GUATEMALA

travel itinerary
Guatemala is not a country on the main tourist routes, but has its strong points. A holiday in Guatemala, in fact, allows you to admire a burst nature and some of the most beautiful Mayan ruins of Central America (and of the whole world, also because or are there or nothing :)).

The travel route in Guatemala here proposed leads from a splendid colonial city to the picturesque Maya markets, from Lake Atitlan, defined as one of the most beautiful in the world, at the jungle with its rivers and its natural pools where dive, concluding in the immense Tikal, where Maya temples arise in the middle of the forest. Good reading!

Antigua, Chichicastenango, Solola
Antigua is often the starting point of a travel itinerary in Guatemala, both because it is its most beautiful city and because it is close to the international airport. Walking on stone streets among the low colored houses is already magnificent in itself; In addition, a background of green volcanoes completes the picture.

Among the different monuments of Antigua, those who have surprised me are the different churches uncovered by the earthquake, which have a particular charm, and, even more, the convent of Las Capuchinas, whose photos speak for himself.

You can use Antigua as a base for your vacation and stay there a few days, thus experiencing some of the numerous restaurants and bars in the city, where you can get drunk on local rum. The night, in the distance but not too much, you can even see the red wake of lava that descends from the Volcan de Fuego (I swear that you also see from Sobri), similar to the scene of the fire of Stromboli .

Chichicastenango and Solola are two Mayan cities with colorful markets. That of Chichicastenango, in particular, is very extensive and, between the two churches of the city, really picturesque. Go there on Thursday or Sunday (take it into account when you plan your travel itinerary in Guatemala) and, if you want to make purchases, negotiate!

The Chichicastenango cemetery is also very colorful, which contrasts with the grayness of buildings but it goes perfectly with the vivacity of the market.

The Solola market, a town not far from Lake Atitlan, is smaller and very little tourist: here too, wandering through the stalls is a pleasure.

The Atitlan Lake and the Volcanoes
Lake Atitlan is the second fundamental stage, after Antigua, in a travel itinerary in Guatemala (also Tikal deserves the second place, but it is far more distant from Antigua e From Guatemala City airport). Lake Atitlan is also part of so many bindings of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and right: the silhouettes of volcanoes overlooking the lake and the many picturesque villages make Atitlan one of travelers' favorite destinations.

Panajachel is the main country, full of hotels and restaurants, with a hippy community that, to what they say, is available to sell a lot of drugs. The other hippy village on the lake (much smaller and inhabited above all from Western eager for peace and meditation) is San Marcos La Laguna, where there are several vegetarian restaurants, massage centers and other very holistic things (on New Age theories are a bit unprepared).

A boat itinerary on Lake Atitlan is the best way to visit it and also include a stop in the beautiful Mayan villages of Santa Cruz la Laguna and, above all, of San Pedro la Laguna. A wonderful place to feel on vacation and relax, do not miss Atitlan if you visit Guatemala.

Among the visible volcanoes in Guatemala, you can recommend excursions to the Pacaya and the Concatengo, the latter longer to reach but particularly cool.

At the top of the Volcano Pacaya blew a crazy wind: as well as creating beautiful games with the smoke of the crater, made our helmets to fly (mandatory for the trip) inside the volcano, with desperation of the guide.

SEMUC Champey
When you take a travel itinerary in Guatemala, you have to consider that the roads are slow and winding. This is especially true for the beautiful area of Semuc Champey, where we arrived crammed into a pickup box at the end of a muddy dirt.

The main attraction of Semuc Champey is the Cahabon river that forms a series of natural puddles in the jungle. The extension of the puddles is remarkable, the water is fresh but the temptation to dive is irresistible.

In fact, it is even more surprising because the puddles are on a gigantic natural bridge: the actual river flows underground for several hundred meters!

In the hotels you have absolute peace and they feel only water and bird chirps, but if you want to add adrenaline to your vacation you can do canyoning in a cave, kanba quarries. In this natural attraction (always in Semuc Champey) you have to walk and swim in the dark for two hours, with a candle in hand: an exciting adventure. At the end of December, we took a cold dog, but the experience was worth the journey and fatigue.

Rio Dulce
A river flowing into the jungle to the Caribbean Sea is not at all to be underestimated. Peace, birds and panoramas are really relaxing. In addition, activities such as KAYAK on the Rio Dulce can be done and visiting (by boat) Le Aguas Calientes, I are altares, Livingston and Playa Blanca. Let's say that in a travel itinerary in Guatemala, the Rio Dulce is a bit the cherry on the cake.

The Aguas Calientes are small hot springs that form a pool of thermal water in contact with the river. I'm the attraction that I liked the area most, at sunset was really fantastic.

I are altares (seven altars) are a series of cascatelle in the jungle: nothing to do with semuc champey, but they are still frequented by Guatemalan tourists.

Livingston is a Caribbean, colorful and nice town, where to eat fish looking at the mouth of the Rio Dulce.

The Playa Blanca is a long edged palm trees: water is not caribbean clearness, but the place is cute and can be fine for a moment of relaxation on vacation.

Tikal
When it comes to Maya Ruins, Tikal is one of the first sites that come to mind. Its pyramids and temples are impressive, well preserved and rise in a lush tropical forest. Photos speak from them.

The site is vast and the visit requires a few hours; Obviously it is a tourist place, but not too crowded. The strongest noises that feel are the screams, impressive, of screaming monkeys. Panoramas from Temple 4 and Mundo Perdido are worth a holiday in Guatemala.

Tikal's central square, then, is something amazing. Maya had slammed to build truly remarkable religious buildings, and visit them seems to me the minimum to reward them!

Reaching Tikal by bus is not very converted: there are many hours of travel from Antigua. However, there is Flores airport, near Tikal, which can help those who go in a hurry. Tikal is not even very far from the belize for those who want to continue your beach holiday: between buses and customs, in about 6 hours you can get to admire the sea of the Caribbean.

How, when and other information
The best months to visit Guatemala range from December to April, the dry season; It must be said that at the end of December the sky is sometimes gray and, for my tastes, all too fresh to dive into the rivers ... even if the same is done.

The "shuttle", ie tourist vulls, traded travelers to all major destinations with little expense and are safer and faster than the buses. They also go abroad, for example in el salvador , honduras, belize or Mexico. The hotel's costs are low, while for excursions you have to bargain. Anyway, for a travel itinerary in Centramerica, Guatemala is fundamental at least for Antigua, the Atitlan Lake and Tikal ... so organize your holiday!
To admire more photos of Guatemala (and higher resolution ), click on this photo gallery:

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