Guatemala

[Pinhas]

Anyone ever traveled to Guatemala? I am planning to backpack there in the end of Augist and was wondering if anyone has any tips or experiences to share.

Thanks

 

[edinatlanta]

Originally Posted by Pinhas

Anyone ever traveled to Guatemala? I am planning to backpack there in the end of Augist and was wondering if anyone has any tips or experiences to share.

Thanks

Go to Tikal, stay the night if you can, avoid being in a ****** tour, although flying there from the city is so much better than driving. Guatemala City is very cool I think, and find as many different Ron Zacapa's as possible.

 

[royskeen]

I stayed in Guatemala for two weeks in 08. Wonderful country with very nice people. Everything is very very cheap there!

Go to/don't go to:

Tikal (either fly or cheaper take the a luxury bus). It's absolutely stunning
Guatemala City--nothing to see here but poverty-be happy that you're helping with much needed tourist dollars
Antigua--lovely colonial town with a beautiful volcano to climb. You should take organized tours up the volcano only b/c of the danger.
Chichicastenango--incredible market town. You can buy real Mayan goods here, but the fun is also seeing the cultural mashup of the the Mayan people and Catholicisms.
Panajachet--beautiful lake with many villages around. Can get very touristy, so watch out for all of the sellers.
Xela--the university/industrial second city of Guatemala.
Funetes Georgines--gorgeous gorgeous natural hot springs in the mountains

The best part about traveling in August is that in Antigua/Xela, etc. the weather is quite cool. Tikal, of course, is HOT. Take a guided sunrise tour--it's totally worth it and you don't want to be walking around in the jungle in the middle of the day anyway.

Have fun and be safe!

 

[IUtoSLU]

My wife is from Guatemala City and I've visited the country 3 times. This is what you need to know:

Antigua is necessary. Tikal is really cool, but only if you are interested in seeing ancient buildings. Unless you are going to be there for longer than a week, just go to these two places.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[imhotep]

I second Antigua

 

[asdf]

Originally Posted by Pinhas

Anyone ever traveled to Guatemala? I am planning to backpack there in the end of Augist and was wondering if anyone has any tips or experiences to share.

Thanks

A friend of mine, in a tour group, got shot at and robbed.

 

[Pinhas]

Thanks for the input guys. I just bought the Rough Guides Guatemala book (first one after years of using Lonely Planet) and will be reading up more into detail.

I plan on going for about 10 days; would you say its enough for an GC/Antigua/Tikal/Lake Atitlan?

I know that the beaches aren't that great, so I'm mostly interested in hiking and trekking. Very into architecture and ruins so will visit Tikal and other Mayan sites.

Originally Posted by asdf

A friend of mine, in a tour group, got shot at and robbed.

I understand that Guatemala could be a bit dangerous, but for me its part of its appeal. Traveling smart and cautious is a must no matter where you go, and I intend to bring minimum of valuables and be very aware.

Life aren't worth living without some degree of risk.

Where did he get robbed exactly?

 

[scarphe]

I stayed in Guatemala for two weeks in 08. Wonderful country with very nice people. Everything is very very cheap there!

at 10 quitzels for a dollar where did you find it to be cheap?

 

[asdf]

Originally Posted by Pinhas

Where did he get robbed exactly?

His group was on foot on their way to some sort of ruins or pyramid. bang bang bang, banditos with bandanas over faces, try to run away, get robbed, etc. some of the people he was travelling with went home after that.

 

[IUtoSLU]

GC: 1-2 days
Antigua: 4 days
Tikal: 1 day
Lake Atitlan: 3 days

This is my suggestion if you must go to all 4 places. GC obviously has architecture, but Antigua has some interesting ruins and post-earthquake architecture. Tikal is a treat, but you don't need more than a day there. The lake is a good place to chill, but gets boring pretty quickly IMO. Antigua is the best, although it is very touristy.

 

[imhotep]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

The lake is a good place to chill, but gets boring pretty quickly IMO. Antigua is the best, although it is very touristy.

agree with both those statements

 

[Pinhas]

Originally Posted by IUtoSLU

GC: 1-2 days
Antigua: 4 days
Tikal: 1 day
Lake Atitlan: 3 days

This is my suggestion if you must go to all 4 places. GC obviously has architecture, but Antigua has some interesting ruins and post-earthquake architecture. Tikal is a treat, but you don't need more than a day there. The lake is a good place to chill, but gets boring pretty quickly IMO. Antigua is the best, although it is very touristy.

Thats about what I was thinking as well. How is the transportation within the country? I am exited about the chicken buses but are there anything specific I should know about them?

Also, are there any places there where I can party a bit? I understand that Antigua is really the only viable place for a night out?!?

 

[edinatlanta]

Originally Posted by Pinhas

Thats about what I was thinking as well. How is the transportation within the country? I am exited about the chicken buses but are there anything specific I should know about them?

Also, are there any places there where I can party a bit? I understand that Antigua is really the only viable place for a night out?!?

You can do chicken buses, I also got these smaller vans for pretty cheap to Antigua when I needed to go there. If you take the buses you will encounter peeing into a shopping back then dropping it on the floor (with the handles tied closed of course) and what not.

Had several good nights in GC. I mean, very good nights. Go to Reilly's Irish Pub in Antigua. It was really cool, even if staffed by Brits, and the juxtaposition of an old town in rural Central America having an Irish pub was neat.

 

[Pinhas]

Originally Posted by edinatlanta

You can do chicken buses, I also got these smaller vans for pretty cheap to Antigua when I needed to go there. If you take the buses you will encounter peeing into a shopping back then dropping it on the floor (with the handles tied closed of course) and what not.

Had several good nights in GC. I mean, very good nights. Go to Reilly's Irish Pub in Antigua. It was really cool, even if staffed by Brits, and the juxtaposition of an old town in rural Central America having an Irish pub was neat.

How good are we talking now? Some action with the local selection or with tourists?

Or am I on the wrong track here entirely?

I heard Antigua offers the best night life. Partying with people from around the world is one of my favorite things to do; learn a lot of new things.