Alright, let me tell you about my trip to Guatemala. It wasn’t some super planned-out thing, you know? More like, I saw some pictures, heard folks talking about volcanoes and old ruins, and thought, “Yeah, why not?” Sounded like a bit of an adventure, different from the usual beach stuff.
So, I booked a flight. Landed in Guatemala City. Honestly? A bit overwhelming at first. Busy, noisy, wasn’t really my vibe for sticking around. I’d read that lots of people head straight out, so that’s what I did. Grabbed a shuttle, which was an experience in itself, bumping along, and made my way to Antigua.
First stop: Antigua
Okay, Antigua was cool. Like, stepping back in time but with WiFi, haha. The streets are all cobblestone, which looks amazing but man, watch your ankles. Buildings are painted bright colors, lots of old churches, some half-ruined from earthquakes ages ago. You really feel the history there.
And the volcanoes! They’re just… right there. Looming. You see Fuego puffing away in the distance sometimes. Crazy. I decided to hike Pacaya. It wasn’t easy, pretty steep, lots of loose volcanic rock, but totally worth it. We got close enough to roast marshmallows on the heat coming off the ground. Seriously! How often do you get to do that?
Next up: Lake Atitlán
After soaking up Antigua, everyone said I had to see Lake Atitlán. So, another shuttle ride. This one was even twistier, up and down hills. Then you come over a crest and boom – this massive, gorgeous lake surrounded by more volcanoes. It’s stunning, really took my breath away.
I based myself in Panajachel, the main town, kinda busy but easy to get around. From there, I took these little boats, lanchas, to visit other villages around the lake. It was fun hopping on and off.
- San Pedro La Laguna: More of a backpacker vibe, chilled out.
- Santiago Atitlán: Felt more traditional, saw some locals in amazing woven clothing.
- Santa Cruz La Laguna: Mostly just reachable by boat, super quiet, built into the hillside.
Each place had its own feel. The boat rides themselves were part of the adventure, sometimes smooth, sometimes pretty choppy! You just hold on and enjoy the view.
Into the Jungle: Tikal
This was the big one for me. The Mayan ruins. Getting there was a journey. I took an overnight bus, which… well, it got me there. Could’ve flown, but the bus felt more like part of the experience, you know? Arrived in Flores, this cool little town on an island in a lake, then took another ride out to Tikal National Park itself.
Staying near the park allowed me to get in super early. Waking up before dawn, walking into the jungle as it got light… incredible. The sounds! Howler monkeys roaring – sounded like dinosaurs. Then you see the temples. These massive stone structures poking out above the trees. Climbing Temple IV for sunrise… yeah, that’s something I won’t forget. It felt ancient and powerful. Just wandering around, imagining what it was like back then. Saw spider monkeys swinging around too. Way better than a zoo.
Wrapping it up
After Tikal, it was pretty much the long journey back. Guatemala was amazing, though. A bit rough around the edges sometimes, sure, transportation wasn’t always smooth, but that was part of it. It felt real. Antigua’s charm, Atitlán’s beauty, Tikal’s mystery… totally different vibes, all in one country. Glad I went on that whim. It definitely delivered on the adventure part.
