Guatemala was one of my last international trips before COVID hit. The thing that struck me about this country are its people. They are friendly, calm, trustworthy and community-driven. There were several times throughout my trip where I had to rely and trust on the generosity and kindness of Guatemalans to help me either fix my phone or get me to another town. In both circumstances they were gracious and helpful. My first stop was Antigua which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I also climbed two volcanoes- one inactive and the other active and lastly I finished my trip in Flores where I laid my eyes on Tikal which features one of the highest pre-Colombian structures in the Americas.
FEATURED RECIPE: Pollo en Jocon (Guatemalan Chicken Stew)
OTHER BLOGS I’VE WRITTEN:
My climb to Volcano Acatenango
ANTIGUA
Antigua’s cobblestone roads and brightly coloured houses are quaint and beautiful. There are several churches and colonnial buildings to visit. This town also boasts charming restaurants and cafes which are incredibly diverse. I stayed at a hotel called Good Hotel Antigua. Their motto is “Sleep good. Do good”. Part of the hotel cost goes towards children’s education. Each room is named after a child and features a picture of them with a note telling their personal story. For more pictures of Antigua, click here.
VOLCAN ACATENANGO AND VOLCAN FUEGO
On this trip I decided to hike a double header- Volcan Acatenango (inactive) and Fuego (active). I’ve never seen an active volcano this close before. This trek was a 2-night, 3-day hike. The campsite overlooked Volcan Fuego who gave us a light show every night by spewing its orange lava. It was incredible and formed memories of a lifetime. To learn more about my trek, click here.
TIKAL
Tikal is an ancient Mayan citadel located in an expansive national park. The ruins are located within the rainforest which makes for an interesting hike. Another UNESCO World Heritage site this cital flourished between the “6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. The ceremonial centre contains superb temples and palaces, and public squares accessed by means of ramps. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.” I stayed at an eco lodge for two nights located in the heart of the national park to give me time to explore and hike the park but two days was actually not enough. If you want to discover this entire site I would recommend staying for three days.
Mishka Alarcon 