Why
Travel to Guatemala?
Not
unlike Mexico 30 years ago, Guatemala has to be the most colourful
country in Central America and second only to Peru in all the Americas.
It offers superb, jungle encrusted Maya pyramid complexes, gorgeous
smoking volcanic landscapes [Guatemala
volcanoes], wildlife crammed rainforests, magnificent colonial
towns, and colourful ethnic people with curious customs.
It's also good value, relatively undeveloped and - if you go in
the right season - has a climate of 'Eternal Spring' in highland
areas.
Teaching Spanish language is big business here, with 60 reliable
schools, many in Antigua.
Downside:
- Although civil war ceased in 1996 Guatemala still suffers
a desperate rich/poor imbalance, with 3% of the population owning
70% of the usable land. The indigenous Maya people are particularly
hard up.
- Petty crime is commonplace and violent crime occasional, with
Guatemala City being the focus of the country's ills. Spend as little
time as possible there.
- Guatemala's infrastructure is stuffed; roads are rough and regular
buses uncomfortable and unsafe, though entertaining [Guatemala
public transport]. Better 'Pullman' buses run on major routes.
- Local cuisine is dull, as is the beer, though heavily travelled
zones have alternatives.
Guatemala
Travel Guide, climate:
Best:
Nov-May
Worst: June- Oct [rains, though usually just a late afternoon downpour]
n.b. climate here depends very much on your target destinations/altitude.
Lowland, jungle [e.g. Tikal] and Caribbean areas will be generally
hot and sticky while highlands [e.g. Antigua, Atitlan and Chichicastenango]
will tend towards warm days and cool/cold nights.
Length
of stay:
Minimum worthwhile stay, not incl. flights:
1 week for a look at Antigua, Panajachel and Chichicastenango.
Better: 2 weeks+, visiting key towns and taking a flight to Flores/
Tikal.
Guatemala's
main attractions:
***Antigua, the old capital, is just what appalling Guatemala
City should be - elegant, peaceful, interesting and scenically situated
between three volcanoes. This World Heritage site has cobbled streets,
flowers, evocative ruins and fine, varied, drinking and dining establishments
[Antigua guide].
It's popular with foreign families and Spanish language students
as well as tourists.
Guided tours up smoky Pacaya Volcano are in demand by fit travellers.
***Lake Atitlan, huge, clear and beautifully
framed by three volcanoes; this is where Maya traditions are at
their ancient best in spite of a river of gringo travellers silting
up the neighbourhood over the years.
The bizarre local god, Maximon/Ry Laj Man/San Simon, in all his
wooden, smoking, drinking glory can be visited hereabouts.
The largest and most sophisticated of the lake's 13 towns is Panajachel
- aka Gringotenango, not a pretty site, but what a location!
Next best stop is Santiago Atitlan, across the lake, a more traditional
town with terrific Friday and Sunday markets.
San Pedro la Laguna is a kind of alternative hippie retirement home
with plentiful inexpensive accommodation, thermal baths, hikes up
the nearby volcano and ganja blowing in the wind.
***Chichicastenango, a lovely town
of narrow streets dominated by mountains and famed for two things:
- the huge and technicolour indigenous markets [Chichicastenango]
on Sundays and Thursdays.
- the weird and wonderful Pagan/Catholic crossbreed religion exemplified
by the peculiar Pagan rites that take place in and around the Santo
Tomas church.
If you wish to go for walks outside the town, take a guide - there
have been robberies.
***Tikal, one of the most impressive
Maya pyramid groups anywhere, tall, magnificent and embedded in
370 sq kms of jungle [Tikal
pyramids].
Day trips are possible from quiet Flores but VERY different from
the Tikal dusk/dawn experience when you'll be surrounded by few
travellers but a forest of roaring monkeys [howlers], screeching
parakeets, fluttering bats and all sorts of scary Indiana Jonesness,
so stay overnight and go buggy!
*** Petén rainforest, comprising
almost one third of Guatemala, is not only alive with wild things
- jaguars, tapirs, monkeys, toucans, macaws and a zillion insectoids
- but also scattered with creepy, overgrown Maya ruins, including
the premier Tikal.
Controversially Petén has also been opened up to settlers
who are busy slashing and burning it as fast as they can.
**Quetzaltenango [Xela]. A not very
attractive highland city, but surrounded by travel totems - stunning
countryside, little traditional villages, volcanoes, hot springs,
pagan shrines and activities galore. Good for Spanish language schools
too.
*Livingston. On the Caribbean coast,
this town is home to black Carib people and has a very different
atmosphere to other towns, particularly in the areas of music and
cuisine. Nearby beaches are hardly worth the trip though [unless
you take a boat ride] and the waterfalls 5km away will need a guide
for safety.
Boat trips up the jungle clad gorges of the Rio Dulce, however,
are impressive, and include water trails around the wildlife reserve
of Biotopo Chocon Machacas where you will see plenty of birds and
a manatee if you're lucky.
**Monterrico a Pacific beach village
with a fair beach, well battered by surf, a wet nature reserve [Biotopo
Monterrico-Hawaii] riddled with turtles, caiman, iguana and all
sorts of feathered friends. 2 hour guided tours on offer.
Best of all Sept-January every Saturday at sunset sees baby turtles
racing to the sea. Tourists buy a turtle and race it against the
others into the surf. Winner gets dinner. And no, not turtle stew.
Guatemala City, yuk, only go when you
need transport connections, though there are a couple of OK museums,
the Palacio Nacional and the central market is lively. Antigua is
only an hour away.
Activities Guide:
Cycling and motorcycling: popular and with plenty of local
support, though don't forget much of Guatemala is mountainous, roads
are in poor shape and many vehicle drivers verge on the lunatic.
Bicycles can travel on most bus roofs.
Bikes and motorbikes can be rented in tourist locations like Antigua,
Flores, Panajachel.
Hikers can lose themselves in the lowland
rainforest of Petén, stumbling over toucans and undiscovered
Maya pyramids or head for the highlands around Lake Atitlan for
easy, spectacular, less sweaty walks.
Alternatively high altitude freaks will enjoy scrambling up volcanoes
such as Pacaya or San Pedro. Guides are useful in low and high cases
and can be recruited locally.
Horse riding is available, mostly around Lake Atitlan.
White Water Rafting: one day to one
week expeditions. June-Oct on Rivers Esclavos, Motagua and Naranjo
and all year travel on Rio Cahabon.
Kayaking: good in Sept/Oct on Lanquin,
Sauce, and Esclavos Rivers, and all year on Rio Cahabon.
Caving: in Verapaces area, Lanquin
and Poptun have well known cave complexes. Candeleria is the new
cave wave, with Gruta Rey Marcos and Chicoy.
Climbing: many good climbs in the Cuchumatanes
range or Tajumulco Volcano for a real challenge.
Beach bumming: on the Pacific coast
there are a couple of OK beaches, Balneario Chulamar [5km east of
Puerto San José] and Balneario Likin [17km east of Puerto
San José] or for the Caribbean side see right, Livingston
#7.
Fishing: the number one deep sea fishing
port is Iztapa on the Pacific coast, and world records have been
set here in the hunt for marlin, sharks and other big fry.
Main
festivals:
The week before Easter [Semana Santa], a very lively time with processions,
music and dance, especially impressive and colourful in Antigua
or Santiago Atitlan.
late July, Rabin Ajau Indian folk festival, music and dance, esp.
good in Coban.
Oct 28, San Simon/Maximon's birthday party, near Antigua in San
Andres Iztapa. Wild.
Nov 1, Day of the Dead Kite Flying near Antigua, at the cemeteries
of Santiago Sacatepequez and Sumpango. Thousands of kites connect
the living with the dead.
Dec 7, Quema del Diablo, Burning the Devil, music, mad fireworks
and more, especially bizarre in Chichicastenango, followed by...
Dec 14-21, Chichicastenango fiesta, colours in extremis.
For some precise dates, more suggestions and information see: Exotic Festivals
Accommodation
Guide:
At the top end Guatemala travellers will find stunning colonial
hotels in the $100pn zone while budget travellers will be checking
out hospedajes/ pensiones/ posadas/ huespedes for not more than
$10 per night, double room.
Camping is possible other than in the biggest cities; tourist zones
like Tikal and Panajachel are OK.
Travel
Health:
Malaria & Dengue Fever:
Both of these exist in lowland areas, not in the highlands,
so Tikal is the place you might encounter Mrs Anopheles M. Don't
panic! See our Malaria page.
Photo
advice:
Some of the most photogenic people - the Mayas - dislike having
their picture taken, while others will ask for a small tip. Ask
for permission and respect their wishes.
Cuisine:
Traditional
foods lean towards eggs, beans and tortillas[thin corn pancakes],
dull but filling, though long-term tourist hangouts like Antigua
and Panajachel have developed a wide range of pricey but interesting
international offerings.
Comedors are basic eating places - like cafés - while restaurants
are for the posh folk and priced to match.
Lunch is the main meal of the day and 'comidas corridas' [set menus]
are bargains.
Beware eating off street stalls, particularly if you are newly arrived
and have not yet acquired defensive bacteria. Stay with the cooked
or peeled foods for a few days while your body adjusts to the microenvironment.
p.s. Avoid 'exotic' dishes like turtle or monkey unless you really
want to contribute to the extinction of a species for a cheap thrill.
Shopping:
The favoured local craft is multicoloured, woven or embroidered
textiles, along the lines of Maya women's traditional handmade clothing,
zinging with flowers and parrots.
Jade is another common souvenir.
Antigua is the most expensive place to acquire such items; Panajachel
and Chichicastenango prices will be better. Styles may differ markedly
between regions.
Try to buy directly from Maya people in a market to ensure they
derive the maximum benefit from your trade.
Bargaining is expected so don't be surprised if the first price
you are quoted seems high.
Money:
Guatemala is a good value travel destination and $ cash is
the currency of choice, though the local quetzal is useful for
small change situations.
Smaller establishments will require cash but larger ones accept
credit cards [esp.Visa] and traveller's cheques.
There are ATMs in most towns but don't bank on them working!
Tipping:
10% in restaurants and small change elsewhere.
DON'T give money [or goods] away for nothing unless you wish to
create/perpetuate a begging culture.
Electricity:
110v, 2 [parallel] flat pin sockets like Mexico and USA.
Travel
Safety:
This is one of those countries where pickpocketing and bag snatching
is rife, so don't tempt the locals. That means no flash jewellery,
watches and bags, especially around markets, buses and bus stations.
See Travel Safety page.
Also don't lightly explore live volcanoes. Travellers were injured
by Volcan Pacaya in 2000.
The
unpleasant capital - Guatemala City - is particularly prone to
crime, including violence and car-jacking, so avoid the place
if you can, and no strolling the streets at night anywhere!
Police are no help and as bent as a Swiss road.
Guatemala
Tours
If
you plan to travel to Guatemala you may also want to see these
guides:
Mexico
Travel Guide | Ecuador
Travel Guide | Peru
Travel Guide | Costa
Rica Travel Guide
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