Summary of Hannah’s trip
Aquamarine lake views, bucket list volcano hikes, volcanic beaches on the Pacific coast, mountain escapes – Guatemala offers a slower pace of life and the perfect start for a Latin America trip.
Country Visited
Guatemala
General Tips for Guatemala
- Local “chicken buses” (look like converted American school buses, decked out with LED lights and music) are the cheapest way to get around and an experience in themselves.
- Book minibus transport between towns through local travel shops, found in almost every town.
- A few weeks of Spanish school is a great way to start a Latin America trip.
- It builds the confidence to travel more easily afterwards.
- Guatemala’s Caribbean Coast (bordering Belize, ~5 hours from Guatemala City or Antigua) is a lesser-known area worth considering.
- Tikal’s ruins, near Semuc Champey, are a worthwhile detour if you want history alongside nature.
Destinations and Tips
Antigua
- Hike Acatenango for volcano views; even in bad weather it’s a night you won’t forget, with excellent guides.
- Habanos Point wine bar is a local favourite and the more glasses you buy, the cheaper they get.
- Good base for a night out or day trip before heading to the highlands or coast.
- Recommended hostels: Adra Hostel (clean, rooftop, hot water) and Tropicana.
Lake Atitlán
- Encompasses: San Pedro, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, Panajachel
- Skip staying in Panajachel itself as is just the gateway town; head straight onto the lake, but plan timing carefully as the last water taxis run around 4–5pm.
- San Marcos is worth a day trip from San Pedro.
- Bes sure to experience the Trampolín jump spot, Eagles Nest Yoga, and “tasty toast” breakfasts.
- Santa Cruz is the pick for a slower, sun-all-day reset.
- A homestay with a local family is one of the best ways to experience the lake and immerse in the culture and language.
- San Pedro’s Thursday boat party is a fun (if a bit frat-y) local institution.
El Paredon
- Don’t skip this black-sand surf town, which is consistently rated the best place to meet people in Guatemala.
- Buy a beer from the supermarket and watch the sunset over the volcanic sand beach every night.
- Surf lessons available if that’s your thing.
- Mellow Hostel is the most social pick, with family-style dinners; Cocori has the best pool, right on the beach.
- Cocori’s beach tacos (prawn or fish) are a must.
- Go on Taco Tuesday for trivia night.
Semuc Champey
- The river pools and mountain views feel like a different world and worth the ~10-hour drive from Panajachel (can be done overnight.)
- Try tubing on the river with drinks from your hostel, ending at a riverside bar.
- The cave tour (swimming, cave swings, natural pools) is highly recommended alongside or instead of tubing if budget allows.
- Zephyr Lodge has an infinity pool overlooking the valley and good for happy hour after river activities.
See my map on Google here:
My itinerary:
GUATEMALA (27 November – 15 December, 18 nights)
🍺 Gallo / Victoria **best local beers
Panajachel (27 – 28 November, 1 night)
● 🏠Hostal Sweet Dreams
🚌 bus up to Semuc Champey (10 hours) – we didn’t realise how look it took, if you can allow 3x nights because of long travel times
Semuc Champey (28-30 November, 2 nights)
● 🏠 Zephyr Lodge (2 nights)
● ⛰️Tubing – tipsy tubing, buy beers / hard seltzers from Zephyr lodge before to take tubing – so much fun, couple of rapids then end at a nice bar to relax in the sun beside the river – get back in time for happy hour at the pool (infinity pool with a bar in the middle overlooking beautiful valley)
● *recommend the Semuc Champey tour, we couldn’t afford to do both so we did the tubing, if we had more time we would’ve done Semuc Champey tour – takes you through caves, swing into the river, then you visit fairy pools SO beautiful
🚌 7am bus back to Antigua 30 Nov (10 hours but was more like 12-15 with traffic)
Antigua (30 November – 2 December, 2 nights)
● 🏠Adra Hostel (1 night) really nice & clean, rooftop + actual hot water – we booked cheapest hostel but it was hell so we moved here
● 🏠 Tropicana Hostel (1 night)
● 🌋 (2-3 December) Soy tours or Tropicana for Acatanengo Volcano – we couldn’t see anything when we started the hike so were unsure on visibility of volcano erupting; we did see something but it was the most hilarious experience, 2x american guys brought DJ decks up so we had a Volcano rave with the Guatemalan boys using their headtorches as strobe lights; hot chocolate + marshmallows by the fire – very surreal experience + we were happy to not wake up at 3am for the hike to the summit **if you want to summit and get closer to the volcano check weather conditions beforehand
● Recommended hostels: Somos / Tropicana
● Don’t skip Habanos Point wine bar – the more glasses you get the cheaper…
🚌 to Panarachel 1.30pm – ⛵️ to Santa Cruz for Free Cevesa
Lake Atitlan (3 – 11 December, 8 nights)
Santa Cruz
● 🏠 Free Ceveza (3-5 December, 2 nights) *literally felt like rehab perfect reset post volcano such a nice place to chill in the day, gets sunshine for the full day, the best night sleep we had in a month, proper duvet – get shroom choc from Atisland in San Marcos
San Pedro
● 🏠 Mr Mullets *the boat party is every Thursday, very frat but very funny do recommend doing if you’re there that day (5-8 December, 3 nights)
● San Pedro isn’t that nice; go to San Marcos for the day and chill on the rocks next to the Trampolin (where everyone jumps off) you pay 200qz entrance to the national park, nice sunspot
● Other things to do in San Marcos: Eagles Nest Yoga, book a yoga session apparently a beautiful spot & they have ‘tasty toast’ yum breakfast
🚌to El Paredon – booked via transport shop in San Pedro
El Paredon (8 – 15 December, 8 nights) **do NOT skip El Paredon my favourite place in Guatemala – buy a beer from the supermarket and watch the sun set over the black volcanic sand beach, I’ve always met the best people from all over the world, the parties are fun, the hangovers are strong but it’s so SO worth it
● 🏠 Mellow (8-10 December, 2 nights) **still the best hostel in the area; most social; organise daily nights; family-meal style dinners are DELICIOUS, yes it’s a little more pricey + you can’t cook your own food but I’ve been twice now and have always met the best people
● 🏠 Driftwood (10-13 December, 3 nights)
● 🏠Cocori (13-15 December, 2 nights) **this has the best pool, and is right on the beach but not as social as mellow in my opinion
● 🌮Cocori tacos on the beach really recommend prawn / fish tacos – go for their taco Tuesday night when they have trivia on / hut behind driftwood also do tacos for 30qz / burger hut on way to mellow on side of road / banana breakfast smoothie
● Mellow good for trivia nights to meet people / everyone goes to Mi Casa for after party