The Acatenango hike is the volcano experience almost every visitor to Guatemala asks me about, usually right after seeing a video of Fuego erupting in the dark and wondering if that could actually be them standing there. It can be. But the real hike is harder, colder, dustier, muddier, and more complicated than most short … Read more
The biggest Guatemala itinerary mistake first-time travelers make isn’t choosing the wrong places. It’s choosing the wrong order. Guatemala looks compact on a map. Most people see it and assume the distances are manageable, the roads are straightforward, and the transfers are quick. Then they land, follow the standard route every blog recommends, and spend … Read more
October is one of those months travelers often skip when planning a trip to Guatemala. It sits at the end of rainy season, right before November starts to dry out, and it does not have the obvious name recognition of Semana Santa, Independence Day, or the giant kites. But October has its own quiet appeal: … Read more
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. If you are thinking about visiting Guatemala in September, you need to know two … Read more
If you are thinking about visiting Guatemala in December, you are looking at one of the clearest, driest, coldest, busiest, and most festive months of the year. December is when Antigua glows with Christmas lights, Quema del Diablo opens the holiday season, Ciudad Vieja fills with the Danza de los 24 Diablos, Chichicastenango celebrates Santo … Read more
If you are thinking about visiting Guatemala in June, you are looking at the start of rainy season, the moment when the country begins turning green again, and a calendar full of local traditions most visitors never hear about. Guatemala in June does not have the huge international-name festivals of Semana Santa or December, but … Read more
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. If you are thinking about visiting Guatemala in November, you are looking at one … Read more
If you are thinking about visiting Guatemala in July, this guide will help you understand what the month is really like beyond the usual rainy season warnings. Yes, Guatemala in July falls during rainy season, but it is also one of the greenest, most culturally rich months of the year. Antigua celebrates Santiago Apóstol, Santiago … Read more
Community tourism in Guatemala means experiences that are designed, run, and owned by the communities themselves: the coffee tour led by the farmer who grew the coffee, the weaving class taught by the cooperative that owns the workshop, the restaurant where your lunch pays for a town’s nutrition program. This guide is my list of … Read more
Responsible travel in Guatemala starts with knowing what your visit costs and what it can give back. This guide covers what ethical travel actually looks like here: what’s happening on the volcanoes, how tourism is changing the Maya communities around Lake Atitlán, how to tell real ceremonies from commercial packages, where to stay and shop … Read more
