Guatemala

Favorites

Antigua

We loved the spectacular volcanoes in Guatemala. The soaring peaks surrounding Lake Atitlan and the ancient city of Antigua make for an unforgettable area of a beautiful country. These areas are touristy, and for good reason.


Least Favorites
When we were in more rural areas of Guatemala, especially by the Mexican border, many people came out to call us gringos and ask for money. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable, we chose to stick to slightly larger roads.


The Basics: Food, Water, Shelter

Food
Tortillas are about as easy to find in Guatemala as they are in Mexico. Here they are all made by hand, which means that they're slightly smaller and thicker. Keep your eyes out for a happy little lady making tortillas on a griddle by the roadside and you'll never be disappointed. We had tortillas with just about every meal. Avocados and bananas with breakfast; cheese, tomato and cucumber for lunch; and beans, veggies and nuts with dinner.

Water
We purified all water with our Steripen. A house or restaurant is always nearby if you need water. Natural water sources are often dirty.

Shelter
We stayed in cheap hostels or hotels when in cities, usually about the equivalent of US$15 for both of us. We camped once in the yard of a house along the road, and also on the beach in Monterrico.

Our Route
We crossed the border from Mexico at La Mesilla and then followed the Pan-Am until Escuintla.  Here we turned south, biking down to the Port of San Jose and then along the coast to Monterrico. From there we took a boat to La Avellana and rode back up to the Pan-Am. We crossed into El Salvador at La Hachadura.

Click here for all our blog posts from our time biking and backpacking through Guatemala.