Traveling to Guatemala in Feb

Dizz

Hiyas I'll be travelling to Guatemala in Feb and I was wondering if anyone has been there before, has any tips, knows the best way to get there etc. Anything is appreciated

Dizz

drrnwbb

im trying to save up for money to go to guatemala in febuary aswell. tips appreciated too!.

dw

Dizz

Hmmmm - Helsinki, no vowels, sounds weird but you won't be by any chance saying hello to an architect there?

drrnwbb

hahaha indeed i would. just checked your profile out. you're going with the sis?. im at 20% chance of going, gotta save up!.

dw

Dizz

Yea things are tight here too but shag it - I'm going! Def. worth a few months of living on pot noodles!
Small place boards...
De sis reckons we'll need bout 1500 for a month but that would prob be a comfortable trip so going student stylee maybe 1200?

To others - there are now three people needing info - don't be shy!

drrnwbb

1500e in guatemala for a month and we'd live like kings id imagine. anyhoo, we wont be making a decision till december. doh.

i was thinking of going first to mexico city then getting to guatemala city by bus or something. but lis suggested otherwise saying it was too dangerous. so we'll have to go direct to guatemala id imagine, pretty expensive from here. but we'll see.

dw

JP Mulvano

Guatemala what a country, Fantastic place one of my favorite countries in Central America. Where to begin??

To get there you could fly into Cancun (Mexico) in the Yucatan peninsula and then basically take buses down into Guatemala down the Caribbean coast. Bus service is unbelievably good and soooooo cheap. Seriously you could travel in luxury from Panama to Southern US for less than €250 and see everything.

If you go this way you'll come thru the rain forests in the northern part of the country which are out of this world and you can also visit Flores and Tikal. I was always interested in ancient civilizations but you have to go see Tikal if you're going to Guatemala. Supposedly it was the capital of the ancient world. Oh and definitely pay the extra money and hire a guide for the real experience (best $10 I ever spent).

Guatemala City is pretty claustrophobic and cramped but then again so are most of the cities in Central America. But definitely worth the visit. If you want a beach retreat with some sun, sea and sand on the cheap Puerto Barrios is the place to go on the Caribbean coast.

A warning though don’t be fooled by maps. I swear so often I thought I'd be going to a big town/city only to be faced with a few shacks and telephone pole, hahaha. But it’s still all good.

People are extremely friendly and helpful, as soon as they realize you're not from America or Israeli (don’t ask). Most speak enough English to get by and even if they don't hand gestures and maps usually will work well enough. I'd advice getting an Irish flag and sticking it to you're rucksack as Irish and Dutch sound very similar in Spanish, just saves the confusion and the constant questions about Amsterdam and the like.

if you're thinking of heading to anymore cities/countries around there I'd advice staying well clear of Belize ( I f-ing hated the place but that’s just me ). Unless you're into diving where they supposedly have the best/cheapest diving in the world.

The whole Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is pretty good. And the western/pacific coast of Mexico is pretty good as well; San Cristobal and some other surf town I can’t remember are good places to hang out for a few relaxing days.

Money wise Guatemala is dirt cheap 1500 for a month would be more than enough. Hostels are like 2 to 5 dollars a night. food more or less the same.


Anyways enjoy the trip. AHH memories bringing them all back now. Damn I wish I was going back again.

PS I went August last year and it was damn hot, I don’t know what it would be like in February but try doing stuff early in the morning before the sun bakes you whole

bobbyjoe

Was there in August last year so can't comment on the weather in Feb.

But Go go for the love of God gooooooo.

Regarding Mexico if you start in Mexico City I'd head over to Mazunte on the west coast (cool beach place to hang out) there's another beach nearby called Zipolite even more chilled (if you know what I mean!!!) don't bother with Acupolco it's full of fat yanks and at least three times the cost of everywhere else. Only thing worth seeing there are the cliff divers.

The east coast has great beaches, I'd avoid Cancun it's Ibiza for American students and you might as well be in the US (also total rip off money wise).
Head to Tulum excellent beach and young crowd.

Crossed into Guatemala via San Christobal in Chiapas, go there it's a great place make sure to go to Chumula the weirdest town you'll ever see very interesting.

Tip: They don't change Mexican peso's in Banks in Guatemala and my atm card didn't work so get sorted before you cross the border or exchange cash with the guys at the border crossing, they'll find you, and gave a decent rate (you'll waste more time finding and changing your money elsewhere, make sure you know the rate but I found them fair)

Guatemala bus service consists of old American school buses (Simpsons style) their very cheap, not comfortable for long journeys but worth it because you see some amazing places and mix with the locals.
Very poor but very friendly and helpful.
Make sure the bus you get is "directo" otherwise you could end up making lots of changes. The touts at bus stations get a commission to get you on their bus so make sure its a direct route I found shouting Directo Directo then the name of the place worked!!

Here's some places I visited
Lake Atilan: Cool lake surrounded by volcano's get a boat out to one of the small towns around it. Went to San Pedro one of the smaller one's loads of places to get a quick spanish lesson well worth doing.
Go to Chichicastenango for the biggest market in central america

Antigua is a lovely city colonial style, tour the cathedral ruined by earthquakes, great food and drink. Hike the volcana great experience.

Definetly go to Tikal. The Mayan ruins in the rain forest are amazing climb up 50ft to the top of a pyramid amazing view. Go early and get a guide (well worth the money you'll miss loads of things on your own for the sake of a few quid) if you go early tell him you want to see some animals then the ruins, there's monkeys, wild turkeys, birds,mad looking things called Cahones, the odd puma if your really lucky.

Agree with JP about Belize passed through it didn't like the vibe (maybe I'm totaly wrong but thats what I thought).

Loved the place, found it to be safe, though you do see army patrols and cops with machine guns. Only go on organised hikes there are bandito's around.

If you buy any smoke along the way dump it before going to the next place, its cheap, you get loads and don't want to be caught with it. Buses get stoped and searched by army patrols.

Check out Honduras if you can, and if its still there!!!!

Man i wanna go now, feckin working for a living business!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the lonelyplanet websitte there's a board there called thorntree found it really useful when doing research for trip.

Attaching some photo's (if I can figure out how)

JP Mulvano

Sniff Sniff memories!!!

Tulum, that damn beach christ that was white on blue if ever I saw it.

Bobby joe did u cross into Guetamala at Bethel by any chance?? The oh so hazardous river crossing?? hahah legend of a border post. Little shack where you got your passport stamped!!

bobbyjoe

Bobby joe did u cross into Guetamala at Bethel by any chance

No, went through Chiapas first then Flores to Belize by bus.
The border crossing were gass though. Little mini bus to a shack then the money changers with the huge wads of cash.
Arrived late and had to wake up the customs guy, he was pissed off.

More Tulum pics for ya.