ATV Riding Antigua: Cerro de la Cruz, Hobbitenango & Chocolate

ATVs, volcanoes, a Hobbit-inspired forest, and chocolate made in front of you

An ATV tour in Antigua, Guatemala where you ride your own bike to Cerro de la Cruz for views of the city and volcanoes, transfer by truck to Hobbitenango eco-park for sightseeing and activities, then ride back down and continue to San Juan del Obispo to watch chocolate being made and taste it. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours with a guide, helmet and all ATV use included; a valid driver's license is required and children from age 7 can ride with an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Antigua ATV Mountain Adventure

• Meet at agency and sign agreements
• Receive helmets and instructions
• Visit Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint
• Park ATVs and ride 4x4 to Hobbitenango
• Enjoy food, drinks, and activities at Hobbitenango
• Return by truck to El Hato
• Ride ATVs to San Juan del Obispo
• Visit chocolate factory and taste products

The Experience

You start at the agency in central Antigua, get your helmet, sign the paperwork, and ride your own ATV up to Cerro de la Cruz—one of the city's most visited viewpoints. From the hilltop you get a bird's-eye view of Antigua's colonial architecture and the volcanoes that ring the highlands. After pictures and walking around the cross, you head back down and ride toward Hobbitenango.

At El Hato you park the ATVs and climb into a pickup truck that climbs higher into the forest to Hobbitenango, a Lord of the Rings–themed eco-park built into the mountainside. You walk the grounds, take in the views, and do whatever activities the park offers that day. The truck brings you back down to El Hato, where you get back on your ATV and ride to San Juan del Obispo, a village at the foot of Agua Volcano. There you stop at Chocolateria Antigua, where the staff walks you through part of their chocolate-making process, lets you taste different flavors, and sells you the ones you want to take home.

The whole loop takes 5 to 6 hours. You need a valid driver's license to ride, and the guide speaks English or Spanish. Children from age 7 can ride as passengers with an adult, though they cannot drive their own bike unless they have a license and book as an adult rider. Helmets, the ATV itself, local taxes and the guide are all included; food, drinks and tips are not.

What’s included

• Your own ATV and helmet.
• a guide who speaks English or Spanish.
• all local taxes.
• stops at Cerro de la Cruz, Hobbitenango eco-park and the chocolate factory in San Juan del Obispo.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Simoon Rentals & Tours Panajachel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to ride your own bike through the highlands rather than watch from a vehicle, and if your group includes at least one licensed driver—the mix of riding, trekking through a themed forest and a working chocolate factory keeps the day varied without needing a full day to pull it off.

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Top questions

What is Cerro de la Cruz and why do people ride there first?

Cerro de la Cruz is a hilltop landmark in Antigua that gives you a bird's-eye view of the city's colonial architecture and the volcanoes surrounding the highlands—it's one of the most well-known viewpoints in the city, so the tour starts there to set the scale of what you're riding through.

What happens at Hobbitenango and why do you leave the ATVs there?

Hobbitenango is a Lord of the Rings–themed eco-park higher up in the forest where you walk around, enjoy views and do activities; you switch to a pickup truck there because the road gets too steep or rough for ATVs, and the truck carries you up and back down.

Do I need a driver's license to ride an ATV on this tour?

Yes, you must have a valid driver's license to operate an ATV on this tour; if you don't have one, you can ride as a passenger with an adult, but you cannot book a passenger-only reservation—at least one person in your group must book as a driver.

Can my 8-year-old ride on this tour?

Children from age 7 can ride as passengers with an adult on the same ATV; they cannot drive their own bike unless they have a valid driver's license and book as an adult rider themselves.

What is the chocolate factory stop like?

At Chocolateria Antigua in San Juan del Obispo, the staff shows you part of their chocolate-making process, lets you taste different flavors they produce, and you can buy the ones you like to take with you; food and drinks beyond the tasting are not included.

How long is the whole tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 5 to 6 hours and includes the ATV itself, helmet, a guide in English or Spanish, and local taxes; food, drinks and gratuities are not included, though you can purchase chocolate and other items at the factory stop.