‘Guatemala’

One of the advantages to having a guide book is not so much what is written, but what is not written. When I find a place that has only a few lines written about it I’ll usually take note as I know that place is not going to be overrun with other travelers. Fuentas Georginas is one of those places. Located 221  KMs from Guatemala City and roughly 20 KMs from Quetzaltenango (Xela) these idyllic hot springs were well worth the effort to get to. If you’re taking Spanish classes and want a weekend away, as we did, or are just passing through and want to take a warm dip then this is a great little detour. Read the rest of this entry »

Located an hour south of Flores is the town of Poptun, an uneventful stop if not for the Finca Ixobel located on the outskirts of town. If you’ve been on the road for months or have just started traveling the Finca Ixobel is a great place to relax for a few days or even a few weeks. There are plenty of activities to keep you busy or you can just hang out by the pond. There are accommodations for every price range, from slinging a hammock in a palapa to renting a self contained house or you can volunteer and have your food and shelter covered for a few weeks. The Finca really does have it all for the budget traveler and it has to be my favorite place to wind down and get off the road. Read the rest of this entry »

Located in the Peten jungle of Northern Guatemala are the impressive and expansive Mayan ruins of Tikal. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site, it was one of the largest Mayan cities in the pre-Columbian Mayan realm and the site was used as a rebel base in Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Apart from ruins you will also have the opportunity to see plenty of jungle wildlife at Tikal including Howler Monkeys, Coatimundi and Scarlet Macaws. The Tikal ruins are a worthwhile side trip if you only have a day and even better if you can spare a few.

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