My first real test came last year when I attempted to climb Mt Iztazihuatl, a 5175 m peak in Mexico. I failed, but almost made it to the top, reaching the 5000 m mark not without effort.

I was also able to identify the reason why I didn’t make it: lack of acclimatization to the high altitude, and it’s because of this that in preparation for my 2015 attempt to climb Mt Orizaba I decided to trek Acatenango Volcano, the fourth highest volcano in Guatemala which also happens to be right in front of Volcan de Fuego, one of the most active in the world.

This would also be a great opportunity to take good pictures of an active volcano, something I’ve had in the back of my head ever since I took some shots of Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador.

The Trek

Acatenango Volcano rises 3975 m above sea level, a beautiful mountain that offers an exciting challenge to those who are willing to make the physical effort that is need to reach its summit.

There are several tour operators in Antigua that offer guides for this trek, but I chose Old Town Outfitters. They have very good reviews online and unlike a couple of competitors which I contacted as well they were fast and enthusiastic in their response.

They offer two options, one day and two day tours, but I went for the two day option as I wanted to make sure I reached the summit and, most important, take pictures of the volcano.

Day 1: Trekking to Advanced Base Camp of Acatenango Volcano (3750m)

All participants in the hike are required to show up at the office on Calle 5 at around 830 in the morning. Final preparations are made and from there we were taken by bus to the base of the mountain, about 30 minutes away along a mostly well paved road.

The starting point of the trek is a small village aptly called La Soledad ( The Lonely). It’s basically a pack of houses, but is crucial for the trek: Old Town Outfitters hires porters from this village to bring the tents and food to the overnight camp.

This provides money to the rather poor local community, and makes them feel important, appreciated, and part of this adventure. It also allows people who are not in very good shape to attempt reaching the summit of the mountain by having someone else carry their gear.

There are four very well defined stages to the trek. Perhaps surprisingly the most difficult and challenging is the first one, a 30 degree slope of loose soil and sun. Temperatures are still somewhat warm here, the sun is strong, and walking up a trail that makes you slide on every step is not everyone’s idea of fun. It takes about one hour to reach the entrance to the park, where the first trees begin to grow. Along the way I was astonished to see a couple in their 80’s who walked 30 minutes up that slope every day to work their field!

The second stage of the trek took us through a forest of beautiful pine trees and bushes. As time went by fatigue was getting more and more noticeable, but about 3 hours after the start we stopped for a magnificent lunch which included salad, humus, potatoes, ham, tomatoes with a homemade dressing and lots more- it felt as if we were having a picnic at a local park!

The third stage of the trek starts after you reach a certain altitude at which trees stop growing. I could see the tree density begin to dwindle as we kept walking, and at a certain point we reached an area where there were mostly bushes instead of trees. I have to admit that I was pretty tired by then, glad that we were reaching the camp for the night. There was still plenty of light when we got there, but as soon as the sun began to drop so did the temperatures, down to around 0 C . I didn’t have much in terms of winter gear, so I was cold, very cold.  I decided to mimic what others were doing and got into the tent I would be sharing with two other trekkers from Spain, and so did they. With time the sleeping bag did its job and I was able to warm up, though when dinner was called I wasn’t too excited about stepping into the cold again. However the guides outdid any expectations I could’ve had: how about Couscous at 3750 m? And wine for everybody to toast?

As we were taking dinner I also attempted to take some pictures of the active volcano that was right in front of us, but the result was not what I had been expecting. On one side I was cold and not in the best of moods for it, mostly shivering and tired, and the remote control for the camera was failing. On the other hand the volcano was indeed active, but the explosions were  not as spectacular as they had been on previous days. Nonetheless I was able to take the picture you see below.

Day 2: Reaching the Summit of Acatenango and Back Down

As you may know already summits of high altitude mountains have to be reached in the early morning, ideally shortly after sunrise; after then temperatures increase and with them so do the winds and unfavorable weather conditions. So it came to no surprise when we were told that those who wanted to reach the summit would have to be ready by 430 am. And I was.

In fact I was ready way before then, as I had not slept more than 1 or two hours despite having hit the sack at 830 pm, but I have two very powerful reasons. The altitude had given me a headache, and that alone would probably have been enough to not let me sleep, but I had an extra factor I had not contemplated: one of my tent mates was a heavy snorer, and there was no way I could sleep with that noise.

I was excited, and felt strong enough to attempt the summit which was only about an hour or so away. Only seven of the 12 trekkers were going to attempt to summit, and we started climbing in the dark- I had no flashlight and was using the light provided by one of the other climbers, but it was enough. Soon after the first light of the morning made its appearance and I was able to enjoy the views. The wind started to pick up, and by the time we were around 300 meters away it was howling. I was now the second person in the group, following the guide who was around 50 m ahead of me. I kept walking, staring at the ground as I slowly placed one foot ahead of the other, trying to not lose my balance because of the wind gusts, and shortly after, I was at the top. As the rest of the group reached the summit we all shook hands and hugged, happy to reach the summit of this mountain that had been demanding, tough, yet exciting.

After spending about 20 minutes at the summit we headed back down, had a second breakfast where the rest of the group was and continued the much quicker downhill walk. By the end of the 4 hour descent the less fit hikers had sore knees and quads from overload, but we were all satisfied with the adventure we had shared. The bus took us back to Old Town Outfitters’ in Antigua and we each went our way. I took a brief nap and then together again for dinner with the two travelers from Spain I had befriended during the hike, a good way of wrapping up the day.

A Few Recommendations

• It can be cold at the top. Bring good thermal clothes, gloves, a waterproof raincoat and an extra pair of socks. Once the sun sets it does get cold up there, even in summer. I did the hike mid August and was unprepared- don’t make the same mistake.
• Make sure you bring a tripod if you are serious about taking night pictures of Volcan de Fuego. Check that your camera’s battery is full as cold weather wears batteries quicker.
• Bring a flashlight.
• Old Town Outfitters recommends you bring 4-5 liters of water, but I only took three and had more than enough. That is less weight to carry.
• If you think that carrying your backpack on your own can be too big of an effort, consider hiring a porter. The price is 45 USD, and it will make your trip much easier and help the economy of the porter’s family.

My Thoughts

The two day Acatenango hike is not for everybody; you have to be in at least decent physical condition and be ready to enjoy and endure what 6 hours of walking uphill requires. If you’re  really interested in doing the trek but know lack the physical condition it is possible to reach the camp on a donkey – as funny as it may sound. One of the travelers from Spain was able to improvise this on the way up and had a fantastic experience.

I also want to point out the superb work done by our guides. They were super friendly, encouraging, knowledgeable and fun to hang out with. We were all amazed at the quality of the food that was cooked at almost 4000m, and wine to toast? While there are a few other companies in Antigua that provide Acatenango hiking options at cheaper rates, the service is not as good (based from my email experience and from comments from other travelers) and the overall experience is not as smooth. One thing that I would have to point out is that the zipper on our tent did not close completely, leaving a 15 cm gap at the bottom. Fortunately it did not rain, but it did allow the cold air to flow into the tent somewhat easily.

Video

This is a video of my adventure. It’s in Spanish, but you can still get a very good feel of what the trek is like! By the way, if you’re getting this post via RSS or email you can watch the video in Youtube here.

Are you an outdoors enthusiast? Is this your kind of adventure? Have you done any volcano trekking? Where? Do you have any questions? Speak away in the comments section below and share this post if you think other may enjoy it!

My experience was comped by Old Town Outfitters, however all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own…as always!

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The post Adventure: Hiking Acatenango Volcano in Guatemala appeared first on MaiTravelSite.

Perhaps one of the best things about Antigua’s location is that you can easily reach several other nearby villages that have unique attractions. All of them can be reached by public transportation, and while this is the cheapest option hoping on tourist vans will cut travel time by a half paying only around 2-3 USD extra per hour on average.  As much as I like to travel with locals wherever I go it just didn’t make much sense to delay getting from one place to the other without a purpose, and I booked all my van trips with the help of Onvisa Tours, the folks at my posada in Antigua.

The Market in Chichicastenango

It only happens on Thusdays and Sundays, but is well worth visiting. Get there sometime around mid-morning and walk around the narrow alleys set between posts where local indigenous people buy and sell handcrafts, produce, food and more. As expected tourists are constantly targeted, but in a polite and non-rude manner. While walking around make sure  you reach the Iglesia de Santo Tomas, and stop by for a visit. Its interior is devoted to the many saints locals worship, and the stairs outside provide a good opportunity for some very interesting pictures.

My recommendation

Chichicastenango doesn’t have much more to offer other than the market (which finishes by 2 pm) so spending a night here is not required. I got here from Antigua at around 10 am and left at 2 pm after a relaxing one hour lunch and believe this the best option.

Lake Atitlan (Panajachel)

Once an oasis for backpackers from around the world Lake Atitlan has become one of Guatemala’s most relevant attractions, if not the most. Its unique setting surrounded by volcanos makes it a fantastic town where to get away from it all and relax for a few days, and if looking to spend a night somewhere away from Antigua this is your best bet. As for things to do there’s not much other than walking to its waterfront and enjoy the views of the lake, taking boat tours to the other villages around the lake, or simply relaxing and spending some quality time on your own or with your traveling partners. There’s also some handcraft shopping to be done and plenty of places where to eat pretty much everything under the sun.

My recommendation

After checking a few hotels my final choice was Hotel Kakchiquel, a great choice if on a budget. At 200Q a night the room was clean, had a private bathroom with toiletries, free Wi-Fi and  included a very fulfilling breakfast at its restaurant. I do recommend spending a night in Panajachel (or Pana, as locally known) if only to unwind and check out the lake during the morning and perhaps visit other towns around the lake. If you want to visit nearby Santa Cruz you can get there on a pick up truck (3Q) instead of a public boat (25Q).

Quetzaltenango

While it was my intention to visit this town I did not have the time to do so, but have decided to include it for information purposes.  It is Guatemala’s second largest city, off the main traveler’s trail and is vaguely reminiscent of an industrial town in northern England – grey and cool with friendly, down-to-earth inhabitants, who have a reputation for formality and politeness. At an elevation of 2330m, Quetzaltenango is always cold in the early mornings.

The city is an important educational center, its universities and colleges attracting students from all over the country, while its Spanish schools are internationally renowned. More and more development projects are also basing themselves here, and this growing outside influence is steadily adding a cosmopolitan feel to the city’s bars, restaurants and cultural life. Many overseas visitors settle easily into the relatively easy-going pace of the city; it also makes an excellent base for exploring this part of the country, making day-trips to villages, basking in hot springs like Fuentes Georginas, or hiking in the mountains.  Locally, the city is usually referred to as Xela (pronounced “shey-la”).

Guatemala City

Re-thinking about my itinerary, how things came to be during my trip, and how most travelers are weary about spending any time at all in Guatemala’s capital city I can recommend making Antigua your base camp and visiting Guatemala City as a day tour from here. Hotels are much more expensive in Guatemala, surprisingly there are not many decent eating options available, and generally speaking the city itself is not visitor friendly. This said there are some historical attractions to be visited, and understanding what happens here will help you understand why the country is where it is at today. I did visit the city and have some recommendations on what to see and where to stay in Guatemala City.

My recommendation

If adventure is your thing hop on a chicken bus to Guatemala City and then grab a taxi to the Centro Historico where the city’s attractions are only to return later in the day, otherwise you’ll be much better off getting a return trip with a tourist shuttle bus (saving you time and money).

In a Nutshell

Travelers who visit Guatemala only for a week or so will probably get the most out of their trip by staying in Antigua and doing short trips from this city, even if they include overnight stays (which I highly recommend you do). If you have more than a week then Antigua still makes sense as a hub to some of these nearby attractions, but with more time in your hands you’ll be able to wander around and explore more on your own. For what it’s worth my itinerary to explore these nearby towns was Antigua-van to Chichicastenango- visit the market until 2 pm- van to Panajachel- overnight in Panajachel- drive back to Antigua at 5 pm.  In any case there are many attractions near Antigua worth visiting that will give a more compelling view of the country and allow a much better travel experience. Despite what other travelers say Antigua is certainly worth visiting and should be on any travelers map.  Make sure you do hop around and do visit lake Atitlan no matter what!

Have you visited any of these towns? What did you think about Antigua and Lake Atitlan? Any other recommendations? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and this post too if you think others may find it useful!

The post Top Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala [Part 2] appeared first on MaiTravelSite.

It was raining as I got off the chicken bus, it rained the next three days I was there, and while I did enjoy my time I would certainly have preferred better weather.

Ten years later I reached Antigua on a chicken bus once more despite having read online that there are “normal” buses, an interesting ride up the hills from Guatemala City which I did explore for two days (one too many) this time.

The air got cooler as we reached higher altitude, leaving the traffic noise behind as well as another bus minus its rear mirror that ours had smashed off while on a rat race to pick up more passengers.

But it was all good. I looked out the window trying to recognize the town I had been in a decade before – but I just couldn’t.

I vividly remember how the bus stop was ten years ago, but the new one was nothing of the sort. Just a big parking lot covered in sand and dust and about another fifty buses parked under the hot sun.

Traffic was such that after not moving for 10 minutes our driver suggested we get off and walk to town, just across the market adjacent to the parking lot, and so we did. Welcome to Antigua.

Visiting Antigua: What to See and Do in Town

Antigua was Guatemala’s first capital city, but it was destroyed several times throughout history by earthquakes and today remains as a classic colonial town.

During the past few years it has become a must of the backpacker trail, but there are now quite a few fancy boutique hotels for those who want a little bit more luxury.

Antigua has long been a favorite destination where to take Spanish lessons since back in the mid seventies, and this has not changed. With time, however, the word has spread that this town has a lot more to offer.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to walk around, reaching the Plaza Mayor sooner than later. From here you can see the Arco de Santa Catalina,  perhaps Antigua’s most famous landmark, and you’ll definitely want to take a picture of it (I recommend you take it during the morning and from its Eastern side, as the sun will be behind you and you’ll also be able to include the Volcan de Agua in the composition).

There are also many churches to stop by including  la Catedral, Iglesia de Santa Clara and Iglesia de la Merced, though most of them have been destroyed by the earthquakes.

My favorite by far and large was  Iglesia de Santo Domingo; I was struck not only by the dichotomy of the indigenous ladies selling their handcraft in front of a no longer withstanding Catholic church, but what’s left of the church itself is now a market as well with several galleries where to look for your favorite souvenir and then bargain for.

Other places to check out are the market by the bus station (nothing extraordinary but it’s worth the walk), any ongoing exhibition at the Spanish Cultural Building and of course a brief hike to the Cerro de la Cruz ( to do before 5 pm because of safety concerns) from where you’ll overlook the city of Antigua.

All things considered Antigua itself can easily be visited in full in one day with plenty of time to spare for a long lunch and an afternoon coffee break- or two.

Where to Stay

When in backpacking mode I seldom book any hotel, knowing that in mid to small towns it’s relatively easy to find a place where to sleep on your own. In fact sometimes you don’t even have to look for one; let me explain . If you’ve traveled around Central and South America you may have noticed that it’s very common at bus stops for strangers to walk up to you offering to take you to places where to sleep. Most people are weary about this and chose to ignore, but I still have to encounter my first problem.

As expected Antigua was no different, and as soon as I crossed the street that divides the market from downtown  Antigua a man walked up to me asking if I was looking for a hotel. I told him that I was interested in a good budget option, and after checking out a couple of places I chose to stay at Posada Orvisa. The place is simple; I picked the only room left at 100Q  (shared bathroom) but it has a nice patio with chairs and tables, free Wi-Fi, and the owners also have a tour business at the front desk which would provide to be very handy during my stay.

This said Antigua has changed a lot in this sense. When in Antigua a decade earlier there were only a handful of hotels, and most accommodation options implied basic posadas. Today however, tourism is very big, and not of the backpacker kind only. There’s over a dozen good to very good boutique hotels where to stay at if not in a budget, and most posadas are no longer on the cheap side.  I did check out a few while I was there, and can say that  El Convento Boutique Hotel, Posada del Angel and Meson Plaza Verde   seemed to offer a  fine hotel experience rather than just a bed where to sleep in.

Where to Eat

If there’s something that Antigua does not need is places where to eat. There’s plenty of options to choose from, ranging from expensive bistros meant for wealthy foreigners to local shacks where to eat cheap Guatemalan food like the locals do. I tried a few different options during the days I was there, and of all there are three I will recommend.

Lunch – Walk over to Iglesia de la Merced along 5 Avenida, and right beside it you’ll find an entrance to what appears to be a souvenir shop. While this is true they also have a fantastic little restaurant set in a small grass covered patio. Their food options range from simple burger menus to local Pepian, Caldo de Gallo or Platano con Mole at very competitive rates. Very relaxing and with a cool breeze I found it to be an absolutely fabulous little restaurant.

Breakfast and/ or Coffee Break- Café Condesa at Plaza Mayor is very well known, and pricey. Yet people come here not only because of the good quality of its coffee and desserts but because of the colonial building it is in, reminding you at all times that you’re away from home.

Dinner– Sure, there are plenty of places where to eat pretty much anything (including a McDonald’s), but if you prefer a tasty, home made meal at the unbeatable price of 35Q check out Gate 25 on 7 Calle Poniente. The service is great and once the sun has set it is cool enough to allow for a comfortable eating experience- specially  if you don’t want to overspend.

Outdoor Activities

As charming and easy it is to spend time in downtown Antigua I highly recommend you participate in at least one of the many outdoor activities it offers. There are tours for all ages and physical abilities which include:

• Zip lining
• Mountain biking
• Trekking- There are many trails and paths around Antigua, and while it’s all OK to go on your own I recommend going with a guide for a better and safer experience.
• Volcano trekking- The most common volcano treks are the 5 hour trek to CArrr volcano which is no longer as interesting as it used to be, or the more physically demanding one or two day treks to Acatenango volcano. With its summit at 3975m above sea level it is right in front of adjacent Volcan de Fuego, one of the most active in the world. I did the two day trek with Old Town Outfitters which includes a night at 3750m facing active Volcan de Fuego, a fantastic experience I recommend only to fit travelers who enjoy the idea of walking uphill for several hours and spending a night at a tent with the possibility of not being able to sleep because of altitude.
• ATV tours
• Rafting tours

I have to admit that one of the main reasons I returned to Guatemala was the Acatenango trek, which turned out to be as fun and challenging as I expected it to be, and having tried all the other activities in other places I recommend participating in those that make the destination you are in unique.

Safety

A lot has changed in Antigua since I was last there ten years ago. I remember being in a street at 8 am on a cloudy waiting for my van to take me to Panajachel in Lake Atitlan when a cop car pulled over and asked me what I was doing. After explaining they told me to wait inside my hotel as it was not safe to be outside alone when the streets weren’t busy.

Today things are very different. As a cop pointed out on this trip it’s very common to see foreigners drunk on the streets at 4 am and they don’t have much to worry about other than tripping along the cobbled streets. This said it is not recommended for people to walk to the Cerro de la Cruz after 5 pm (it’s when the local police stop patrolling for the day) or even trekking nearby Volcan de Agua as you could run into trouble.

Nearby Attractions

One of the best things about being based in Antigua is that you’re very close to many other nearby villages and attractions in Guatemala and reaching them is far easier from Antigua than from Guatemala city. Some of them are Chichicastenango, Panajachel and Lake Atitlan, Quetzaltenango and more. I cover these destinations in the second part of my visit to Antigua in Guatemala.

Is Antigua Overrated? What Do I Think?

Antigua has become a very touristy place, hands down. Sure, it may not be the same kind of tourism as you might expect in New York or Sydney, but there’s plenty of the adventurous kind. It is true as well that Antigua has lost part of its charm during the past decade- the fact that there’s  Subway, McDonald’s and a Burger King confirms that times have changed. But other things have improved: it’s cleaner, safer, and there’s more options when it comes to eat and sleep, though I identified a lack of mid budget hotels (40-70 USD). So is it overrated? In my opinion it’s not. It may not be for everybody, but Antigua certainly has a lot to offer to the independent traveler, families and anybody who wants to visit a country in Central America.

What do you think? Is Antigua Overrated? Share your thoughts in the comments section below or continue to Part 2 of this post!

The post Top Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala [Part 1] appeared first on MaiTravelSite.

The verdict? If you don’t stop here you won’t miss much. But it is the capital city, and you could spend half a day plus one night to see what little there is.

These are the best places to see and things to do in Guatemala City.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint James

Built between 1782 and 1867 it has withstood numerous earthquakes -not without being damaged- but these were repaired. I found its interior rather dull and unimpressive when compared with many other cathedrals, but there’s a mummy in on of the chapels if this makes it interesting to you.

The National Palace of Guatemala

Known as the Palacio Nacional de Cultura it used to be the most important building in Guatemala as it was home to the president. It is from here that all road distances in Guatemala are measured from too, with the KM 0 (zero kilometer) right in front of it. Today it’s a museum with free guided tours Monday to Friday  11am to 4 pm except if there’s a demonstration or some other event. Mind you they do happen more than you’d think as I dropped by three times in two days and wasn’t able to visit it.

The Market

The central market is the place in Guatemala City where to buy handcrafted goods, veggies, eat on the cheap as the locals do and buy fresh produce. It’s not particularly big but well worth stopping by to walk around slowly and buy anything you could not buy during your stay in Guatemala or to get an idea of prices. You might like to know that prices here are just about the same as you’ll find anywhere else in the country, so don’t expect to find them lower after some good bargaining.

The Postal Services Building

The postal service building boasts colonial architecture and is one of the few that is very well maintained. You can’t walk inside but I’m sure that the outside is nicer. While here make sure you walk a few extra steps to my next recommendation.

The Guatemalan Postal Services Museum

It’s small, but I found it entertaining. During the personalized 15 minute guided tour you’ll learn some interesting things ( did you know that Guatemala’s current postal service is owned and executed by the Canadian postal service?) and it’s free.

Other Attractions

• The Torre del reformador, a 72 meter steel tower in zone 9 that resembles the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It was built u in 1935 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Justo Rufino Barrios, who was President of Guatemala. I drove under it with a taxi upon arrival to Guatemala and didn’t ask the driver to pull over to take a picture.
• And of course there’s no lack of museums, including the Museum of Archeology and Etnology, the National Museum of Modern Art, the Railway Museum and the Popol Vuh Museum.
• The city seems to be proud of its Aurora Zoo, but frankly I can’t see why I’d even consider checking it out- it’s not what you come to see in this country.

Where to stay

I like to stay in places that are close to the attractions I’m going to be visiting and if this is your reasoning too your best bet is the Panamerican Hotel. Originally an Astoria hotel it changed its name to the Panamerican because of its former partnership with Pan Am Airways- it’s crew would stay here (back in the days when flying was fun). The hotel maintains its character but  unfortunately needs a bit of an upgrade which is being limited by the local government arguing it wants to keep its historic appearance. Nevertheless it’s in an unbeatable location and a good choice if you’re checking what you spend and just as good if you’re visiting Guatemala with kids.

Where to Eat

I was surprised at the sheer amount of fast food restaurants there are in Guatemala City, even in the historical center, and the lack of traditional restaurants with authentic Guatemalan food.

So if this is what you’re after ( and you should be)while visiting the historical quarter in zone 1 you only have one option: the restaurant at the Panamerican Hotel.

This said it is a fantastic one, located in the first hotel that was ever built in Guatemala, and serves all the dishes you would want to try. Portions are generous, flavor is fantastic, excellent service and very fair prices averaging 60-95 Quetzales per dish make it a clear winner.

As I wandered around the area I found what I would say is the second best option particularly if you’re traveling on a budget.

Ambrosia Café on Calle 8-63 serves a menu of Guatemalan dishes and international food that everybody likes in a very clean location, with some smooth background music a and pleasant service too.

Check out their daily menu- at 25 Quetzales it got me the soup of the day, a plate of fajitas with rice and guacamole and unlimited melon juice. Tasty, filling and cheaper than McDonald’s!

Safety in Guatemala City

I did not find the city particularly dangerous, but I admit it’s not a beautiful one, and the fact that most cars have all the windows tinted doesn’t help much. Don’t flash jewelry or stand out like a rich tourist during the day and you’ll be fine.

I was recommended not to hang out at night, and I didn’t. In any case there’s really nothing to check out unless you’re a party freak and listening to loud reggaeton or twerking all night is your concept of good fun when traveling.

My Thoughts

I’ll be blunt: Guatemala City is no urban beauty and lacks charm and entertainment. Most of the city is completely unappealing and might even seems dangerous, although this doesn’t have to be true during the light hours of the day.

What little there is to see can be seen in half a day and foodies will not find this to be a gourmet hotspot either, though there are some good dishes to enjoy.  Perhaps one of the best things to do is to visit  during one one of the many Guatemala festivals and celebrations.

With this in mind I would recommend you spend half a day and one night (at the historical and clean but plain Panamerican Hotel, just to be within walking distance of the attractions) if your trip to Guatemala is over one week long or skip it altogether and head straight to Antigua if you’re there for less time.

Have you visited Guatemala City? What did you think about it? Did you feel safe? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you think others might find it useful!

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