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 13+ 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 25 years ago and we continue to be the leaders in Guatemala 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 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...
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...
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
Great communication
Guatemala
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Jun 14 - Jun 30, 2024
Our local specialist, Chris, was great with communication while planning our trip as well as during it. He was able to change our itinerary while we were in Guatemala on short notice due to an illness in our group, so that we could still do an excursion that was important to us on a different day. Our in-country tour guide and driver was also great - very welcoming and knowledgeable.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Rebecca. I'm glad you and the family were able to get to explore Guatemala and Belize with our local team. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about our area the better. Thank you again for your business!
Amazing Guatamala
Guatemala
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Jul 5 - Jul 20, 2024
It was our pleasure Anne and thank you again for visiting Guatemala! It was great to meet you and your kids during your time here in Antigua. Diana had a great time during the rest of the trip with your family and really appreciated your great energy. Spread the word about Guatemala with your friends and family, the more people know the better!
Outstanding! Great trip and I'm recommending to friends.
Guatemala
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Jun 30 - Jul 9, 2024
Wonderful! Thanks to Chris and our guide Joel for putting together a great itinerary and shepherding us through a phenomenal trip. I traveled to Guatemala with 4 teenagers...who thought this might have been our best adventure yet. Chris and the team suggested a great itinerary, matched the level of adventure + downtime our group was into, were collaborative with adjustments, helped manage within our budget, and communicated well throughout. If we return to Guatemala, we'll work with Chris again....and I'll recommend him to friends.
It was our pleasure Eliot and thank you again for visiting Guatemala! It was great to get to know you and the family during your time here in Antigua. I know Joel had a great time during the rest of the trip with your family and really appreciated everyone's curiosity. Spread the word about Guatemala with your friends and family, the more people know the better!
Amazing Visit!
Guatemala
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Apr 13 - Apr 20, 2024
Thank you for the thorough review Meg! It was our pleasure and thank you again for choosing to get to know the real Guatemala through Jerry and our other local guides. Our team had a great time with you and we hope to see you again in the future. Spread the word about Guatemala with your friends and family, the more people know the better!
Amazing time in Belize
Belize
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Mar 18 - Mar 23, 2024
Thank you for the review Kathryn, we really enjoyed reliving your experiences in Belize through all the pictures. I'm so glad to hear you overcame some personal challenges on the trip and enjoyed the views from atop the pyramid!
It was our pleasure to host the two of you and thank you again for choosing to travel with us in Belize. Our team had a great time with you and we hope to see you again in the future. Spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know the better!
Colorful Warm Guatemala!
Guatemala
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Jan 7 - Jan 12, 2024
What a great review Dave, really enjoyed reliving your experiences in Guatemala through this review. It was our pleasure and thank you again for choosing to get to know the real Guatemala through local people and experiences. Our team had a great time with you and we hope to see you again in the future. Spread the word about Guatemala with your friends and family, the more people know the better!
Really good trip. Chris did an excellent job...
Guatemala
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Jan 3 - Jan 13, 2024
Thank you for all the feedback Jimmy, very helpful as we continue to plan more holidays in the future. I'm glad you were able to visit 3 countries in our region in a relatively short time, what an adventure! All the best for 2024 and let us know if you're ever back in our area.
Great time at Guatemala l!
Guatemala
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Dec 26 - Jan 2, 2024
It was our pleasure Ananya and thank you again for visiting Guatemala! Our team had a great time with you and we hope to see you again in the future. Spread the word about Guatemala with your friends and family, the more people know the better!
December 23 All-day island trip It rained ...
Belize
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Dec 22 - Dec 29, 2023
It rained most of the day and it was windy and basically unpleasant.
The trip should have been canceled but the guide did not explain that
we could have postponed the trip until there was a sunny day
The boat trip was about 90 minutes each way and the sea was quite wavy.
There was little sun so the snorkeling was not good.
We did not dress very well for the weather and so we were cold a good part of the day.
The guide did provide us with some... Read more
Great trip to Chichi Market
Guatemala
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Dec 31 - Dec 31, 2023
Christa was great, along with all the other assisting guides that showed up throughout the day! Exceeded expectations!
Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review Chris. I'm glad you and the family were able to get to know a bit of the real Guatemala with our local team. Christa 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!
