Guatemala Mini Guide

As we made our way through Central America, the volcanic landscape and colonial towns remained consistent but the number of lively cities and Mayan ruins increased in prevalence. Our first stop was Antigua, an impressive city formerly the capital and therefore boasts a number of colonial relics, colourful facades and volcanic backdrops.

Antigua was my favourite city in Central America, with its pastel coloured houses, cobbled streets and churches around every corner. It is the kind of place where you will find modern cafes serving up smoothie bowls for breakfast, and bustling local canteens crammed with budget travellers and locals come lunch time. It is a hugely lively city due to the high number of language schools that bring in travellers from all over the world and with that, a huge nightlife and backpacker scene.

After Antigua we spent a couple of nights on Lake Aticlan, an incredibly beautiful place but unfortunately rainy season took over and it poured with rain for the duration of my stay. I didn't manage to photograph anything but it is essentially a huge lake surrounded by impressive volcanoes.

Our next location was Rio Dulce, a small town on Lake Izabel and a port for boaters around the world due to its excellent access to the caribbean. We stayed at the eco-lodge called Hacienda Tijax with cabins positioned on the shore of the lake within dense jungle and mangroves. I think I shared a room with the biggest spider I have ever seen and was eaten alive by mosquitos and other various insects... However it is a fantastic place to immerse yourself in nature, take a jungle hike and go canoeing.

The next top in Guatemala was Flores, a picturesque town on the beautiful Lake Peten Itza. We went on a sunset boat trip around the lake before setting off early for a trip to the infamous Mayan Ruins of Tikal.

In the heart of the Guatemalan jungle lies one of the most impressive sites of the Mayan civilisation. The ruin site is expansive and full of various different temples that look straight out of an India Jones set and have actually been used as a backdrop in Star Wars!

Tikal is one of those places that should be on everyones bucket list and even though I still can't get my head around all the little details of Mayan civilisation, it is still a place you can whole-heartedly appreciate, especially as it's in such an otherworldly setting. 

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Much love,
Lizzie xx

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