 3Likes
-
1
Post By Snakeboy
-
1
Post By Sjoerd Bakker
-
1
Post By Snakeboy
 |
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Honduras
Posts: 175
|
|
|
Road Conditions in Guate Semuc>Rio Dulce>Flores
I'm headed back to Guate this summer, this time with a pillion to show her around. I've ridden southern/western Guate (Xela, Huehue, Atitlan, Antigua) recently but haven't been out to the Peten area since 2006.
Google maps is saying:
Guate - Semuc Champey - 177 / 6 h 42m
Semuc - Rio Dulce - 102mi / 5h 5m
Rio Dulce - Flores - 151mi / 4h11m
Anyone ridden any of these routes recently? Do these times make sense? 5 hours to go 102 miles from Semuc to Rio Dulce? Roads that bad?
Any insight appreciated.
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,521
|
|
Google maps are often quite correct about time spent on stretches.
Rio Dulce - Flores 206 kms, 4h 11m - I think it sounds about right, maybe a tad optimistic. It depends how eager you are overtaking slow moving trucks in front of you.
Guate - Semuc Champey 287 kms 5h 5m - I spent almost 2 hours riding from Coban to Lanquin which is 63 kms. The stretch from Lanquin to Semuc C is absolutely horrible, but I havent ridden Guate to Coban so I dont know that stretch - but 5h 5m it sounds a bit optimistic to me...
Semuc C to Rio Dulce - I havent ridden that but according to several notes on iOverlander the stretch on R5 is absolutely horrible.
I rode Lanquin to Chichicastenango the other day, 245 kms and I spent almost 8 hours on it with a coffeebreak for 15-20 mintues and a couple of short photostops.
Its not only the road condition, its the slow moving traffic and in every little town there is a complete chaos in the streets, and all those damned topes as well.
But still love Guate though... 
__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Honduras
Posts: 175
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeboy
Google maps are often quite correct about time spent on stretches.
Rio Dulce - Flores 206 kms, 4h 11m - I think it sounds about right, maybe a tad optimistic. It depends how eager you are overtaking slow moving trucks in front of you.
Guate - Semuc Champey 287 kms 5h 5m - I spent almost 2 hours riding from Coban to Lanquin which is 63 kms. The stretch from Lanquin to Semuc C is absolutely horrible, but I havent ridden Guate to Coban so I dont know that stretch - but 5h 5m it sounds a bit optimistic to me...
Semuc C to Rio Dulce - I havent ridden that but according to several notes on iOverlander the stretch on R5 is absolutely horrible.
I rode Lanquin to Chichicastenango the other day, 245 kms and I spent almost 8 hours on it with a coffeebreak for 15-20 mintues and a couple of short photostops.
Its not only the road condition, its the slow moving traffic and in every little town there is a complete chaos in the streets, and all those damned topes as well.
But still love Guate though... |
Thanks for the feedback. When I rode into Xela from MX last time I remember the road went through the center of every little town, topes and all of that fun stuff. Definitely slow going. It looks like that's a theme throughout the country.
In western Guate the roads that connect the more major towns and cities seem to be in much better condition than where I'm planning to go this time around.
How long ago where you traveling there?
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,521
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThirtyOne
Thanks for the feedback. When I rode into Xela from MX last time I remember the road went through the center of every little town, topes and all of that fun stuff. Definitely slow going. It looks like that's a theme throughout the country.
In western Guate the roads that connect the more major towns and cities seem to be in much better condition than where I'm planning to go this time around.
How long ago where you traveling there?
|
Im in Guate now, Lago Atitlan. I also had a quick run through the country in the beginning of december last year, from El Salvador Las Chinamas via Antigua and up to Flores and exited to Belize.
Roads are not that bad from the El Salvador border and up and past Guate city, its heavy traffic, slow moving trucks, topes etc that takes time imo.
__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norwich,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 1,058
|
|
The main highways through the Peten are all pretty good pavement . I have never yet set a foot near Semuc because I gave up after 20 minutes rattling my brains while on the GS 1100 on the crappy road there about in 2010 .seems things have not improved . There are lots of nicer roads to ride ( and im not interested in trying to drown meself in cave rivers  . )The highway down through the border of El Ceibo is great and so is its connection north to Flores & Tikal and south through Sayaxche to Coban the CA 9 to GT City .Tha stretchof the Peten is particularly notorious for having the Mayan villages expressing their open disdainfor the hurried life style .They will run street markets right ON the highway and you better slow to a walking pace or take the backstreets around .
I never use the google time estimates as they are useless for tourist riding values .
I refuse to try riding to their tempo .For instance Cobanand environs are a shame to rush through and the vista over the valley of Salama should induce you to take the time to ride down into there to explore . I go as far as whatever at MY pace - and stop for the night. Next day repeat.
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Honduras
Posts: 175
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeboy
Im in Guate now, Lago Atitlan. I also had a quick run through the country in the beginning of december last year, from El Salvador Las Chinamas via Antigua and up to Flores and exited to Belize.
Roads are not that bad from the El Salvador border and up and past Guate city, its heavy traffic, slow moving trucks, topes etc that takes time imo.
|
Good to hear. If you're headed south, I'm in Tegucigalpa. Feel free to let me know when you're in the area.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sjoerd Bakker
The main highways through the Peten are all pretty good pavement . I have never yet set a foot near Semuc because I gave up after 20 minutes rattling my brains while on the GS 1100 on the crappy road there about in 2010 .seems things have not improved . There are lots of nicer roads to ride ( and im not interested in trying to drown meself in cave rivers . )The highway down through the border of El Ceibo is great and so is its connection north to Flores & Tikal and south through Sayaxche to Coban the CA 9 to GT City .Tha stretchof the Peten is particularly notorious for having the Mayan villages expressing their open disdainfor the hurried life style .They will run street markets right ON the highway and you better slow to a walking pace or take the backstreets around .
I never use the google time estimates as they are useless for tourist riding values .
I refuse to try riding to their tempo .For instance Cobanand environs are a shame to rush through and the vista over the valley of Salama should induce you to take the time to ride down into there to explore . I go as far as whatever at MY pace - and stop for the night. Next day repeat. |
I know what you mean about pace. My friend is only in Guate for 15 days and we're going to try to do a relaxed loop, but I'm trying to get an idea of the roads so we can plan our pace. I've used Google Maps for a lot of route planning over they years and it's been fairly accurate for me. In this case, some days we will need to get from A to B, so having an idea of how long the day will be in the saddle will help us plan accordingly.
I was in Semuc back in 2006 before it was well known. There was one little hostel there that had some cabanas and ran a gas generator until 8pm. After that lights out. I've heard that it's a lot more developed these days (and touristy).
In truth, I have already done most of this route, again, back in 2006, and it was via chicken bus. I've toured western and southern Guate in the past few years, so no concerns there. Having lived in Honduras for nearly a decade, I've seen areas develop, new roads come in, etc. I was wondering if Guate had any new developments.
Your advice is appreciated 
|
27 Mar 2019
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,521
|
|
|
If you are going to do a loop maybe consider doing Guate city to Rio Dulce on CA9 and then Rio Dulce to Flores on CA13. Return from Flores via Sayaxhe on Pet11 then the Av9 from Xuctzul which looks tiny on Google maps but are a decent paved road through the mountains down to Coban. That last leg instead of the R5 which looks like a major road on Google maps but are really bad according to iOverlander notes and I was told the same by a US rider I met in Mexico. (I didnt ride that stretch myself so I dont have first hand info)
Or do the loop opposite of course...
Lanquin seem to be the place to stay while visiting Semuc Champey, there where dozens of resorts and hotels to stay in. There were at least 3-4 resorts and similar in Semuc too.
__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-14
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
Linear Mode
