Guatemala Itinerary – The Better of Guatemala in One Week (Podcast)

September 5, 2023

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Hear about touring to Guatemala because the Novice Traveler talks to Susan Metenosky from brooklyntropicali.com about this Central American nation that retains drawing her again.

Susan says, “It’s a spot that simply retains pulling me again in and I really feel like can by no means get sufficient of it. It’s such a wealthy tradition and such an attention-grabbing place. So once I began touring full time, I ended up going again once more for an extended interval for 2, three weeks. There’s a lot to see and study and do. I feel you are able to do and study a lot in only a week’s time.”

“The nation has such a wealthy tradition. Over half the inhabitants is indigenous. The Maya tradition is the strongest ethnic group there. Nonetheless, throughout the Mayan tradition, there’s no less than 20 or extra distinct ethnic teams and languages. You’ve gotten all the pieces from tropical coasts and rainforest as much as tremendous excessive mountains, there’s a volcano that’s virtually 14,000 ft, numerous excessive lands jungle. There’s a lot to see and expertise after which additionally simply the historical past. It has such an extended historical past. There’s a very essential Mayan archaeological website there to go to.”

For per week lengthy journey Susan recommends visiting three completely different areas: Tikal, Antigua, and Lake Atitlán.

Tikal is within the northern a part of the nation. It is without doubt one of the largest and most important of the Mayan ruins. It covers over 200 sq. miles in the course of the jungle. You should have Mayan historical past but additionally wildlife like spider monkeys at Tikal. Most individuals will do Tikal in a considered one of two day guided tour from the close by island city of Flores. Tikal is a UNESCOWorld Heritage website.

Antigua is the previous colonial capital of Guatemala. Town is in a spectacular location surrounded by volcanoes. The capital was moved from Antigua as a result of town is topic to earthquakes. What’s left is a UNESCO website, a gorgeous metropolis price exploring. Susan additionally recommends some close by hikes together with one to a of a volcano.

Lake Atitlán is a lake within the caldera of an historical tremendous volcano. It’s ringed with numerous small villages recognized for his or her crafts, particularly textiles. Among the villages are recognized for yoga retreats, some for murals, however all of them provide gorgeous views over this stunning lake. The climate is temperate as a result of the lake is at over 5,000 ft in altitude. The best way to get round between the villages is by boat.

Susan recommends a climb as much as The Mayan Nostril earlier than dawn as one of the stunning spots within the nation.

In case you have extra time, Susan recommends a visit to Semuc Champey which is a sequence of stepped, turquoise swimming pools in the course of the jungle. The positioning is gorgeous however can take a whole day to achieve by bus.

Once more you probably have extra time, town of Quetzaltenango (Xela) offers a place to begin for multi-day hikes of Tajumulco, which is the tallest of Guatemala’s volcanoes.

Surfers might wish to add a while on Guatemala’s smaller Caribbean coast close to Livingston and Río Dulce.

If Guatemala just isn’t but in your bucket listing… then you haven’t listened to this episode.

*At 15:10, Susan interprets “Finca La Azotea” incorrectly as “Farm of the Village”. She says the proper translation must be “The Rooftop Farm or Property”.

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