Guatemala

[Uninformed]

Have any of you all vacationed in Guatemala? Where did you go? What would you recommend for an 8-9 day trip? Did it appear safe?

 

[snow leopard27]

I haven't been but did do some research on it at one point when we are considering it.

Antigua is supposed to be one of the prettiest cities in the americas; interesting indian villages in the mountain highlands; Mayan ruins of Tikal are supposed to be really good.
Tikal is closed to the border with Belize, so you could get some beach time also if you wanted.

 

[handcruser]

guatemala is awesome. When you fly in to Guat CIty you will immediately want to get the hell out. Either go to Xela (quetzaltenango) or elsewhere. I spent my time in Xela, which is in the mountains. It was completely awesome. One of the bars was owned by a guy from Round Rock that just said screw this i am going south. Fuentas Georginas (sp) was awesome. I spent almost every weekend in Panajachel, a little town about an hour away (by bus) that was on Lake Atitlan. Beautiful. Cheap. Fun.

PM me if you want more info.

 

[johnny chimpo]

Is Guat safe? I spent a week driving all over Costa Rica recently with no hassles, but wouldn't do the same in Mexico. What say you about Guatemala?

 

[l00p]

A very good friend of mine is from there and also lived some time in Belize. I am going to go down there with him a few times in the future to help him work on his house and land. He may sell me some land on the cheap and I could fix up a house on the property. It is on a river.

He goes down all the time and does not have problems but then again, he is from there so it may be different. Where specifically are you looking at going and for how long in those places? That would help.

He was down there as recently as two weeks ago.

 

[Uninformed]

My parents had (past tense) very wealthy friends who live in Guatemala. They visited 30 years ago and were flown to a few places in the guy's private helicopter. One of the places was an unexcavated ruin - Pretty darn cool. Anyway, I have contacted the family friend, but I don't think he is going to offer to put my family up. It is just as well though, because they probably don't live near the types of things my family would like to see. Furthermore, they have told me about a few places, but they are probably 70 now and I would assume have very different interests.

With that said, I think we would like to see an archaeological site, wildlife (monkeys, toucans, macaws - assuming its similar to what I experienced in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica), and I would like to spend a lot of time at the beach (I love to deep sea fish and my kids love the water). I would take the family to Costa Rica, but I thought Guatemala would offer something new and unique. With that said, I don't want to put the family in danger and would like to stay in nice places where the kids can find food/safe drinking water and we all don't have to worry about things like malaria.

 

[handcruser]

Guat is somewhat safe, really as long as you are out of Guat City you should be ok. I wouldnt take my kids for a week vacation in the city or anything. WOuld I go back tomorrow? Sure.

If your taking your kids on vacation, I would fly into Belize, spend some time here and then fly in to Flores (a city in guat that is in the middle of a lake...really cool) and visit Tikal (mayan ruins). Tikal is unbelievable....i really hope to take my daughter one day.

 

[pulque]

There are a vast number of great things to see and do in Guatemala. But, be careful. The problems in Mexico are somewhat over shadowing now. Keep to the main line and don't go out of bounds...