First things first, I should mention that this article on where to stay in Guatemala City is directed purely at leisure travellers – those on business will probably have different requirements, circumstances etc.
Although most visitors view the boat journey in and out as the highlight of any visit to Livingston, for foodies it might be the opportunity to experience Tapado.
A summary of some of my top tips for travel to Guatemala.
The third and final installment, detailing the overland route from Flores to Guatemala City. This time, the drive from Acul to Guatemala City.
I don’t know of that many hotels with both a private lake and an island inhabited by monkeys. Welcome to Monkey Island at Las Lagunas hotel.
The second installment of three, detailing the overland route from Flores to Guatemala City. This time, the drive from Coban to Acul.
As the travel hub of Guatemala’s northern Peten region, deciding where to stay in Flores is an important decision for visitors to the region.
While the Big Three’ – Antigua, Lake Atitlan & Tikal – are visited by pretty much everyone who travels to Guatemala on holiday, there is plenty to see and do in-between and some wonderful drives.
As one of Guatemala’s ‘Big Three’ tourist draws, Lake Atitlan certainly isn’t short of hotel options and deciding where to stay can be a confusing process.
A relatively small country, dominated by a single major city and distinguished by its mountainous terrain, Guatemala has just one domestic flight route, that between Guatemala City and Flores.
Largely over-shadowed by the far more famous Tikal, few visitors to Guatemala's Peten region visit the nearby, equally fascinating, Mayan city of Yaxha.
As one of Guatemala’s ‘Big Three’ attractions (the other two being Antigua and Tikal), pretty much every visitor to the country will visit Lake Atitlan as part of their itinerary.
So, you're off on holiday to Guatemala but haven't got a clue what you need to do in terms of cash, credit cards etc. Read on amigos....
Antigua wasn’t Guatemala’s first colonial capital – that honour goes to nearby Iximche – but, from 1543 to 1773, it was both capital of the nation and the most important city in Central America
Aguateca is an important Mayan site located in the Peten region of northern Guatemala and was one of a number of important settlements in the area including Dos Pillas and Ceibal.
Missed out on many holidays to Guatemala, largely because of the difficulty in getting there, Livingston is well worth a visit. In fact, in our opinion, the journey there is one of the key reasons for visiting.
It’s not often that visitors to a relatively small country deliberately avoid the nation’s capital but, with Guatemala City, that is very much the case. Is it that bad?
For a country with such a fascinating history and a wealth of cultural attractions, it comes as something of a surprise that Guatemala only boasts 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
La Aurora International Airport is not only the sole airport in Guatemala City, it is also the only airport of any note in the entire country.
Guatemala is known as the land of volcanos – there are almost 30 of them – and top of the list of things to do for many visitors is a trek up at least one of them
As someone who contracted malaria many years ago, all and any methods of avoiding mosquitoes has always been a subject of strong personal interest.
Located approximately 1 ½ miles outside of the small Honduran town of Copan, the Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve might not be as famous as the nearby Mayan ruins but is equally deserving of a visit.
Despite its rich Mayan history, Guatemala is surprisingly short when it comes to stand-out museums although the capital, Guatemala City, does have a couple of options.
Antigua is often referred to as being a town of ruins and, of the many that lie scattered around the town, few are more attractive than the Convento de las Capuchinas.
If it’s views you like, then the Cerro de la Cruz will be right up your street and well worth the gentle, uphill walk. Or you can just take a taxi.
Let’s face it, go to any coffee growing country in the world and you will receive an impassioned eulogy explaining exactly why their coffee is the best in the world. Guatemalan coffee is no different.
While the vast majority of Guatemala’s population can be described as indigenous Mayan, Spanish descent or mixed, the Garifuna population of Livingston on the country’s Caribbean coast is entirely different.
What comes into your mind when you think of Guatemala? Spewing volcanoes, lush jungles, towering Mayan temples, a multitude of different ethnic groups……or a Chicken Bus?
Chicken Pepian is one of the most traditional dishes to be found in Guatemala and, thus far, also ranks as my favourite. It’s not hard to make at home although not you might not have all the ingredients sitting around in your kitchen cupboard.
By the standards of Guatemala’s most famous Mayan sites, such as those at Tikal & Yaxha, the small settlement of Quirigua might come as something of a let-down.
Iximche was the 15th century capital of the Kaqchiquels, having relocated here from K’umarcaaj. At that time, the Kaqchiquels were at war with their great rivals, the K’iche, and the site of their new capital, a flat plateau surrounded by steep ravines, made for excellent natural defences.
Domestic flights in Guatemala are surprisingly and refreshingly uncomplicated. With just 2 commercial passenger airports, Guatemala City and Flores, flights between the 2 destinations represent the country’s sole domestic airline route. Looking on a map, you might think that it was easy enough to simply drive between the 2 destinations but that would be to discount Guatemalan traffic which would make for a good 7-hour ...
Although there is little of interest in Sayaxche itself, the town is an important jumping off point for boat trips to the Mayan sites of Ceibal and Aguateca.
Guatemala City is not over-endowed with sites of tourist interest but, if you’re in the city with time to burn, then Casa MIMA is definitely worth a visit.
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