Thick jungles, bountiful birdlife, mayan ruins and cobbled colonial towns make Guatemala nearly a compulsory stop on your trip through Central America. In between dodging tarantulas and the local fireworks, you’ll constantly be kept on your toes!
Guatemala is arguably the action capital of Central America, although Costa Rica might disagree. Tikal has ruins, Semuc Champey has caving and waterfalls, Antigua has volcanos, Chichi has markets then learn Spanish in San Pedro on Lago Atitlan. All the while running the gauntlet of the ever-present chicken buses.
Stay at Casa del Mondo on Lake Atitlan, spectacular views and only really reachable by boat across the lake.
The currency of Guatemala is the Quetzal, named after the national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal. In ancient times the feathers of the Resplendant Quetzal were used as currency. Your humble Quetzal is no doubt happy the Ministry for Finance switched to banknotes!
Travelling in Guatemala
Christmas day. And looks like we may get to experience the full 24 hours allocated to this special day. From midnight the intensity of fireworks hit a crescendo as a...
Christmas Eve. What better day to climb a volcano. A 6am start as the pre-arranged bus arrives at the door of the Yellow House. Martina and I hop in having been...
First day of Spanish School in San Pedro. Martina got us each a traditional German 1st day of school gift. A brown paper bag of sweets. Sweet! Upon arrival to...
We had enjoyed a very decent meal in Santa Cruz the night before. Prepared by our German host it was a 6 course degustation meal. Totally at odds with what we...
Chichicastenango sounds like a made up place for a town. It is the type of name that warrants a little jig each time I say it. Each time trying to...
After a much needed sleep from the previous day's travels we are up early. Our accommodation is in a wooden hut perched on a hill. We are not in the main...
There's always a risk when travelling that you'll have a bad day. You know it's going to happen, just not when. All began peacefully with a journey north via taxi...
We have breakfast with the yachtie set on the Rio Dulce. We say adios to Capt John and the Windy Dancer and also to Sean our Canadian companion. Although we...