Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz 
Eating well at Lake Atitlán takes more planning than it looks. These are the restaurants I actually recommend around the lake, from local kitchens and longtime favorites to meals worth crossing the water for.
Patín is a Tz’utujil dish from Lake Atitlán most people outside Guatemala have never heard of, small fish and a thick tomato-chile recado wrapped in maxán leaves. Here’s the traditional recipe, its history in Santiago Atitlán, and where to try it today.
Looking for gluten-free restaurants in Antigua Guatemala? Here’s where to eat safely, from clearly labeled GF menus to the traditional dishes worth asking about, plus pizza, pasta, pancakes, hotels, and bakeries.
Discover where to eat the best tamales in Guatemala, from tamales colorados in Guatemala City and Antigua to paches in Xela and tamalitos in Cobán and Lake Atitlán. This local guide includes trusted restaurants, markets, regional specialties, and tips for ordering.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend places and services I have personally used or vetted. Antigua Guatemala wedding venues split into two categories that could not be more different … Read more
This 2 week Guatemala itinerary is for travelers who want to see Guatemala with enough time to actually enjoy it, not just rush from Antigua to Lake Atitlán to Tikal and call it done. In this article I’m sharing the exact 14-day route I would recommend to a friend who wants volcano views, Maya culture, … Read more
Livingston, Guatemala is a boat-access Caribbean town in Izabal, where the Río Dulce meets the sea and Garífuna culture is part of everyday life. This Livingston travel guide covers how to get there from Río Dulce or Puerto Barrios, what the boat ride is like, what to do in town, where to eat tapado, whether … Read more
Yes, there are manatees in Guatemala, but the best way to plan a manatee trip here is not to think of it as a guaranteed wildlife sighting. Think of it as a quiet boat trip through some of Guatemala’s most fragile and beautiful Caribbean wetlands, with the chance of seeing an Antillean manatee if the … Read more
Reserva Natural Cañón Seacacar is a nature reserve near El Estor, Izabal, where you can hike through the Sierra de Santa Cruz, float down the Río Sauce on a tubing tour, and visit natural pools and miradores. You can also explore a ceremonial cave, take a cayuco route from Tío Polo, and stay overnight in simple cabins, dorms, or camping areas. This guide covers what to do at Cañón Seacacar, how to get there, what it costs, where to stay, and how this community tourism project supports education and conservation in Seacacar.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend places and services I have personally used or vetted. Castillo de San Felipe de Lara is a Spanish colonial fort on Río Dulce, … Read more
