Monthly Archive: February 2016

I fell hard for this small country tucked away in Central America (like many others before me).  I went to Guatemala with very few expectations, willing to open myself up to what I found there and let it surprise me.

And it did, in the best way possible.  I loved Guatemala.  I am now a convert, evangelizing to everyone I see that they must visit this astounding country for themselves.

So, what’s so incredible about Guatemala?  Why do I think everyone should be rushing to book a ticket there, and explore it from top to bottom?

I’ll be putting together some more detailed posts over the next few weeks about my time in Guatemala; what I saw, what I did, and what I ate (obviously).  For now, here are some of my first impressions of Guatemala, along with photos to illustrate its beauty and charm far better than my words ever could.

My First Impressions of Guatemala

• It’s Beautiful. This is the one observation that forces itself on you as you travel around Guatemala: it’s simply one of the most stunning locations I’ve ever experienced. It’s a visual feast.  I’ve seen incredible natural beauty in places like Italy, South Africa, Thailand, Greece, and Iceland, but I think Guatemala can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any of them.  Elaborate colonial architecture; yellow buildings reflecting the sun’s rays till they appear almost blinding; a lake ringed with volcanoes; water views perfectly framed with trees and flowers.  Yes, Guatemala is beautiful.  My photos don’t really do it justice; you have to see it for yourself to really understand.

• It’s Full of Friendly and Happy People. Obviously this is a broad generalization, but I don’t think I met a single person in Guatemala who was really unfriendly (well, maybe one or two boat captains, but I’ll overlook that), and the overall vibe of the places we visited was very friendly, welcoming, and happy.  As we traveled through small towns around Lake Atitlan, children would scamper up to us and say, “Hola!,” people would smile and nod at us in the streets, and everyone seemed to go out of their way to be helpful.  Moreover, I was very impressed by how generally happy the Guatemalans we encountered seemed to be; there’s a friendly, relaxed vibe in the country that I really appreciated.  Especially given the turmoil and sometimes horror of Guatemalan history as recently as a few decades ago, this warm, cheerful attitude from so many people we encountered really made an impression on me.

• It Helps A Lot to Speak Spanish (or have a friend who does). You can get by in Guatemala without any Spanish, at least for a few days, but it really does help to know at least a little.  I was incredibly fortunate to be traveling with a friend who had mastered the basics and spending lots of time with other friends who live in the country and are fluent Spanish speakers.  This not only helped us communicate more effectively, but opened up whole new worlds to us via their translation of conversations we would have otherwise missed.  Takeaway: I need to get myself to a Spanish class asap!

• The Food Isn’t Bad! I know this doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, but when we arrived in Guatemala, our friends immediately warned us that “the food’s not the thing here.”  Still, we had an outstanding dinner in Antigua (more details to come), I enjoyed a scrumptious cheesecake/brownie combination dessert in Panajachel, and the taco dinner our friends prepared with food from the local market was divine.  And I had avocado and/or guacamole at just about every meal.  I need to keep this tradition going; new life goal!

• Lake Atitlan is Stunning, but Not to Be Underestimated. Ah, Lake Atitlan.  When I try to describe the beauty of Guatemala, this is what I’m thinking of: this stunning, deep blue lake surrounded by volcanoes and framed with flowers.  It’s one of the most incredible landscapes I’ve ever had the privilege to see.  But, on our boat ride from Santiago to another town along the shore, we encountered rough winds and enormous swells while out on the sea in our small motorboat.  It wasn’t a fun ride (the longest forty minutes of my life, which featured people falling over backwards, getting hit by waves in the face, throwing up, and even crying).  I have never been more happy to step foot on dry land again as I was when I got off that boat.  However, all our other boat trips went relatively smoothly (at least in comparison), and there is something undeniably fun about bouncing over waves with a view of cloud-ringed volcanoes ahead of you.  Just be aware that, if you see whitecaps breaking on the water, it may be a rough ride.

At the end of the day, even bumpy boat rides couldn’t sour me on Guatemala.  I’ll tell you what I’m telling everyone else I encounter these days: go.  Go as soon as possible, and stay as long as you can.  You won’t regret it.

Have you been to Guatemala?  What did you think of it?  Is it a place you’d add to your travel plans?

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?