A cacao ceremony at Lake Atitlán sounds, from the outside, like an extraordinary thing. Sacred plant medicine. Heart-opening ritual. Ancestral Mayan wisdom. And the lake — well, the lake provides a setting that makes almost anything feel spiritual. I understand why thousands of travelers arrive at Atitlán every year specifically hoping to experience one. What … Read more
The temazcal has been part of life in Guatemala for as long as anyone in my family can remember. Not as a wellness amenity. Not as a spiritual tourism offering. As something you went to when your body needed to be cleaned out, when a woman was recovering from childbirth, when someone came back from … Read more
Mayan ceremonies in Guatemala are not a travel trend. They are the living spiritual heartbeat of my country; traditions that have survived colonial suppression, forced conversion, and five centuries of outside pressure, and are still practiced today by communities across the highlands, the lake shores, the cloud forests, and the jungles of Petén. I am … Read more
Planning 7 days in Guatemala and tired of seeing the same recycled itinerary everywhere you look? This is the Guatemala 7-day itinerary you actually need; one that goes beyond the obvious stops, tells you honestly what to skip, and gives you the hidden gems, unique stays, and real experiences that most visitors never find.
If you are traveling to Guatemala in February or March 2026, you are arriving during one of the most culturally and spiritually rich times of the year, and most visitors have no idea. Everyone plans for Semana Santa. But Cuaresma, the 40-day Lenten season that begins on Ash Wednesday February 18 and runs through March … Read more
If you are planning Holy Week in Guatemala and trying to decide where to go, Semana Santa at Lake Atitlán offers something that no other destination in the country can match: twelve indigenous villages, each with its own Holy Week traditions, spread around one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. While most travelers … Read more
Maximón is Guatemala’s most mysterious and misunderstood spiritual figure, and possibly the most fascinating thing you will encounter in the entire country. He is a wooden deity who sits in a smoke-filled room accepting offerings of cigars and liquor, and he will grant petitions that no Catholic saint would touch. Want revenge on someone who … Read more
This is a complete, day by day guide to Semana Santa in Santiago Atitlán: what happens, when it happens, and how to actually understand what you’re looking at while you’re there. If you’re planning Holy Week in Guatemala and weighing Antigua against Lake Atitlán, this is the guide for the lake side of that decision. … Read more
If you’re looking for one of the most unique experiences in Guatemala for nature and adventure lovers, rappelling in Guatemala at Finca El Barretal is it. This is the kind of exciting, once in a lifetime experience that makes travel unforgettable. El Barretal is a Guatemalan hidden gem. It is not touristy, and it is … Read more
Every July, the streets of Antigua come alive with music, flowers, fireworks, and faith during the Fiestas Patronales de Antigua Guatemala. If you happen to be in town around July 25th, you’re in for a special treat, this is one of the most heartfelt patron saint celebrations in Antigua Guatemala, honoring Santiago Apóstol, the city’s … Read more
