Guatemala Travel Forum

I am trying to decide where to stay in Guatemala - an agent is sending me info on hotels at Zone 10...but I also saw the Hotel Grand Tikal Futura which is at Zone 11 but looks very nice...any thoughts that might "jump" into your mind will be highly appreciated, JumpingNorman :)

I just need to know if a blanket will do in case I intent to go to jungle and climb some vulcanos or I am to take sleeping back as well.Is mosquito net useful? If anyone have some useful information about what to take.

I will be backpacking in Guatemala at the beginning of November and I was wondering how difficult it is going to be to get from Rio Dulce to Tikal by bus in a day. Time is tight and I want to stay in Tikal and I'm trying to avoid Chicken Buses as I am female and travelling alone.
I'd appreciate any tips you could give me.

Can anyone who's lately been to Antigua de Guatemala tell me what is the scene there these days - as far as touristic crowd/popularity index and cultural happenings are concerned - certainly the place becoming ever more discovered.

I'm considering a return trip to there this Fall and would like to know if the place has changed so much - lost all her backpacker's allure - and been turned into a major tourist destination.

Thanks in advance.

Im not quite sure but its possible to take overnight bus to Flores day before visit Tikal and after my visit to tikal take another overnight bus back to guatemala city.

Safety of the buses how safe are overnight bus from Guatemala City to Flores is one things i most concerned.

Hi,

We have an 8 hrs layover in the Guatemala city airport.

1. Does anyone know if there is (already) a place to leave our bags in the airport ? I saw some posts about this in 2007 that there is no such thing, but I'm wondering if anyone know how it is now.

2. Is the main plaza in Guatemala city close enough to the airport that we can get out of the airport during our layover and wander around ?


Thanks
Maria

Hi,

We are staying in Flores and would like to be in Tikal by sunrise. Is it possible to do this ? or is it only if we stay right outside of the Park ? I've read that the park opens at 6am - will we have enough time to climb, eg, Temple 4 and be on top by sunrise ?

I asked my hotel for the earliest transpo to Tikal and they told me, 7am. So now I am wondering if there are plenty of transportation options from Flores to get to Tikal for sunrise ? We prefer going by ourselves, but if it is better to go on a tour, we can do it as well and will just make sure we can get some time on our own to explore the place.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Maria

Our trip in tentativly for the 3rd week of January.
We are not really interested in staying in Guatemala City, plan to go to Antigua for a couple days. Would like to include Tikal....not sure where else as yet. Would like to keep it loose. Do you think we will have trouble getting a budget-moderate (clean, safe) place to stay without advance reservations?

This is our first out of the USA, except a all-inclusive in Mexico and a cruise (not a fan of either one).
Thanks,
Mary

We are a couple looking to volunteer in Guatemala from October (preferably farm/hotel work) but as yet are not Spanish speaking. We are hugely dissappointed that as yet we cannot find anywhere that accepts english-speakers only as it feels like a Catch-22 - we want to learn but need the opportunity to do so. Any advice would be welcome as so far we are heartbroken!

Hi,

I am due to be going on an organised group tour in a few weeks and it goes from Antigua up to Cancun, via Belize. Now, as this tour does a lot of the travelling by public transport then I am not sure whether to take my mini travel laptop with me ??

I've been doing a lot of research about chicken buses and similar, and while they most definitely sound like "fun", then I am just a bit concerned that I may have to leave my laptop unguarded - meaning I'd be worried that it could either get stolen or damaged.

The laptop is only a mini one (i.e. an Asus EEE netbook), but I would like to have it for the times when I get spare time on my travels to keep a diary and backup photos, surf the net, watch movies, etc.

I guess I'm just looking for any advice as to whether I am worrying too much or if I should definitely leave it at home...

Thanks in advance,
Darren

Hello!

I'm thinking about doing an organised trip to Guatemala, Belize and Yucatan. After reading the travel warnings of the German Department for Foreign Affairs I'm really suprised and unsure. Does anyone has any experience?

Second question, does anyone has done a trip with %L[http://www.gapadventures.com/]Gap Adventures%L* and if yes would you travel again with them?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Hi

Now that my volcano tour has been cut short for security reasons, I have 2 days to kill. I am planning on still doing Pacaya, but how can i fill 2 days around Antigua? Any places to see, or go to?

HI

I was booked todo a 3 day tour of Pacaya, Fuego and Acatenango next week.

However, I have been told by the tour company that F and A have had to be cancelled due to security concerns.

Is this right?

I don't want to put myself at risk, but if this is not a major issue, I could possibly find another tour company to take me up there?

What is going on there? Any ideas

I am try to find the name or phone number of the shop in the airport that sell the desiner sunglasses its in the departing area?

Is there any one out there that is planning on travelling within Guatemala from December 18 thrue January 9, 2009? Two girls from San Francisco, Cali. would like to meet up with others while there and do some sightseeing together.
-chao

I am considering a trip to Guatemala from around June27- July 7. I would have about 9 full days...

I was wondering if this time of year was good for visiting Guatemala? If we are flying roudtrip to Guatemala City can we go by bus to Tikal stopping along the way to see various other cities/ towns and then just fly back to Guatemala City from Flores?

Also- what would be the best way to spend our time. I think that 9 days would be a decent amount of time to explore Guatemala...

I want to thank everyone in advance for any comments & information!

Planning a trip to Guatemala in November '09 and would like to learn some Spanish. Has anyone taken the Travelling Classroom 4-week program offered by tranytur? (This involves lessons morning or afternoon and excursions throughout the country in four different areas: Antigua, Coban, Panajachel and Monterrico). Sounds like a great idea but can't find any reviews at all!

Can anyone please tell me some good hostels in Guatemala city as i cannot seem to find any on the internet. I would like cheap as possible and a good party vibe.

Thanks

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon. We already made arrangements to stay at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala and are researching the possibility of traveling to southern Belize for a few days to spend some time at the beach. We plan to rent a car and don't mind traveling on difficult roads across Guatemala; however, we don't know the best route. We would rather drive than fly. Does anyone have suggestions for the best roads to take to drive from Lake Atitlan to Belize or have any idea how many hours the trip would be? We appreciate any help!!

My Boyfriend and I are planning on visiting Tikal in July. So I am wondering, is it safer to take a guide to the ruins or is it ok to hoof it on your own? Are there a lot of trails, do they provide a map? Also, we may take my 7 yr old daughter.

Hi! I was originally planning a holiday to Belize but have now turned my attention to Guatemala and I'm not sure where to start with my planning. I would definitely like to visit Tikal and Antigua, and any suggestions of other places to see would be gratefully appreciated! My interests are broad - I like hiking, volcanoes, lively markets, anything a bit 'off the beaten track' and the Mayan ruins are of great interest to me. I'd also be interested in any caving activities, although, from what I've read, these seem to be possible mostly in Belize. Has anyone done any caving in Guatemala? How easy is it to get over the border to Belize?

Thanks in advance!

Does anyone know of a ferry or overland route between Livingston and the carribean coast of honduras without going the long way round? I can't find it in any travel literature.

Would you suggest a mosquito net if you were staying at hostels?

it was suggested to purchase cuban rum and cigars at the duty free at the airport. are you allowed to bring it back to the states or will it be confiscated?

Can anyone recommend any good spanish schools in antigua? I am interested in intermediate-advanced level class.

What are the best, cheap hostels to stay in in antigua?

Does anyone know the easiest way to take a bus from antigua to chiapas and if so how long does it take?

Thanks!

Hi.
Can anyone tell me what the best transportation would be to Central Square/Black Cat Antigua from La Aurora airport?

hi!

any recommendations on how one gets grom the guatemala city aurora airport, to san pedro?

i've read some vague mentionings of minibuses costing around $10. could someone please give me some more specific information?

can you get a mini bus to san pedro from the aurora airport?
if not, where in guatemala city do you have to go to get it?

what are the most recommended minibus companies?

i am a female travelling alone, i want to feel safe.

anybody familiar with don juan's minibus service? his website states that his bus seats 10 people, but he charges a flat rate of $125 per trip, no matter how many people are in the bus. does anyone know if this bus fills up?

i would greatly appreciate any advice!

thanks,

girl escaping chicago dreariness

After seeing Tikal, I was hoping to find something in the Peten or the Maya Biosphere reserve that is remote or off the beaten path. I'm considering a stay at the Scarlet Macaw Biological Station (a.k.a. Las Guacamayas Bio Station) but my Spanish is very limited at this time, so I'm not sure about that. Anyone been there?
Basically, I'd like to spend a couple days in the jungle viewing birds and other wildlife. Any other suggestions or thoughts?

I am going to be leading a group of 42 to Guatemala in July. I am working on some budget issues. I can't seem to figure out what it would cost for a 1/2 liter water bottle. I am going to buy 500-600 so I need to include it in my budget.
Thanks.

does anybody know what bus company travels from Guatemala City to Retalhuleu and possibly have contact info?