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The ultimate Guatemala Guide
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Guatemala City
Hotels
Close to the airport:
Hotel La Inmaculada
In and Out Hotel
Higher end/ with pools/good for families staying more than one quick night:
Hotel Tikal Futura
Hyatt Centric
Restaurants
Guatemalan:
Restaurante El Pepian
Casa Escobar (Best steak you'll ever have)
Pollo Campero -> I know we suggest no chains, but this is the exception.. if you're in Guatemala, you kinda gotta try their version of KFC or Popeyes. (One of the few places with play areas for kids if you need a break.)
Activities:
-The Guatemala City Zoo (IT'S HUGE!)
-Walking "La Sexta", (Paseo de la sexta) Closed to cars for pedestrians. Nice shops, street performances, good food. Leads right to the Plaza Central in Zona 1. Worth the visit during the day. However, not advisable to stray far off this street while in Zona 1 and in the Main Square after dark.
-Oakland Mall and Centro Comercial Miraflores: Not "Guatemalan" but impressive and nicest malls you may ever see.
Museum at Centro Comercial Miraflores
La Antigua
Hotels
Close to Plaza Central:
Hotel La Aurora (Our fave)
Las Camelias Inn
Hotel Genesis
Econo option: Posada Burkhard (Family-run little place for less than $50/night.)
High end/ with pools
Santo Domingo
Posada Don Rodrigo
El Camino Real
Restaurants
Antigua is FULL of great places to eat, you almost can't go wrong!
Guatemalan:
Hotel Posada Don Rodrigo's restaurant has a Caldo de Res (Beef soup) worth the trip!
The Market Comedor.
Casa Escobar ( Also in Antigua, best steak you'll ever have)
Tacos:
Tacool (Mexican)
Madre Tierra (Guatemalan)
Street Food at night at La Merced Church
COFFEE AND PASTRIES
El Viejo Cafe (Highly recommended!!)
Activities:
-Most Iconic
Acatenango Hike
We recommend Ox Expeditions.
Valhalla Macademia Farm Tour (No booking needed)
Visit the Mercado Central, get lost in there!!!
Great with kids:
Visit the Monasterio de Hermano San Pedro
(Great outdoor ruins for playing hide and seek and running around the grass, big courtyard and artisan market)
Feeding pigeons at the main square.
Hike to the Cross Lookout point.
(Mirador de La Cruz)
Lake Atitlan
We recommend staying in San Juan at Hotel Tijax (with us!)
Or San Pedro at our guest house (also with us!)
If you are staying in Santiago 100% stay at Hotel Bambu, it's a paradise.
Restaurants
Panajachel:
Hotel Posada Don Rodrigo's kitchen is amazing and recommended at this location as well.
San Marcos:
Circles Bakery
San Juan:
Comedor Hernández
Comedor Elenita
Taconvos
Street food!
San Pedro:
Idea Connection and Du Mondi (Coffee and Bakery)
Bistro Isabella (Handmade pasta)
Cafe Orbe
Pita Sabij (Handmade fresh falafel)
Buy fresh-squeezed orange juice on the street!
Santiago:
Hotel Bambu's restaurant is world-class.
We have a whole page of its own for local activities on Lake Atitlán. Have a look, and we'll be happy to set any of these up for you!
Chichicastenango
We recommend staying at Hotel El Molino Viejo:
(This is the gem that makes the market experience so much better)
A wonderful Hacienda with donkeys and farm animals, a playground and breakfast included.
If visiting the famous Chichicastenango Market, keep in mind it runs on Thursdays and Sundays.
Arrive at El Molino Viejo the day prior, stay overnight and visit the market the next day.
This is a BEAUTIFUL property and includes breakfast. One-night stay (per person) just 225Q.
If you are staying in Santiago, 100% stay at Hotel Bambu, it's a paradise.
Restaurants
We recommend just eating at El Molino Viejo's Restaurant and enjoying some fresh fruit from the vendors at the market.
Enjoy the MASSIVE market!
Many of you have seen that very special place where we take our guests for a Sunrise hike and a campfire pancake breakfast overlooking the whole of Lake Atitlán and its three volcanoes. This is The Mirador Chuich ok'ok' close to the Nariz del Indio mountain peak.
(You can rent tents and camp here as well to wake up with this view!)
Fuentes Georginas
Quite possibly one of our favourite places in the world.
This remote hot spring is found up in the mountains, 50 minutes South of Xela (Quetzaltenango)
HOT TIP: Use our recommended transportation (at the bottom), as getting there can be a nightmare. Buses don't go all the way, and you will need to hitch a ride with a local farm truck or catch an expensive cab from the highway up if you don't have pre-arranged private transport.
THE SCOOP:
This location has cabins you can rent up in the mountains that have rock or brick tubs you can fill with the hot spring water to enjoy in the privacy of your cabin! The fireplace at night keeps the cabin cozy. The main pools outside are also incredible.
BIG DIFFERENCE:
Book only Monday-Thursday
The weekends are a ZOO!
Also: Bring your own dry firewood. (We can hook you up if you're using Jaime's transport service) The bundles they sell are usually wet, overpriced and hard to keep lit!
You also need to pay by Banrural bank transfer in advance! (We can help)
ALL THESE TRICKY DETAILS ARE 10000% WORTH IT!
There is SO much more to see and do, time usually limits guests, and they end up needing to come 2-3 more times to get through their bucket lists!
If you are a hiker and would like to consider the three-day Quetzaltrekker's tour, this hike runs all the way from Quetzaltenango to Lake Atitlan! Check them out here:
Transportation
Airport Pickups and Guatemala wide transport:
Jaime Navichoc
Our friend and ally!
We recommend Jaime for his service, punctuality, fair prices and patience.
Whatsapp: +502-4232-6788
Car and Shuttle!
Trips from Guatemala City to Antigua:
Oscar Perez
Please support this awesome driver! We love him and have worked closely with him since we arrived in Guatemala!
Car: 3-4 people max.
WhatsApp: +502-5757-7837
Cultural Immersion Retreats