains, jungles, beaches, and old forests of Guatemala for an unforgettable adventure.

We find that many people who visit Guatemala for the first time are surprised by the rich cultural and outdoor experiences we have to offer. That's the part of the job we enjoy the most, making you want to come back for more adventure in the future! "

How did you get involved in travel?

"Working for Delta Airlines during my college years gave me a springboard into the world of travel. I was taking off to new destinations every free moment and this confirmed my dreams of making travel the heart of my world. Both personal and professional travels have connected to me to so many good people in the world and I'm looking forward to many more of those connections.

I was on one of my Delta adventures when I first visited Guatemala and fell in love with the local culture and landscapes. The country is a beautiful playground for any adventure traveler and still continues to surprise me to this day. You'll find that it is not an uncommon story for people to visit Guatemala and be so enchanted that they return many times, sometimes relocating for good.

After a few years of guiding motorcycle tours through Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, I joined Matt at Old Town Outfitters and have been helping grow the business ever since. "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"In my early days of living and working in Guatemala, I was always exploring the country on my motorcycle in search of new experiences to share with clients. One of these trips took me to the far northwest corner of Guatemala, near the Mexico border. Motoring along a very remote road, my front tire blew out and I all of the sudden found myself sliding across the road and into a ditch. The next 24 hours were a great example of the kindness, generosity, and hospitality that I've found among Guatemalans.

Starting with the curious locals that first ran to check on me, the local police who loaded my moto into their truck, the local nurse who patched up my cuts and bruises, and finally to the local elderly couple who took me in for the night so I could rest. That afternoon I fell asleep only to be woken by a tropical story coming through Playa Tilapa in the middle of the night. The lamina roof of their small hotel was flopping around as rain and wind were crushing this small town. As I couldn't sleep, I resigned to lighting a candle and working on my moto in the hotel lobby. Soon Ted and his wife Rosaria joined me with hot coffee and we shared stories until sunrise. It was during those hours that I realized that Ted was actually in a book I read years ago, "In Search of Captain Zero", a surfing adventure from 20 years ago. It was one of those amazing small world connections that could only happen through a combination of mishaps and adventures that traveling the world seems to always create. "

Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Luxury itineraries

Recent trip reviews for Chris

Off the beaten path
Guatemala | Aug 5 - Aug 11, 2023

Alex
Alex K.
Cypress, CA | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2023

This was an incredible trip. Definitely something off the beaten path. Our guide, Jossue aka Pepien, was fantastic and spared no effort or expense making the trip run smoothly, even if it meant finding a guy in the middle of the mountains to drive us to another part of the mountains on short notice. The mountain biking was challenging but not impossible for someone with not a lot of experience. Staying with the local Mam hosts was a very unique experience and something that you will likely... read more

This was an incredible trip. Definitely something off the beaten path. Our guide, Jossue aka Pepien, was fantastic and spared no effort or expense making the trip run smoothly, even if it meant finding a guy in the middle of the mountains to drive us to another part of the mountains on short notice. The mountain biking was challenging but not impossible for someone with not a lot of experience. Staying with the local Mam hosts was a very unique experience and something that you will likely not find on other trips. If you are planning on going on this trip be prepared to deal with cold nights, occasional rain, high altitude, and unfamiliar food.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Aug 14, 2023

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Alex! You and your dad were great on the trail and I'm glad your were able to see parts of Guatemala that many others don't experience. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Wonderful trip. Guide was outstanding. It was...
Guatemala | Aug 5 - Aug 11, 2023

Laurence
Laurence K.
Canada | Reviewed on Aug 12, 2023

Wonderful trip. Guide was outstanding. It was a real adventure. Extremely physically challenging, culturally fascinating, and gorgeous scenery. A few constructive comments: the list of needed supplies should remind folks that it can get very cold in the mountains. People think central America is hot. Not true at altitude after sunset. List should include a warm jacket. A long sleeve cycling shirt also essential to avoid excessive sun exposure. A real dry bag also necessary.

The E bike... read more

Wonderful trip. Guide was outstanding. It was a real adventure. Extremely physically challenging, culturally fascinating, and gorgeous scenery. A few constructive comments: the list of needed supplies should remind folks that it can get very cold in the mountains. People think central America is hot. Not true at altitude after sunset. List should include a warm jacket. A long sleeve cycling shirt also essential to avoid excessive sun exposure. A real dry bag also necessary.

The E bike experiment was successful. As a fit 70 year old, I could not have done this trip without it. However, the heavier bike is hard on the brakes on the steep downhill, and my rear brake cable broke. Fortunately, this was near the end of the trip. If it had been mid trip, it would’ve been a disaster and dangerous. the repair kit needs to include a replacement brake cable.

Overall a wonderful experience and high praise to KimKim, old town, Chris, and particularly Papiano. He could not have been more attentive.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Aug 15, 2023

We really appreciate your honest feedback Laurence. We've had a variety of clients on that trip (or trips close to it) and each time we're able to learn more to fine-tune the experience. I'm glad you enjoyed the time with Pepian and learning about a region of Guatemala that most tourists don't get to experience. For me it's important to spread tourism to those areas and avoid overcrowding the popular destinations. Thank you again for your business!

Five Star Trip to Guatemala
Guatemala | Jun 4 - Jun 9, 2023

T
Tina C.
Friendswood, TX | Reviewed on Jun 11, 2023

Chris was incredibly attentive and insightful when it came to planning the perfect trip for us! He listened to what we wanted, made as many modifications as we asked for (there were many), and he didn't stop until everything was exactly how we wanted it. He also made a last-minute change for us on the timing of one of our hikes and it made a huge difference once we had arrived in Guatemala. We had a minor issue at the airport when we arrived, but eventually found our driver and the rest of... read more

Chris was incredibly attentive and insightful when it came to planning the perfect trip for us! He listened to what we wanted, made as many modifications as we asked for (there were many), and he didn't stop until everything was exactly how we wanted it. He also made a last-minute change for us on the timing of one of our hikes and it made a huge difference once we had arrived in Guatemala. We had a minor issue at the airport when we arrived, but eventually found our driver and the rest of the trip was absolutely seamless. The boat ride to San Juan and hike with Pablo was incredible. The views were breathtaking, and he and his sidekick were so much fun; we really enjoyed getting to know them. Our guide for the rest of the trip Diana, was just amazing. We feel like she's family now. Highlights in Antigua included a walking tour of the city and hiking the active volcano Pacaya where we roasted marshmallows on the steam coming from the vents on the side of the volcano. Overall, it was a five-star trip with five-star guides, and I would highly recommend Chris and his team to anyone looking to travel to Guatemala. Thank you for the most amazing trip to your beautiful country, we will never forget it!!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Casa Palopo
Panajachel

The views from this hotel were absolutely incredible, although a little rough getting there. The roads are very bumpy and you have to take an additional ATV to get from the lobby up to where the suites are, and then additional walking and stairs to get to the room. It is not wheelchair accessible. The service and food were amazing and the room was extremely clean. There is no AC so it did get a little warm at night, but they did provide us with a fan. Note that if you want access to the infinity pool, you have to book a specific suite, which we did and it was SO worth it. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a five-star experience with access to the infinity pool with the most incredible views of the lake and volcanos.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The views from the top
Staff
They were so accommodating and service was impeccable
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and bed was comfortable
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
Antigua

This hotel is enormous and just WOW!! It is built into the ruins of a convent that was destroyed in the 1700s. The amount of history and art throughout the hotel is absolutely incredible. There is no AC, but there was a minisplit in our room that provided some circulation of cooler air. The rooms were clean and the bed was very comfortable. There are museums and a church and there is just so much to see in the hotel itself. The food and service was five-star! I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a unique, historical, and five-star hotel experience.

Authenticity & Character
We've never stayed anywhere with this amount of history and art.
Location
Walking distance to many things in town, lots of restaurants and stores
Staff
Service and staff was impeccable
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Activity Reviews
Rostro Maya / Indian nose Hike
Guatemala

This was so much more than just a hike!! We got to enjoy the incredible views on the boat across the lake, had an enjoyable hike, then a walking tour of San Juan and got to do some shopping before departing on the boat ride back to our hotel. Our guides were wonderful and we really enjoyed our time learning more about them, their culture and Guatemala. They also did a great job helping us take pictures along the way. I'd highly recommend this hike (especially with Pablo)!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pablo, the other guide, the drivers, everyone was wonderful!
Transport
Antigua Historic Walking Tour
Antigua

Our guide took us up and down the streets of Antigua for an incredible tour of the highlights of the city. She grew up in Antigua and had lots of interesting facts and history to share. We really enjoyed learning about the city and the sites.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Iximché Ruins & Transfer to Antigua
Guatemala

Our guide was of Mayan descent and it was very interesting to learn about their culture and what they do to keep the Mayan culture alive. He was very knowledgeable about the site and spoke very good English. We learned so much about the Mayan people, their history and their traditions. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys learning about the history and culture of places that they travel to, not just touristy things.

Quality of Experience
The guide was really great
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hobbitenango/Altamira Visits
Antigua

Altamira was really beautiful and easily accessible with a steep walk. The benches and viewing platform is relatively new so it is really nice. We unfortunately went on a foggy day and couldn't see the volcano much in the background, but would still recommend doing it. Hobbitenango is not what we expected. It was very difficult to get to and even once we parked, it required a lot of incline walking on our already tired knees/legs. There also wasn't much to do there except to take a picture on the floating hand. It's ok for a short trip to walk around and take pictures, but if we had it to do over again, we'd probably have skipped it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pacaya Volcano Hike & Spa Day
Antigua

The Pacaya volcano hike was such an incredible experience. The hike is moderate and was a bit challenging with a knee issue but we made it! Roasting marshmallows on the side of the volcano where you can feel the heat coming out of the vents is an experience we won't soon forget. Our guide was wonderful and patient with my slow pace. Diana our main guide who stayed with us the whole trip prepared an amazing lunch near the top. Overall, it was a must-do experience for us and it did not disappoint. The spa day was not exactly what we expected and honestly would probably have skipped it had we known. The sauna was very small and extremely hot; after hiking all day, we did not need to be any hotter than we already were. The hot and cold pools was the most enjoyable part and was very relaxing. The massages were not that great and the rooms were very hot, which made it uncomfortable.

Quality of Experience
The hike was 5 stars, the spa is probably 3 stars.
Food
Diana prepared such a delicious lunch on the side of the volcano!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jun 13, 2023

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Tina. I'm glad you and Ted were able to get to know the real Guatemala with our local team. Diana and the rest of the crew had a great time with you and appreciated your positive attitude and energy! Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Thank you again for your business!

Belize/Guatemala
Guatemala | Apr 7 - Apr 14, 2023

H
Heather L.
Warwick, RI | Reviewed on Apr 26, 2023

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our... read more

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our Spanish wasn't quite up to the task particulary with the lunch and dinner menus. We can't say enough about our experience and would highly recommend this itinerary as a family trip with teenagers.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Apr 28, 2023

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Heather. I'm glad your family was able to experience Belize and Guatemala with our local team. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about our region the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemal...
Guatemala | Dec 12 - Dec 19, 2022

Y
YAEL A.
Santa Monica, CA | Reviewed on Dec 21, 2022

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemala! Chris was very responsive, flexible, and patient during the planning phases of the trip. In addition, he was able to tweak our plans slightly while we were traveling so that everything was perfectly tailored to our needs. I greatly appreciated his knowledge and expertise. Our local guide, Esmerelda, was also a tremendous asset to our trip.
Thank you for a very memorable and smooth trip! read more

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemala! Chris was very responsive, flexible, and patient during the planning phases of the trip. In addition, he was able to tweak our plans slightly while we were traveling so that everything was perfectly tailored to our needs. I greatly appreciated his knowledge and expertise. Our local guide, Esmerelda, was also a tremendous asset to our trip.
Thank you for a very memorable and smooth trip!

Hotel Review
Jungle Lodge Tikal
Peten

Lovely hotel but very limited wifi and electricity is on only at certain times (planned). I thiought the mosquito for the bed was decorative, but it was actually useful!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Dec 21, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Yael! I'm glad your family enjoyed Guatemala and experiencing it with our local team. It was great to meet you all and share some stories. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Guatemala October 2022 6 day trip
Guatemala | Oct 20 - Oct 25, 2022

A
Andrew S.
Gadsden, AL | Reviewed on Oct 26, 2022

Tremendous trip, great planning from Chris. Also, included some last minute itinerary changes that Chris kept us well appraised of and was extremely helpful in planning.

Antigua for 48+ hours (Casa Encantada) and Lake Atitlan (La Casa del Mundo) for 3.5 days were beautiful places to stay, staff was always helpful.

Our local guide, Josias, was incredible.

Would highly recommend travel plans with kimkim read more

Tremendous trip, great planning from Chris. Also, included some last minute itinerary changes that Chris kept us well appraised of and was extremely helpful in planning.

Antigua for 48+ hours (Casa Encantada) and Lake Atitlan (La Casa del Mundo) for 3.5 days were beautiful places to stay, staff was always helpful.

Our local guide, Josias, was incredible.

Would highly recommend travel plans with kimkim

Hotel Reviews
Casa Encatada
Antiigua
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa del Mundo
Lake Atitlán
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Lake Atitlán Village Tour
Guatemala
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán
Guatemala
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano
Guatemala
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Oct 26, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Andrew! I'm glad the whole crew enjoyed Guatemala and experiencing it with our local team. It was great to meet you and appreciate your patience with the last minute adjustments for your departure. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Exactly the vacation we wanted - KimKim delivered, above and beyond.
Guatemala | Jul 7 - Jul 12, 2022

J
James K.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Aug 11, 2022

We had exactly the vacation we wanted - a great mix of new experiences and natural beauty. We were always just far enough outside our comfort zone to keep us fully present and engaged. Chris did a fantastic job of understanding what we were after. Starting with a stay at the Camino Real was perfect: international luxury, poolside dining and opulence. Then, a hotel that doubles as a working horseracing track and some time in Chiquimula, a town that feels like one huge, endlessly bustling... read more

We had exactly the vacation we wanted - a great mix of new experiences and natural beauty. We were always just far enough outside our comfort zone to keep us fully present and engaged. Chris did a fantastic job of understanding what we were after. Starting with a stay at the Camino Real was perfect: international luxury, poolside dining and opulence. Then, a hotel that doubles as a working horseracing track and some time in Chiquimula, a town that feels like one huge, endlessly bustling market. Next, a boutique garden hotel in the heart of Antigua, so we could soak up the architecture and history of the old capital. Finally, a couple of days in a cliffside hotel dangling over Lake Atitlan, maybe the most beautiful location in Central America. Our drivers and guides were warm, helpful and fun, and great with our kids. We are so, so happy that we booked this trip through KimKim.

Hotel Reviews
The Westin Camino Real, Guatemala
Guatemala City

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to stay in a top-tier international hotel "back in the day," this is the place. Everything they do is casual, confident luxury. The pool is perfect and perfectly maintained, because of course it is. You can get huge portions of excellent food poolside, or in your room, or in the restaurant because why wouldn't you? The beds are unbelievably comfortable and quiet. The staff is friendly and helpful. Things are ready when they are supposed to be, or sooner. They have a spare of whatever you lost. They know how to help you find the place you can't remember the name of. They are the Westin Camino Real, they've been doing this since people flew in on PanAm 707s. It's the only way they know how to do things: perfectly.

Authenticity & Character
"Authenticity" is about being an old-style international hotel, though. It's not the most "authentic" place in terms of feeling like you are in Guatemala.
Location
Wide array of shopping and dining places in walking distance. Luckily, in recent years, it's become much, much safer to be a pedestrian in Guatemala City.
Staff
Every single interaction with staff was friendly and pleasant.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Finca Los Laureles
Jerico

We really enjoyed Finca Los Laureles, but I think some aspects suffered from how empty it was at the time. I think there were, maybe, two other rooms occupied during our stay. That was probably why there were very few employees on site, too. Coupled with the sprawling, rustic layout of this hotel, it added up to something of a ghost-town experience. We wandered around a lot, wondering where things were, or if we were really supposed to be in the places we ended up. We had an odd but wonderful dinner on, I think, the back porch of a restaurant but never figured out where the front entrance was. All in all: lots of wonderful moments with some confusing times, too. I suspect that this would have been a very solid 5-star review if we had stayed here during a busier season.

Authenticity & Character
There's definitely a lot of character to Los Laureles. The decor is something like "horse paddock" crossed with "Route 66 roadside attraction." There's a small zoo. The grounds cover god knows how many acres, but the rooms directly face the pool. It's odd and charming and memorable.
Location
Remote to Guatemala City, but not too far from Chiquimula. It a beautiful, quiet part of the country. You'll see plenty of birds and other wildlife, but not many people.
Staff
The people we dealt with were wonderful. We had only one issue: there weren't many staff members, and we often couldn't find someone. That really seemed to be due to it being the lowest part of the off-season, so not really unreasonable.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Would like to give 4 1/2 stars here. The only issue in terms of "comfort" was that a lack of staff combined with a lack of signage meant that we really struggled to find things, and wandered aimlessly around the place at times.
Hotel San Jorge
Antigua

So pretty, in such a perfect spot. Great little restaurant, friendly staff. So, why not 5 stars? The heat. Antigua gets pretty hot, and stays warm pretty late into the evening. There are lot of bugs, particularly mosquitos around. So, some hotels have AC. Some have fans. The rest of the places at least have screens on the windows, or mosquito netting, or both. The Hotel San Jorge has no AC, or fans (even in the bathrooms), or screens or netting. Also, they keep bright lights on all night in the courtyard, and are in a fairly noisy part of town. That means trying to sleep in stifling heat, or trying to sleep while coated in bug spray with something over your eyes against the light and, if possible, ear plugs. So, the rest of our experience was lovely, but we got very little actual sleep - which is a key part of what you generally want from a hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Add screens to the rooms, look into dimming or shielding courtyard lights. For a few hundred bucks, you could increase customer comfort dramatically. I can understand not adding AC, or fans, but just putting screens on the windows is not going to ruin the charm of your hotel.
Casa del Mundo
Lake Atitlán

It's hard to really separate "just the hotel" from the rest of the experience. Lake Atitlan is always going to be the star of any visit here. The lake, the surrounding volcanos, the trails and villages around it...it's just so endlessly beautiful. Casa del Mundo does a great job of understanding this. The layout is vertical and shallow, so that wherever you go, you are looking at the lake. There's not a lot of "building," other than the restaurant and front desk. There are patios and benches everywhere between and above the rooms. There's no AC, but there are windows with screens and cross-ventilation so you can have your windows open and hear the water lapping at the rocks. They enforce a 10pm quiet hour, which helps make that work for everyone. Be aware, this maybe isn't for everyone: you can only get here by (a smallish) boat, and there are a LOT of stairs in getting up from the lake to the hotel. If you aren't able to face 60-70 stairs on a regular basis, or you like to travel with 3-4 suitcases, you might not enjoy this place nearly as much.

Authenticity & Character
The hotel gives you some of this, but if you really want 5-stars-worth of authenticity, you need to get out and around to the surrounding villages, starting with Panajachel.
Location
Would give 20 stars if possible.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
So many cute, cool places to just sit and look at the lake, or even dive off the rocks into the water. It's not a "super soft pillows' kind of comfort, more of a "good for the soul" kind.
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Aug 15, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Jason! I'm glad your family was able to visit Guatemala during these times and enjoy your vacation with our local team. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Volcano + Tikal !
Guatemala | Jul 12 - Jul 23, 2022

Aytch
Aytch D.
Tacoma, WA | Reviewed on Jul 24, 2022

Our entire trip that was planned through Old Town was incredible. Chris was helpful with the logistics and ensuring our trip was easy to navigate. Our driver, Ivan, and our guide, Jossua, were both incredible and engaging. We already miss them !We loved the hot springs we spent the night at, and the lagoon hike outside of Zunil. Thank you to entire team who made our trip memorable and easy. read more

Our entire trip that was planned through Old Town was incredible. Chris was helpful with the logistics and ensuring our trip was easy to navigate. Our driver, Ivan, and our guide, Jossua, were both incredible and engaging. We already miss them !We loved the hot springs we spent the night at, and the lagoon hike outside of Zunil. Thank you to entire team who made our trip memorable and easy.

Hotel Review
La Fortuna Atitlan
Santa Cruz la Laguna

Best place to stay on the lake !!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jul 25, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Aytch and Tovah! I'm glad you had a great time on the volcanoes and spending time with our team and Jossue guiding you around the country. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Definitely what the doctor ordered!
Guatemala | Jan 10 - Jan 17, 2021

B
Bryan M.
Saint Cloud, MN | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2021

I had the pleasure of having Chris as local specialist and Willy as my guide fr=m the company Old Town Outfitters throughout the week from 10/01/2021-17/01/2021. I did the 8 days multi-sport trip for Guatemala and it was everything I could ask for in a trip! Most of the trip consisted of hiking and biking around Antigua as well as volcanoes around the area as well and we visited a chocolate/wine factory as well as a macadamia farm which were nice additions to the tours. I also spent... read more

I had the pleasure of having Chris as local specialist and Willy as my guide fr=m the company Old Town Outfitters throughout the week from 10/01/2021-17/01/2021. I did the 8 days multi-sport trip for Guatemala and it was everything I could ask for in a trip! Most of the trip consisted of hiking and biking around Antigua as well as volcanoes around the area as well and we visited a chocolate/wine factory as well as a macadamia farm which were nice additions to the tours. I also spent overnight in Lake Atitlan as well as camp at Volcano Acatanegro which was a heck of a way to end the tour. Along with Willy being an amazing guide for the entire week, Chris did an amazing job not only accommodating great hotels in Antigua as well as Lake Atitlan, my country required negative Covid 19 tests the week I was in Guatemala and Chris was able to get a doctor to come to my hotel and get the test done so I can return to my country. I highly recommend that if you visit Guatemala to have Old Town Outfitters plan your trip for you, you won't regret it! My recommendation for anyone doing this trip is to learn a little spanish as it would make the trip easier and to have a big backpack if you choose to do the camping trip!

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jan 21, 2021

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Bryan! I'm glad you were able to visit Guatemala during these times and enjoy your vacation with Wily guiding you around the country. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Guatemala Ring of Fire-Must Do!
Guatemala | Feb 1 - Feb 15, 2020

D
Daisy B.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 10, 2020

My team of 5 avid hikers hiked 7 volcanoes in 11 days with guides Carlos and Lucas, who went out of their way to make our trip fun, safe, exciting and full of wonderful surprises. Their passion for adventure, love for the outdoors of their country, dedication and commitment to meeting our needs and cheerful disposition made it an epic experience for us.

I am also extremely grateful to Chris Gwinner, of Old Town Outfitters (OTO), who tailored this adventure for my group. His professionalism,... read more

My team of 5 avid hikers hiked 7 volcanoes in 11 days with guides Carlos and Lucas, who went out of their way to make our trip fun, safe, exciting and full of wonderful surprises. Their passion for adventure, love for the outdoors of their country, dedication and commitment to meeting our needs and cheerful disposition made it an epic experience for us.

I am also extremely grateful to Chris Gwinner, of Old Town Outfitters (OTO), who tailored this adventure for my group. His professionalism, prompt and accurate communication and patience in answering questions left little to unknown which helped everything run smoothly.

Getting up close to volcanoes is unique and humbling. The breath-taking scenery from the summits were awe-inspiring. The hikes were challenging but the experience was worth the sweat and dust on our boots, hair and skin, and OTO played a vital and commendable role in making it all possible.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Mar 14, 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave us the review Daisy! You and the rest of the group were an absolute pleasure to have out on the trails. Our guides had a great time with you and appreciated your positive attitudes and desire to learn about the local culture.

Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Amazing trip to Guatemala with Oldtown Oldfitters
Guatemala | Feb 1 - Feb 9, 2020

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Brunna A.
Brazil | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2020

My experience at KimKim began with Chris Gewinner's support and advice, he was always super attentive and helped us create the best plan according to our wishes and expectations. The trip was amazing. Everyone at Oldtown Oldfitters was super available to help and give us details on the itinerary. The highlight for us was Diego, who was our guide in Pacaya and Altitlan, he was an amazing guide, super into what he was doing, willing to help and explain every detail, always with a smile on his... read more

My experience at KimKim began with Chris Gewinner's support and advice, he was always super attentive and helped us create the best plan according to our wishes and expectations. The trip was amazing. Everyone at Oldtown Oldfitters was super available to help and give us details on the itinerary. The highlight for us was Diego, who was our guide in Pacaya and Altitlan, he was an amazing guide, super into what he was doing, willing to help and explain every detail, always with a smile on his face. He really made the difference on our trip, we are happy to say we made a friend! The tours were also great, every place we went was breathtaking. Guatemala is indeed an unforgettable country with beautiful landscapes and a rich and beautiful culture.

The only downside for us was the lack of details we were given regarding our two day trip to Semuc Champey, we knew it was going to be a long drive but no one told us we would need to stay 22hours in a bus. Plus, the agency that drove us back from Semuc to Antigua was super disorganized. The bus driver stop in the middle of the road to change buses and that took us 40 minutes, everyone (aprox 30 people) had to hop down the bus, in a heat of 30C degrees, wait for the bus drivers to change the luggage from a bus to the other. That took us 40 minutes and no one explained the reason why that was happening. Plus, when we got to Antigua, the bus driver dropped us off in a random place at 9PM, we had no battery on our phones after the 13h drive, we had to carry our luggage and walk in circles until after 30 minutes when we finally found our hotel.

I told Oldtown about my disappointment with the trip and also told them this was the only bad thing that happened. Despite that, I super reccommend KimKim and Oldtown but I think more details should be given in the plan.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner

Best experience, book them you won't regret it!
Guatemala | Nov 21 - Nov 30, 2019

Julie
Julie H.
Playa Vista, CA | Reviewed on Dec 24, 2019

We scheduled a 9 day action packed trip with our two boys (9 and 12) and we could not have asked for a better experience! Chris was amazing in communicating and scheduling our itinerary. I gave him a list of things we wanted to do and he put together a trip plan that hit all of it and more. All of our hotel accommodations were great and food was wonderful.

Our guide Lucas and driver Benecio were so genuine, friendly and took such good care of us. Some of the highlights of our trip were our... read more

We scheduled a 9 day action packed trip with our two boys (9 and 12) and we could not have asked for a better experience! Chris was amazing in communicating and scheduling our itinerary. I gave him a list of things we wanted to do and he put together a trip plan that hit all of it and more. All of our hotel accommodations were great and food was wonderful.

Our guide Lucas and driver Benecio were so genuine, friendly and took such good care of us. Some of the highlights of our trip were our trip to Antigua, overnight camp on Pacaya (we roasted marshmallows over lava flows), visit to Lake Atitlan, and climbing the temples and pyramids of Tikal. We realized that having a local tour operator and guide pays off because we seemed to get some great perks (best hotel rooms, quick service, etc.) They also took care of all of the logistics of moving our luggage, transportation, etc. They were always on time and reliable. It was nice to have someone take care of this and we could just show up and enjoy our selves.

Thank you for showing us your beautiful country, taking such good care of us, and making this such an amazing experience that we will remember for a lifetime! We could never have planned a trip like this on our own and we hope to be back again!

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Dec 31, 2019

Thank you for taking the time to leave us the reviews Julie! I'm glad you and your family had a great trip to Guatemala. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

The perfect trip!
Guatemala | Oct 31 - Nov 6, 2019

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Sara A.
Norcross, GA | Reviewed on Dec 13, 2019

The perfect trip!

Setting everything up was amazingly easy and exactly what we wanted. We lucked out by getting David as our guide- he took care of everything which let us focus on enjoying the experiences. Guatemala was beautiful, but there is no way we would have had the same great experience without Chris and David's help. We are already planning to go back because there was more to see and we ran out of time!

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Dec 16, 2019

Thank you for the review Sara and I'm glad you two had a great trip to Guatemala! We look forward to seeing you again in Guatemala the next time, Cheers!

Guatemala
Guatemala | Jul 2 - Jul 7, 2019

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Hollie S.
Cleveland, OH | Reviewed on Jul 08, 2019

Great trip! Antigua was wonderful! The hikes up Picaya and Earth Lodge in El Hato provided amazing views. Both of our guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Carlos was a walking history book and Louis was very patient with our lack of hiking experience. My only suggestion would be maybe get a better feel for the fitness of the travelers. One of the hikes was too much for one family member. Casa Antigua was a lovely hotel. The cooking class was really fun. Thanks for working with us. We felt safe throughout the trip. I highly recommend KimKim as a travel resource for Guatemala.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jul 08, 2019

Thank you for the review Hollie and I'm glad your family had a great trip to Guatemala! Thank you for the suggestion about the fitness levels, it's a great point that we'll work to be better on. Please be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Cheers!

David's home Trip
Guatemala | Jun 8 - Jun 15, 2019

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Kenneth F.
Tulsa, OK | Reviewed on Jun 23, 2019

All of it was great. Each aspect was wonderful. The hike up Pacaya, the tour of Antigua, Atitlan and the lake was beautiful. The cooking class was exceptional. Thanks for a memorable trip.

Ken Farnham

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jun 24, 2019

Thank you for the review Ken and I'm glad your family had a great trip to Guatemala! Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Cheers!

Best of Guatemala - 8 Days
Guatemala | Apr 25 - May 5, 2019

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Jack G.
Cape Girardeau, MO | Reviewed on May 16, 2019

My wife and I found Chris from Old Towne through KimKim. he responded before any other companies I contacted. We put a wish list of places to go/things to do, and Chris put it together. And when we had to make some choices, we followed his advice. We ended up stretching the 8 day package into 11 days. It was well worth it!

We visited Antigua, and stayed at Hotel Meson de Maria. The hotel was really beautiful, and the service was outstanding. Very clean. It had a great rooftop sitting area,... read more

My wife and I found Chris from Old Towne through KimKim. he responded before any other companies I contacted. We put a wish list of places to go/things to do, and Chris put it together. And when we had to make some choices, we followed his advice. We ended up stretching the 8 day package into 11 days. It was well worth it!

We visited Antigua, and stayed at Hotel Meson de Maria. The hotel was really beautiful, and the service was outstanding. Very clean. It had a great rooftop sitting area, and it was only a block or so from the main plaza. Lots of great food, wonderful old architecture, and many churches (including ruins) to see. I actually got a great photo of Fuego erupting, from the roof!

Our guide during this part of the trip was Pepian, and he was amazing. We hiked the volcano Pacaya, which was a blast. The coffee plantation bike ride and tour was more than we expected. Tomateo and his wife were was a gracious hosts. We took a boat ride across Lake Attitlan, with Isaisus (sp?) as our local, and proud, guide. We saw local art and textiles being produced. What wonderful hosts the locals were. Casa del Mundo was gorgeous, though it was a good hike to our room...but it gave us such great views! Pepian guided us on our kayak trip, and the hike back around the lake. Thanks Pepian, you were wonderful to us, and such a great diplomat for Guatemala. Danelo and Alejandro were our drivers...and we had fun being around both of them!

Next was a 3am wake up call to make a 6:30 flight to Tikal. Alejandro had our plane and park tickets ready to go, and by 9am, we were with Andres touring the amazing ruins. There is so much to see, it is almost overwhelming. We saw toucans, parrots, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys.
The facilities at Tikal are nice, but the restricted electricity (2 hours in the morning, 2 hours at night) made fans and hot water scarce. But it was fine. The howler monkey yelling at his friends right outside our window all night let us know we were in a jungle!

Fernando took us next to Las Conchas. This was a recommendation from Chris, and it was a great stop on the way to Rio Dulce. This was a bit out of our comfort zone, but Felipe, Miho, and their darling daughter, Hannah, made us right at home! Felipe's enthusiasm for the area, and his place, is catchy, and we swam in the falls. Miho cooked some of the best meals we had during visit, with a rather romantic setting. And Hannah is a special young lady, who never meets a stranger.

Fernando then took us to Rio Dulce. We stayed at Tortugal Hotel & Marina, which requires a short boat ride there. Our room was beautiful. We visited Finca el Paraiso, which was nice, but the fun we had with some extremely friendly locals was a blast. Daniel was our guide here, and Anna was our translator. The second day there we took a boat trip on Rio Dulce from Lake Izabel to Livinston. The river was calm, and the scenery was fantastic, with gorges, mangroves, and wildlife (manatees!). This was one of our favorite days of the trip.

After a long , yet scenic, drive back to Guatemala City, Carla took us on a perfect tour of Guatemala City. We visited a stunning small church named Iglesai Yurrito, which happened to be open for another event...Carla said it is only the 3rd or 4th time she has ever been in it. We loved it!
So, it is easy to see we had a great time. What a special, wonderful and beautiful country that Guatemala is. At no time did we feel unsafe, and the coordination of the trip, the quality of the guides, and the accommodations, were perfect for us. Thanks, Chris, Pepian, and the entire Old Towne team!

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on May 16, 2019

Wow Jack, thank you so much for the in-depth review and your kind words! The whole team here including the guides, drivers and more really enjoyed your enthusiasm throughout the trip and appreciate your willingness to learn about Guatemala. You will be a great ambassador for the country as I'm sure you'll share lots of great stories with your friends and family. Thank you again for your business and hopefully we'll see you back in Guatemala one day!

Antigua to Guatemala city
Guatemala | Apr 30 - Apr 30, 2019

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Heather M.
Richmond, VA | Reviewed on May 01, 2019

Great experience! Chris was helpful in every aspect of making the arrangements. The hotel I was staying at was tucked away and very hard to find but to my surprise, my driver showed up early and was waiting for me within a few feet of my doorstep. The price was a little more than I wanted to pay but for the service I received it was well worth it. Thanks again and would recommend using this company.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on May 08, 2019

Thank you for the review Heather and I'm glad we helped cap off your trip to Guatemala with a great experience. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Cheers!

Multi-Sport Adventure in Guatemala - 8 Days
Guatemala | Apr 10 - Apr 18, 2019

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Daniel B.
Australia | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2019

I was very impressed with how easy it was to book my itinerary and learn about my options. Liaising with Chris was simple, quick and the information I received was concise and very accurate - I've not been so impressed with how easy and exciting it was to book a trip!
The staff at Old Town Outfitters were so easy and comfortable to be with and they ran the day and overnight tours very capably. Saes, Lucas and Marco, in particular made my experience memorable and I had much fun mountain... read more

I was very impressed with how easy it was to book my itinerary and learn about my options. Liaising with Chris was simple, quick and the information I received was concise and very accurate - I've not been so impressed with how easy and exciting it was to book a trip!
The staff at Old Town Outfitters were so easy and comfortable to be with and they ran the day and overnight tours very capably. Saes, Lucas and Marco, in particular made my experience memorable and I had much fun mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, camping and driving with them.
The equipment I used was of top quality - mountain bikes, tent, sleeping bag and mattress, and the food for picnic lunches and dinner and breakfast was fresh, local and delicious. The tours I joined included the mountain bike around Antigua, day hike up Pacaya Volcano, overnight hike of Acatenango Volcano and multisport overnight trip to Lake Atitlan. These tours covered amazing scenery, gave an opportunity to see local life, traditions, culture and nature (especially the eruptions at night on Fuego Volcano) as well as have so much fun doing physical activities. It was an ideal way to see these areas of Guatemala. Antigua is a gem for Guatemala and Central America.
I could not endorse Old Town Outfitters and their staff more highly and I would most definitely book with them again.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on May 08, 2019

Thank you for the kind words Daniel and I'm so glad you had a great time in Guatemala! We love sharing the country's highlights with our guests and you certainly saw some good ones. The lava eruptions of Volcan de Fuego were the cherry on top. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Cheers!

Antigua
Guatemala | Mar 18 - Mar 18, 2019

Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie G.
Austin, TX | Reviewed on Mar 20, 2019

My family really enjoyed the hike up volcano Pacaya. Our guide was thoughtful and friendly and well prepared.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Mar 21, 2019

Thank you for the review Anne-Marie! I'm glad you and the family had a great time on the Pacaya hike and it looks like you had great views. Be sure to spread the word to your friends, we love sharing Guatemala with the rest of the world. Cheers!

Relaxed, Budget Friendly Travel
Guatemala | Feb 21 - Feb 28, 2019

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Kathryn P.
Catonsville, MD | Reviewed on Mar 01, 2019

Chris did a good job with planning everything. Casa del Mundo in Atitlan was a very nice hotel with amazing views, and I enjoyed visiting the different villages along the lake. Antigua was also a nice place with colorful colonial architecture, along with lots of shops and restaurants. I would definitely visit these places again.

My recommendation for anyone looking to visit the Atitlan region: pack lightly. You have to take a lancha (water taxi) to visit the villages, and your luggage gets... read more

Chris did a good job with planning everything. Casa del Mundo in Atitlan was a very nice hotel with amazing views, and I enjoyed visiting the different villages along the lake. Antigua was also a nice place with colorful colonial architecture, along with lots of shops and restaurants. I would definitely visit these places again.

My recommendation for anyone looking to visit the Atitlan region: pack lightly. You have to take a lancha (water taxi) to visit the villages, and your luggage gets placed on top of the boat. These are not big boats, and they can be packed with people depending on where you're leaving or heading to. Panajachel and San Pedro, for example, are very busy areas. The boat rides can also be a little scary and bumpy depending on how windy it is. I was definitely scared riding a lancha for the first time.

Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Mar 12, 2019

Thank you for the review Kathryn and we're glad you decided to come to Guatemala! Good points about the lake - we'll keep sharing that. Be sure to spread the word to your friends, we love sharing Guatemala with the rest of the world. Cheers!