The Unexpected beauty
For my birthday, I desired a budget and family-friendly travel destination. After a quick search on Google Flights, Guatemala popped up.
Guatemala was not on my bucket list radar. Or so I thought.
My unwarranted preliminary thoughts were danger..beep…beep…danger.
Is Guatemala safe?
Guatemala is like many places. Violence is present but, concentrated in certain areas mainly within Guatemala City. Therefore, we focused our seven-day trip on exploring the ex-pat haven of Antigua, peaceful Lake Atitlan and historic Tikal. Guatemala’s weather is pleasant with average temperatures around 64 degrees in Guatemala City and warmer in Tikal.
Antigua Guatemala, the ex-pat haven
We arrived in Guatemala City via airplane and took a taxi to our rented house in Antigua. The one-hour taxi ride cost USD 30. Our home destination greeted us with a lovely outdoor fountain, a massive gate and a friendly hostess.
We left our bags and went to explore cobblestone streets and beautiful antiquated architecture in the form of historic ruins in Antigua’s city center. This city is bustling with great food, dance, shopping, cigars, cafes, and life. Antigua is walkable. Prepare to walk A LOT.
After sunset opt for a taxi, Uber or tuk-tuk. Tuk-Tuks are inexpensive three-wheeled vehicles used as taxis. They come in different sizes, are open, and fun but not always comfortable.
For the next two days, we learned more about the city’s history and explored the ruins, parks, and churches. Guatemala has many religious relics, as well as a fabulous McDonalds.
Droves of young people reside in Guatemala to teach English or learn Spanish. Guatemala has one of the largest Mayan populations and it is striking to see many of the local women dressed in the traditional traje.
Food is wonderful in Guatemala
Corn is the local food staple. It is welcoming to walk the cobblestone streets and see Mayan women making corn tortillas from scratch.
We ate lots of great food, ice-cream and some of the best desserts but enjoyed the local dish, pepian. Pepian is a rich meat stew complimented by pumpkin, poblano, tomato, and onions.
Ixpanpajul nature park is a display of nature’s beauty enhanced by hanging bridges and waterfalls.
Dreaming of hiking a volcano, start with famous Pacaya
Active volcanoes permeate Guatemala. It would be a shame to visit and not climb a volcano. I was a bit petrified at the thought and not too sure of my hiking prowess. However, I chose to be fearless and conquer Guatemala’s volcano Pacaya!
A tip for Guatemala and many other cities is to shop around for taxi/van prices.
Group van travel prices for the morning hike up Pacaya Volcano ranged from $30 to $120. All for the same van!
Hotels and hostels cost more than going directly to the van office. Pacaya is marketed as an easier volcano to hike. It is NOT easy. Tour guides offered horse rides as help, but all the individuals I saw on the horse were overweight Americans. I am an overweight American and did not want to perpetuate the stereotype. As a result, I politely declined.
After many stops, we made it to the top and roasted marshmallows directly on the active volcano. Pacaya rises to an elevation of 2,552 meters or 8,373 ft. (8,373 ft). Epic!!
A volcanoes’ appearance is best be compared to space or the moon with lots of rocks and black gravel. This was an amazing experience and I felt accomplished. Altitude changes at the top. There is a small shop at the top where we learned more about the volcano’s history bought sustainable locally crafted jewelry said to contain ash of the volcano.
The craftsmanship of Guatemalan products is second to none.
There are few vacations where I spend money on jewelry, arts, crafts or anything else that appears mass-produced. Guatemala threw me for a loop as I wanted to purchase just about everything listed.
Lake Atitlan
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Maya Moon Lodge View and Boat stop 
Town View -
House view
On day three a van transported us to Lake Atitlan. The towns can only be reached via boat. We went to the wrong location at first but finally made it to San Marcos de la Laguna. Lake Atitlan is breathtaking.
San Marcos is known as the hippy haven. Fortunately, it did not disappoint. Our hosts were yoga instructors and our home a small extremely simple space with a priceless view. The minute we set foot on San Marcos I felt peace. We ate and caught boats from Maya Moon Lodge which had generous people, incredible views, and good food.
The best food we tried was fried chicken cooked by an older man outside surrounded by dogs on a food cart. What I liked least about the lake was the number of stray dogs. We explored Panajachel and got to know many of the local people. Three days is not enough time to spend in Lake Atitlan. If you want to relax and escape time, this is your spot.
Tikal
In the last two days we explored the Tikal ruins and temples of the ancient Mayan city Tikal. Ancient Mayans lived long ago but over-exerted their environments to their detriment.
My daughter loves monkeys and was ecstatic because they were everywhere. I held a tarantula! Due to our short time frame, we opted to stay and eat close to the site in the Jungle Lodge Hotel. Their slogan is a unique experience. It was unique.
I have never stayed in a jungle. WiFi is non-existent and electricity is limited to the night hours. The location is nice but you are in a jungle therefore, everything is moist. For example, the beds are moist. Mosquito nets are tolerable, but I don’t know how long I can tolerate a moist bed.
This was an unforgettable vacation. There is so much to see, eat and do. I wish we had more time.
Travel to Guatemala with minimal items.
Guatemala is an adventure trip. You need to have a modicum of fitness if you wish to explore different areas. The terrain is full of twists, turns and changes in elevation. Traveling light will also leave space for souvenirs. Guate will stay in my family’s heart and we plan on returning.
