Travel Articles: Guatemala

Last week, the New York Times did a feature on ways to save on your next trip, calling attention to Latin America bargains. A few of our favorite destinations where mentioned: Argentina, Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama. The article noted what we've known for years -- that many times travelers can find top of the line adventures at a fraction of the …

The non-profit organization, Long Way Home, receives an Adventure Life grant to help complete construction of a K-12 school buildings in Guatemala. The school is unique in that it is being built with re-purposed materials such as earth-packed tires, inorganic trash-filled plastic bottles and earth-filled feed bags

My husband and I just returned from a visit to the ancient Maya city of Tikal in Guatemala. We were staying in Belize at Pook's Hill Jungle Lodge and planning a day excursion across the boarder into Guatemala. Before we went, we were informed told us of a recent incident between the Guatemalan and Mexican drug lords -- which occurred just days …

One of the most impressive aspects of the Easter Festival in Antigua are the "alfombras" that adorn the processional route. Residents along the streets begin preparations weeks and even months in advance creating these beautifully intricate offerings.

Having mostly traveled to Asia, I can say that flights to Central America are no easier, and if anything is much harder. From Montana (well, Idaho…but three hours later were in Montana), we have three stops and over a day and a half of travel with layovers. At least when traveling to Asia you get one long flight to sleep, watch movies, and …

The next day we headed out for Panajachel (Pana), a town most known for the lake it rests on, Lake Atitlan. Our three-hour drive to Pana took us through windy mountainous roads where we began to see the life of western Guatemalans. Along the way, we stopped at Comalapa market where we found our first truly local market experience. Textiles, …

It’s Saturday and it seems everyone visits Antigua on the weekend. The streets teem with cars and motorbikes. Weekenders from Guatemala City mix with foreign tourists while local hawkers peddle their wares. Navigating the uneven sidewalks and cobblestone streets take skill but paying too much attention to one’s feet can result in a …

As we neared the middle of the city, the massive Temple of the Great Jaguar looms out of the top of the trees. This impressive structure was built as the burial monument to one of Tikal’s greatest rulers; Lord Chocolate. Immediately across from this gigantic pyramid is the Temple of the Masks, the burial monument of Lord Chocolate’s …

Before traveling to Belize, Luke spent a semester studying Mesoamerican prehistory, so visiting Tikal and getting a chance to be immersed in its history was the chance of a lifetime.



Early in the morning we hopped in our Pook’s Hill van (with passports in hand) to begin the hour and a half drive to the Guatemalan border. At the border we …

Went to the Mayan ruins with Kelvin a nd Marie was a perfect day we there wise but then the Mayan gods cast an evil spell on me and I was I'll for the next 3 days.

I am already a day behind for meeting Charmain so could not stay and recuperate for a day. Was a nasty day on the bike with a th robbing head and snotty nose and sneezing in the …

Left Samuc at7 amafter having fruit and granola at the hostel, Cisco had told me not to take the short cut road, so I took it .Road was closed for and we had to wait luckily cause my pannier had broken open and thankfully I did not lose anything..Fixed that hopefully and then it was time to go, the road was a knarly rocky road that I shouldn't …

Not knowing why Sara and Daniel told me I had to come here, I walked into Samuc along the river with Kelvin from Singapore and his girlfriend Marie from Germany .

The 7 pools were beautiful and the raging river flows underneath them all, hence the name. We swam for hours and then hiked up to the mirador which gave you a panoramic view of the …

Cisco who I met in Chihuahua invited me to his house on the lake for the weekend. In the morning I went with Thomas and went to some of his drilling jobs which were near the coast. Had lunch at his house with his folks and then headed out with Cisco at 3 o clock to the lake. Was about a three hour drive from Antigua heading west. His place is in …

Got going early with a nice breakfast that Mrs. Trego prepared and then I went to their water drilling yard to work on my bike. Fixed my panniers and chain guard and then Stephan gave it a good cleaning.

We then went over to Antigua which was the old capital and had a splendid view of the three volcanoes . The one , Fuego , was letting off huge …

Left Nelsons apartment at8 amand his friend Mario took me TO Santa Anna and then I proceeded to the border alone.i have crossed all the borders doing the paperwork myself and it is not that difficult and the runners just drive me nuts anyway. Took just over an hour which was the fastest so far. I was missing some paperwork for Guatemala and the …

Left Tuxtla Gutierrez at 8 am so we could get to Guatemala City by days end. Climbed high over a pass and was some spectacular scenery and 280 km later we were at the border at La Massilla and an hour later we were through the border . Another 290 km to go, and the road carves through huge mountains on either side of you for miles on end with …

The following is a guest post from the non-profit organization Cooperative for Education, whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education.

We're excited -- even more excited than that one time we got two Snickers from the vending machine for the price of one (although that was a great day). This exhilaration …