
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. "
Chris's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice

Immerse yourself in ancient Maya culture while traveling in style on this eight-day sojourn to Guatemala. Pamper yourself in luxury hotels and see famous sights from above as...

This trip to the heart of Central America offers fascinating historical culture, thrilling adventure, and jaw-dropping vistas. You'll fall in love with the charming colonial...

This five-day Guatemala adventure begins with a walking tour and traditional cooking class in the colonial city of Antigua. Then conquer the summit of Pacaya Volcano as you hike...
Family itineraries

Discover lost cities, ancient ruins, and the world's most beautiful lake on this week-long, family-friendly tour of Guatemala. Immerse yourselves in culture and adventure as you...

Perfect for active families with older kids, this 10-day family adventure to Guatemala highlights two of the country's most celebrated locations, Antigua and Lake Atitlán. Roast...

This 10-day family tour starts in the colonial city of Antigua, where you'll experience the delicious flavors of Guatemalan cuisine with a foodie tour, honey tasting, and a...
Luxury itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Chris
Off the beaten path
Guatemala
|
Aug 5 - Aug 11, 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

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

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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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
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

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

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

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
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

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
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

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

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
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!

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
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.

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
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

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
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

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
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.

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
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

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

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

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
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

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!