A Very Chill To-Do List for Guatemala

I can’t believe it, but my trip to Guatemala is only four days away!  Where does the time go?!?

This adventure has snuck up on me a bit, so I’ve been doing some reading these last few days to try to figure out what fun things I may want to see, do, and of course eat in Antigua and Lake Atitlan.  I’m still very open to ideas on all fronts, but I’ve also made the decision that this is going to be a different kind of trip for me: a chilled-out one.

You see, I have a tendency to over-plan my travels.  Usually, long before I touch down in a destination, I have a pretty good idea of what my trip will entail: hotels booked, activities planned, restaurants and even cafes picked out.  Yes, I’m that girl when I travel.  And come to think of it, I’m that girl in most areas of my life.  I’m a planner.  I like order and structure.  It’s an inherent part of who I am.

But this time, I’d like to leave room to be a bit more spontaneous and relaxed.  I have a few things in mind I would really like to see and do in Guatemala, but especially since this trip will be so brief, I want the main focus to be on relaxing, chilling out, taking in the beauty of my surroundings, all while eating, drinking, and having fun with friends.

Here’s my (very chill) to-do list for Guatemala so far.  Anything I’ve left out?

• Walk around Antigua and admire the beautiful architecture and pastel buildings.
• Hike somewhere that isn’t super-challenging but provides great views at the top.
• Float in an infinity pool.
• Eat Guatemalan food.
• Visit a few different towns around Lake Atitlan, hopefully by boat (because I love boats!)
• Have a fantastic meal in Antigua.
• Get a massage at our hotel spa in Panajachel.
• Visit the handicraft markets in Panajachel, and hopefully come away with a cool local souvenir.
• Lie in a hammock and look at the lake while drinking something tropical and fruity.

I’ll let you know how much of this I accomplish—but I think if I hit even a few of these items, I’ll have a pretty great trip!

And of course I’ll be posting a blog or two about my Guatemala adventure when I return, but in the meantime, you can follow my twitter account at @perpetualvoyage for some real-time photos and updates (wifi situation permitting, of course!)

Guatemala, here I come!

Have you been to Guatemala?  Is it on your list?  Any other (chill) things I should do while I’m there?