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April 25th-April 26th Las Vegas to Guatemala City to Antigua
We headed to airport around 5 pm only to discover that our plane was delayed. The check in process was easy and we had one if the nicest airline employees of any recent memory. We headed to the lounge and killed the hour and half. We boarded and luckily had an empty middle seat to LAX.
We arrived to LAX and had 2.5 hours to kill. We had a very small terminal and picked a restaurant to grab dinner at. The plane was a bit delayed taking off and it was definitely an older plane but the flight was smooth and I managed to sleep for hour intervals for 3 hours of the flight which was a plus. We arrived in Guatemala City at 5:40 am and proceeded to immigration and customs. Both were smooth. Then proceeded to the car rental booth. No one was there but we texted the number and a guy showed up in 10minutes. The car rental was exorbitantly more expensive with “insurance” which doubled the cost. Credit card payment was an additional 1/3 of the price which is completely ridiculous. We were also notified the insurance would not work for Belize but we can drive there. They deem it “unsafe” yet we can drive to Honduras, Costa Rica or any other much less safe Central American country. Weird.
Anywho, after being held hostage we drove to Antiqua and dropped our car and bags at the hotel. It was 8 am and we couldn’t check in until 3 pm so we headed to the streets.
We were staying near the Central Park and one thing to know about Guatemala is that almost every city has a Central Park and it probably the most lively part of town. We located a restaurant that had some interesting dishes: Cafe Condesa. I opted for the cornmeal pancakes with brown butter sauce and bacon. It was very good. This place had open air dining and shops in the plaza. We wandered through a market called El Mercadito. It was a tourist trap but in hindsight had the best prices. At least in Antiqua, we found the best prices in street stalls or inside markets with stalls. The brick and mortar stores lining the streets were often pricier. I didn’t buy anything here originally but did end up back here to buy a blouse for a friend and got the lowest price of Q250. We spent time checking out the sites and shopped Casa De Las Artesanias which is basically a shopping street along the way to the Santa Catalina arch and Iglesia de La Merced which is probably the most ornate church in the city. The Santa Catalina Arch was built in 1694 for nuns to cross the street from their convent without going outside. It features a simple, elegant design with a clock tower added in the 19th century and its’ iconic and heavily photographed landmark representing Antigua’s colonial heritage. The Iglesia de La Merced was founded in 1548, rebuilt in 1767 after several earthquakes. It is noted for its Baroque style, ornate stucco façade, and beautiful altarpiece. The church survived numerous earthquakes due to robust construction.
From there we did a walking tour past Templo Santa Teresa De Jesus which was established in the 17th century as part of a Carmelite convent. The Ermita de los dolores del cerro, built in the 18th century and served as a place of pilgrimage and meditation. The Church of Candelaria ruins which was constructed in the early 18th century and severely damaged by the earthquakes of 1773. Next was La casa de la ruina Santa Rosa which was originally part of a convent established in the 17th century and partially destroyed by the 1773 earthquakes. We attempted to find Convento e Iglesia de Santo Domingo but I think this is being restored behind a wall and we were unable to see it.
It was a hot and humid day and after walking nearly 5 miles on little to no sleep, we decided to stop at Clio’s Antigua for a small lunch. I had the Seabass Carpaccio which was amazing. This place had a beautiful outside dining area and shade. I also enjoyed a fresh berry smoothie which was fitting with the weather. We had decided the previous day that we wanted massages and earlier in the day we were handed fliers so we sought out the place. We bartered our way to getting a massage now for Q250 and followed a lady to Express Wellness Spa. It was a nice, relaxing treat especially after a day of travel and very little sleep. After the 70 minute massage we were able to walk to the hotel to check in. The hotel was La Sin Ventura. It was nothing special but the room was clean and the parking was easy to locate and only Q40 for the day. The only downside was the 3 flights of stairs to the room while exhausted. We relaxed for an hour and the sought out dinner at La Fonda de la Calle Real. This restaurant was opened to in 1975 to preserve and promote traditional Guatemalan food. I attempted a Special occasion Guatemalan dish which consisted of a tomato based stew with chicken, beef and pork slowly cooked in banana leaves. It was served with a corn tamale, rice and tortillas, it was really good. We went back to the room and passed out was 7:30 pm. The room didn’t have a/c but it cooled off at night so we slept with open windows. It was great until midnight when people had a lively conversation outside our bedroom window. However, being jet lagged and exhausted, it didn’t keep us awake for long and we returned to sleep.
April 27. Antigua to Lake Atitlan to Xela:
Today was a weird day. We attempted to see Mirador Mario Montenegro which in on the southern of Panajachel. However, one the roads we were on was washed out and we had to backtrack to the main road and enter Lake Atitlan from the North of Panajachel. This basically meant we had to skip that viewpoint and attempted Mirador al Lago de Atitlán y Volcanes Atitlán, Tolimán y San Pedro, Aldea Churunel. However, we were unlucky with the weather and the fog made it impossible to see the lake and the turn off for this site was also impossible to find due to the visibility. The roads are not conducive for turning around so we just continued to Panajachel and Calle Santander which is the shopping street. We found parking and followed the street to the Lake. It was pretty but due to the fog we couldn’t see too far. We located a place to grab breakfast: Posada Don Rodrigo. I had yogurt with granola and honey then a side of bread with homemade jelly. It was good and the restaurant had nice 2nd floor views of the lake. The service was fantastic. We walked around the shops for a brief period and headed to Atitlan Nature Reserve. It was Q80 to get in and they have nice little hikes in the reserve. One takes you to a small area with monkeys and cotipaxi, a water fall and 4 swinging bridges. One of which is in front of the waterfall. It was a pretty fun hike and the bridges added a tiny thrill. Another hike takes you to the Lake and a third takes you to a butterfly dome. The dome had TONS of butterflies and some plants. It was a fun way to kill and hour and a half and kinda saved our time in Lake Atitlan considering our luck with the weather. From there we drove to Quetzaltenango. This town is unique in the sense that it kinda looks shitty but behind some closed doors/gates are some pretty cool restaurants and places. We stayed in the more historic part at Hotel Uxlanik. The staff wasn’t super helpful and told us we had to turn right on the next street to park and that she had to open it. As with all downtowns, the streets are narrow and we couldn’t find it, nor did she open anything Sw we drove back and found a street spot at the very front entrance and she told us we could stay there. We checked in and the room was okay. Nothing special but clean. We then headed to Café Museo La Luna: a chocolate cafe. Our server was fantastic and offered suggestions. He also spoke English and allowed us to split a burger made to order. I also had a mocha with chocolate ice cream. It was amazing. The inside was a garden with a ton of plants and we initially almost left but I’m glad we didn’t. We wander a few more blocks to the Central America Park (Developed in the 19th century) and checked out the Quetzaltenango Cathedral: Original construction began in 1535. It features a blend of colonial and neoclassical styles. The current façade, dating from the 19th century, is in front of the older, original structure which can still be seen behind it.
One thing we missed out on was Trauma Textiles as it happened to be closed but if you want to support Mayan women that hand weave goods, you really should check it out and it sounds like a great organization supporting women that are widowed and supporting their families. We then trekked Cementerio General, the east gate: Cementerio General in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, is a historic and visually striking cemetery dating back to the 19th century. It is known for its elaborate and diverse mausoleums, featuring neoclassical, Gothic, and contemporary designs adorned with intricate sculptures and colorful tiles. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for many notable Guatemalan figures and plays a central role in Day of the Dead celebrations, where families honor their deceased loved ones with flowers, food, and music. It is a popular destination for those interested in the cultural and historical heritage of Guatemala. This place made the city worth it. It was huge, colorful and had incredible mausoleums. You could literally spend hours here if you wanted to see them all. We had to avoid a funeral procession but it was worth the trip. The weather was much cooler so we ended the evening at Chocolate San Sebastián for some hot chocolate and a panini. It was behind a door and you had to ring a bell to get in. Inside was an outdoor garden with fruit trees and flowers. It had a lot of seats and such a fun vibe. We hung out for a while and walked back to the hotel just after sunset.
April 28: Quetzaltenango to Coban
We got and early start and got on the road. This drive was about 6 hours. We had some rough roads with multiple potholes but eventually landed on a nice highway with minimal issues except one patch with rough gravel. Along the way, we stopped at Rancho Grande: Hotel, Restaurante y Turicentro for breakfast. This place appeared to have been a luxury place once upon a time with a nice looking pool (in much need of a new paint job) with a dragon slide. We pulled up to the main gate and someone came out to let us in. We had a Americano breakfast with eggs, pancake/waffle cross with fresh fruit. It was good and very cheap. We carried on the road and had two police detours beyond having to leave the main route, the GPS re-routed us and it didn’t really effect our ETA. We also have no idea why we were re-routed either. We arrived to Chijul, Guatemala to a nature preserve around 1pm. They allowed us to park and walk around the preserve until our 3pm check in. They had several hikes in the forest which included secluded areas on a river. They had a swimming area with a diving platform, island area, deer reserve/park and a good amount of hiking trails. Some of the trails were easy and others were quite vertical and more difficult. We did them all except the “extremo trail” that didn’t lead to much on the map. It was a great way to spend a few hours after being cooped up in the car. We also enjoyed the restaurant on site for lunch and dinner. I tried the Enchiladas at lunch and we had the special Puyaso Coulotte which requires a one hour notice to make. Both meals were good and the waiters were nice. After dinner, we were able to sit outside and attempt to see a sunset but the fog and trees limited our view. We went to bed fairly early. The hotel had very hard beds and no form of ventilation as the windows did not have screens so sleeping with the window open allowed bugs in and no fan. We did open the window briefly to listen to a thunder storm.
April 29 Coban to Rio Dulce
We woke up and headed to Grutas de Lanquín which are natural limestone caves formed over millions of years. It is known for stalactites, stalagmites, and an underground river and is a sacred site for the local Q’eqchi’ Maya people. The road there was fairly uneventful and well maintained. We arrived just before 8 am and grabbed a guide named Carlos whom works for donations. You need a guide to enter the cave and we found out why very quickly (you may not need one if you are spending the day exploring the cave and have experience climbing). There is a short walk from the parking to the entrance. You ascend stairs and you are inside. The cave is fairly slippery and you need to do some bouldering. You will not be able to do this if you are handicapped in any way shape or form. There is no “easy” way. They have the standard path that requires bouldering and a long more complex path that requires even more bouldering and large jumps from rock to rock. Be WARNED. It is unique compared to caves in the US. You are allowed to touch the walls and grab them for leverage. It’s also dark so consider a headlamp or flashlight. It was definitely hot and HUMID inside so be prepared to sweat. There are multiple formations: broccoli, animals, etc.
We left the cave and headed toward Rio Dulce. This was a bit of a mistake on our end. We had multiple options, one was to backtrack to Coban, one was to go far north and then south. The other was direct. Never take the direction path. It started out paved, it turned into a moderately rough unpaved road and we hit a town with a lot of billboards advertising Rivera del Río Cahabon and we stopped for lunch. This was the smartest part of the journey. I got tacos and a horchata which were both delicious. Then we carried onto a new road… we didn’t think it could get worse until it did… this was the shittiest road I have ever been on. 47 KM of nonsense. When we would consider turning around, the road would get slightly better so we stayed on it. Then it would get exponentially worse and on some inclines our intermediate SUV almost didn’t make it up. Loose gravel, large rocks, huge divets these were normal on this road. After the 47 KM we arrived on a “highway”. It was tore up gravel. It was less scary than the last road but not what we hoped to see. Another 10km and pavement. 🙌🏻 which was short lived and the tore up gravel returned. After another 10 KM or so, we finally got pavement until we hit Rio Dulce. We did try to make a short detour to Cataratas de Aguas Termales – Finca El Paraíso. It was in a town with a ridiculous amount of children, some naked and animals all over town. The actual place was closed though. We navigated into Rio Dulce and finally wandered down a street to the water with the car (narrow roads) where a man approached us and helped us get to the appropriate parking lot. He then offered a guided boat tour, different more secure overnight parking and contacted our hotel to pick us up in the other parking lot. I think we paid too much at 500Q but he kind of saved the day and the tour was a private boat tour. He showed us the lake, Castle of San Felipe of Lara, turtle island and a bird island. We then had the Hotel Casa Perico pick us up at the parking lot dock. The hotel was pretty cool, cabana like style with mosquito netting over the beds and mesh screens on the window. It was hot and humid so luckily there was a mini fan and ceiling fan to move the air around. The room was spacious and clean.
April 30: Guatemala City to Belize’ish to Flores:
We woke up early and hopped on a boat at 6:45am to head back to shore. Our car was still there (phew) and we handed our parking ticket to the guy and went on our way. We headed to the Southern boarder to Belize. We had a decent road that turned into a crappy dirt road for about 15km and arrived at a military checkpoint. He checked our passports and sent us up a hill and through a gate to the border. We met another Gautamalan military/border guy that told us the car might be a problem and we told him the rental car place said we could drive in Belize. He then sent us onward to Belize. We showed up there to find a guy that said the border was closed. He was surprised we got as far but said if we entered it would be illegally which would make it nearly impossible to get out. He allowed us to use his WiFi and told use about the other 2 borders.
At this point one border was 3.5 hours away and required a boat ferry. The other was the western border and it was 4.5 hours. Our hotel would also be a long drive from there. It basically would eat up the entire day. Soooo… we basically just changed our entire plan and contacted our hotel in Flores. The man we spoke to was accommodating and moved our reservation up 2 days so we could check in that night. So we started to head to Flores. We stopped at RESTAURANTE EL MIRADOR along the way. The view wasn’t amazing but the place was nice and the staff was friendly. They also had some amazing fresh juices and large langostine type shrimp. They took credit cards too which is the exact exchange rate vs 6-7.1 quetzals to USD. We were also short on quetzals because we planned on leaving today. That brought us to the next problem. Where to get more cash? We stopped and asked around a bigger town and located an ATM. The fee was 50Q to take out cash. For the record some show up on google maps as Cajero 5B, ATM 5B or 5B. This particular one was inside a supermarket.
We tried to find Sitio Arqueológico El Chal. However the Google map location was off. The town had a large blue sign on the main road but it went on for a long time past fields and we never saw another sign for it so we just cut our loss and returned back to the road. We felt a bit dejected this day with the earlier plan being changed. We arrived in Flores at the Hotel Amina. The hotel doesn’t have a normal check in but we saw a women entering and knocked. She was a very nice lady and got us our room. The rooms here are huge, the bed comfortable and it had A/C. We spent 30 minutes in the a/c figuring out a dinner plan and headed across the street to Achiote inside Hotel Isla de Flores. It has a/c and the food was okay. I tried the spicy chicken pasta and elote. We then came up with a few different plans and agreed on one. We decided to stay one more night in Flores and spoke to the person at the hotel that allowed us to pay. Then we went to bed for an early morning.
May 1: Flores
We got on the road at 6am and headed to Tikal. a Maya superpower (200-900 AD), rose from a small settlement to a grand city with towering temples. After conquering rivals, it mysteriously declined by 900 AD. Today, its ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a smooth drive on paved roads. It’s well marked and you stop at what looks like a checkpoint to buy tickets. We then had about 8-10km till another check point at the entrance and then found the parking lot. We waited in a short line and hauled ass passed the tour groups. They do have private guides that you can hire but the one that approached us wanted $60USD. We have personally done guided Mayan ruins and decided to pass. We spent approximetely 1.5 hours walking around. Again, this place is not handicap accessible and some of the treks are not “easy”, to see it all requires walking both up and down hills, avoiding tree roots, and lots of “natural” ie rock steps. It’s hot and they do not allow plastic bottles inside so either bring reusable bottles of water or be prepared to pay Q15 for a bottle inside (plastic). There are multiple ruins that you can walk on and 2 large platforms with lookout points. We preferred the one in the 7 temples area because it gave a nice aerial view but it’s quite a few very steep steps. I wasn’t set on coming here because of the hype from Star Wars but it was a unique ruin because of the viewing platforms and being able to climb on some of them.
After sweating a good amount, we found the exit. Tip: get a photo of the map and don’t rely on the signs. There are some but not enough. If you aren’t good with maps, maybe consider the guide. We stopped at Restaurante González and I had the Deysuano Americano which was eggs, bacon and pancakes with honey syrup. It was good and the staff was awesome. The lemonade was also delicious. We returned to Flores, found parking and then wandered the island shopping and looking at buildings. Flores is a historic Mayan city (900 BC-1697 AD) originally known as Nojpetén, it thrived as the capital of the Itza Maya kingdom for centuries. The island location offered a natural defense. Notably, the Itza Maya resisted Spanish conquest longer than any other Maya group, holding out until 1697. The Spanish destroyed Nojpetén and built the modern city of Flores on its ruins, named after a Guatemalan independence leader. This makes Flores the second oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Americas.
On the shopping front, the best street was C. centro America and Calle 30 de Junio. The Flores island had the best prices that we have seen and a lot of stuff from here and other places across Guatemala. I bought all the souvenirs that I needed. Then we headed to lunch at Maple & Tocino which had lake views and delicious milkshakes. After spending the majority of the day/afternoon in 100 degree weather that felt like 113 degrees we tapped out and went to the room for a few hours and relaxed. We have mostly been driving and active this trip so it was well deserved. We returned a few shops to get the items we still had on our minds and headed to Restaurante Raices for sunset views on the lake. I got the 1/2 lbs tenderloin and it was pretty good. The sunset was nice to watch though. We then stopped at a market and headed to the hotel to figure out the next day.
May 2nd Flores to Lanquin
When we were searching for things to do with our new plan and places to stay, we found Crater Azul and headed toward Las Cruces. We managed to find Las Cruces but not the parking/boats for Crater Azul so we decided to head to Lanquin where we supposedly had river access. However, getting from Las Cruces to Lanquin because we found an hotel that was cheap and got us closer to Guatemala City. It ended up being a lot longer than anticipated if we wanted to miss that horrendous excuse of a road. We ended up taking a ferry across the river in Sayaxché. We were instructed to head to Coban and off we went for another 5 hours. We stopped off to a beach on a lake at Balneario Las Pozas to ensure we saw some water. We were a spectacle being among locals, most of which doing laundry. The water was warm but we decided to not swim. We continued on our way. We arrived at the Puma gas station in Lanquin and followed the instructions to get the key to Villa suite which was across the parking lot. This suite was actually the best deal we had and it had the best a/c with beds in two separate rooms. It was nice to have a bit of privacy. We didn’t have lake access and the host mentioned something about another property but never verified. Honestly, we were exhausted though and decided to figure out food. We both felt kinda crappy from not eating a lot this day. We attempted Aragoncito Bistro al Carbón but it was closed despite a gas station employee telling us otherwise. We then attempted KALULA Café y Restaurante. If you noted the attempted, then you probably know this didn’t work out either. It was open but they were out of water, soda, horchata, most the juices, chicken, pizza and burgers… it was the majority of the menu and I have no idea what they actually had but we decided to try El Retiro Bar & Restaurant. It was at a hostel and actually turned out to be peaceful as it was located on the river with a wonderful view. The menu was small but we got some Bolognese, garlic toast and a soda. We grabbed a tuk tuk back to the suite and stopped at the gas station for some morning provisions (caffeine) met a pack of the most adorable puppies that attempted to follow us to the room. Then we relaxed for the night and researched things to do in Guatemala City. At this point, we were so sick of driving that we didn’t want any side stops that could potentially add to the drive. We then went to bed.
May 3: Lanquin to Guatemala City
We woke up and headed out. We stopped at Country Delights Restaurant along the route which was super cute and had a koi pond. We had waffles, oats in milk, yogurt with granola and fresh fruit. It was maybe my favorite breakfast of the trip. We headed to zone 1 of Guatemala City and found parking at Parqueo Publico near Constitution Plaza, the National Palace of Culture and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago of Guatemala. Constitution Plaza: is a central square, established in 1776, is a lively hub for locals and visitors a like. It’s a popular spot for people-watching, occasional parades and demonstrations, and soaking up the city’s atmosphere. Street vendors offer tasty treats and souvenirs. The National Palace of Culture is the former presidential palace was built in the 1940s. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago of Guatemala is on the eastern side of the Plaza, this massive cathedral is a architectural blend of Baroque and neoclassical styles. The construction spanned from 1782 to 1815, and it has impressively withstood numerous earthquakes. Inside, you’ll find beautiful altars and a poignant memorial dedicated to the victims of the Guatemalan Civil War.
A few blocks away we found the Mercado Central de Guatemala where we shopped for any last minute gifts/souvenirs. The market consisted of multiple booths across 4 rows and had everything from textiles to paintings to liquor to jewelry. We then ate at San Martín Centro Histórico. This was my least favorite restaurants in Guatemala. I ordered a sandwich and my friend ordered a pizza. Her pizza arrived 8-10 minutes before my sandwich. Neither tasted very good. The lemonade was warm and Q27 (we have mostly been getting it fresher and frozen/cold for Q15). The service was awful and although the place looked cute, it was hot with stagnant air. It was close to 3 pm and we could check in so we headed to our 2 bedroom air bnb near the airport. We arrived and a guard wanted an ID, he took it and gave us a number. We found the unit easy enough and parked. It was a bit of fiasco because the space was on the smaller side and we had to pull out slightly to get the bags out but no big deal. We accessed the apartment easily. The place was okay but it was cheap so expectation was low. The main bedroom had a/c with a queen bed, the 2nd bedroom had bunk beds and no a/c. The living room had an uncomfortable couch and only a fan. Eh, okay… not really “a lux air conditioned apartment” but also we were going to make due until we flushed the toilet once and were unable to flush it again until maybe 10-15 minutes later. I panicked and messaged the owner in the time it took him to respond the 10-15 minutes went by and it flushed again. The owner offered a refund so we took it, by this point in my trip, my stomach is a bit funky and the toilet is a must. We found a hotel again close to the airport… but had to drive there during rush hour… at one point it took 10-15 minutes to drive the remaining 280meters. They drive like maniacs in the city. Lights don’t matter, 2-4 cars make it through a light, motorbikes cut through everybody and run red lights. Then some roads are empty and you can drive normally. Be prepared if you choose to drive here. Luckily, my friend is an aggressive driver or it would have taken longer. We arrived at Conquistador Hotel, checked in and found the parking (luckily avoiding the heavily trafficked aforementioned street/light.). We headed to the room and it’s meh… but the toilet works and it appears clean. The restaurant is bogey but the service was slow. I had tuna tartar on banana chips and salmon over veggie pasta. It was pretty good. The hotel also has a Italian type cafe. Afterward, it was 7pm and we decided to pack and get ready for the flight tomorrow. That’s when it happened… a large spider on the bedside table and then we lost it.. now we have a rogue large spider in the room. We literally spent 2 nights in jungle like lodges and no large spiders… but our 7th floor hotel room in the middle of the cities biggest city and we have an 8 legged uninvited roommate? This trip has been a disaster but you gotta laugh about it.
May 4th: Las Vegas bound…maybe
We woke up and had no idea what this day had in store. We left early for the airport because we weren’t really sure what the rental car company situation was going to be like. We received texts from the Avis guys that we actually made the reservation from and another text from the Camino Real car rental place that we actually rented from and both told us to return to a different location. We decided to return to the place that we picked it up from. We spent some time trying to figure out the credit card fee but it seemed useless. They drove us to the airport. We made it through customs and border control easily. We still had time to kill and sitting at the gate wasn’t a possibility because they hand search the bags and there isn’t a bathroom so you would have to have your items searched each time you came back. We found a place with some outlets to sit and wait. I was luckily enough to have some sort of Montezuma’s revenge so I wasn’t feeling the best. I was also selected for “extra” security. It was kinda of funny because they didn’t hand search my bag, but did rub my belongings and person to test for illicit residue. We boarded the plane and headed to the run way. We picked up speed and then suddenly the flight attendants ran from the back of plane, looking out the windows and our take off was stopped. Apparently, we had an engine light and had to return to the gate. We waited there about an hour and eventually deplaned. We waited for another hour and people started going to the counter to make alternate plans, just in case this plane didn’t take off. As my friend was at the counter, they found out we were going to re-board the plane. Awesome. We re-boarded and got to the runway and picked up speed, wheels up and bam, wheels down and brakes engaged. There was silence for 1-2 minutes until the overhead announcement told us it was a air traffic issue and we had to abort takeoff. We had to again return to the gate to have the brakes checked and to refuel but we were still taking off. This is when, we overheard some interesting chatter in the back of the plane. One flight attendant wanted off the plane and was on the phone with her union rep. If she leaves the plane then we would likely not be making it to the US today. About 1.5-2 hours later, we were refueled, brakes checked and the flight attendant was apparently talked down and we hit the runway for the 3rd and last time. We did have a 5.5 hour layover but by the time we left we were just over 5 hours late. I decided to book a rental car knowing that we were never making the connection. We waited close to an hour for our bags, found the shuttle to the car rental and showed up at Enterprise. Since this day seemed to be doomed, the line was long and their computer system was down so old school paperforms were the backup. The agents were friendly and we did make it through the line quite quickly. We hopped in the car and started the 4 hour drive to Las Vegas. We had our boyfriend’s waiting to pick us up at the rental car return and made it home around 4 am. It was a loooooong day and I was oh so glad to be back.
Guatemala in a nutshell:
The people are wonderful. Everyone has been helpful or at least tries to be. If you go off the beaten path though, you are likely to get a lot of looks and whisper about you.
The small cities are charming: Antiqua and Flores in particular
The driving can be rough. Account for rugged roads. If you plan to see things out of the way of large cities then consider a 4×4 and expect to have it take longer. Also be prepared to drive a bit more aggressive and be comfortable with passing on small 2 lanes roads. Some of these trucks only go 10-20km/hr. Traffic laws seem to be loose here as well. Honking, blinkers and hazard lights are common to communicate that you are passing (honking), hazards (people are slowing down unexpectedly or pulling off the road), blinkers (it’s safe to pass the vehicle signaling you).
The food is good. You can find some amazing places with great staff and cute atmospheres
The souvenirs were the best in Flores and Guatemala City in terms of price. Both had some unique items and all the generic items. You need to haggle a little. Or be like me and just walk away, they then drop to the prices.
Don’t plan to do to far in one day. This was a hard lesson and caused long days of driving
Signage is poor in Guatemala. With the exception of the really big attractions. Signage was not around for things. Sometime there is only one sign and nothing more. Google maps is very inaccurate here. Be prepared to ask locals.