Despite warnings of violent crime and terrifying conditions, I booked a trip to Guatemala — and loved it! Not only did I find the country to be safe for travel, but also full of memorable experiences and natural beauty that could be explored on a budget. Want to know more? Here are 10 reasons why Guatemala should be your next trip.
1. It’s Safer Than You Think
Obviously this will depend where you go — Guatemala City in particular is avoided by most tourists due to its high rate of violent crime; however, traveling through areas like Lake Atitlan, Antigua, Tikal and the Earth Lodge allow for a memorable Guatemalan experience without the worry. Of course, no matter where you go in the world you should always exercise caution. For some ideas, check out 17 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers (much of this is also applicable for non-solo travelers, as well).
This delicious and satisfying meal cost only $3.75 USD.
2. It’s Affordable
For most western travelers, Guatemala’s exchange rate allows for an extremely budget-friendly vacation. Think dinner and a beer for about $6, hostel dorms from $3, private rooms for $13 and popular tours like Hiking India’s Nose and Pacaya Volcano for $13 including transportation and guide. Even if you splurge for a hotel for $20-$30 a night you’ll typically also receive free breakfast, wifi and drinking water, as well.
Pepian de Pollo, Guatemala’s national dish
3. The Food
Barbecued meats, hearty dips, freshly-made tortillas and Mayan staples like chilies, corn and beans are the focus of Guatemalan cuisine. While for the most part the whole country is budget-friendly, one tip is to look for the restaurants offering set menus where you can have a soup, meat, rice, vegetables and guacamole for about $4. The national dish is Pepian, a hearty stew with slow-cooked meats, vegetables and chunks of potatoes accompanied with a side of rice. No matter what you order, make sure to pair it with a local Gallo beer or Quetzelteca rum (or Zacapa if you want to splurge!).
Watching the sunrise over Indian’s Nose was truly surreal
4. The Hiking
With a landscape dominated by volcanoes and mountains there’s no shortage of scenic and challenging hikes to enjoy. My favorite trekking experience in Guatemala was a sunrise hike up Indian’s Nose from San Pedro. The steep uphill 45-minute hike — and the early 4am meeting time — is worth the effort as you sit above a blanket of clouds hovering over the emerald green Lake Atitlan, watching hot pinks, oranges, yellows and purples streaking the sky and mixing with black clouds over San Pedro Volcano.
Photo taken while laying in bed in my treehouse accommodation at Earth Lodge
5. The Views
Whether you’re driving down the highway or lounging at Zoola’s pool on Lake Atitlan Guatemala has no shortage of striking natural views. My favorite view was from the treehouse of the above-mentioned Earth Lodge, where from my comfortable bed and private patio hammock I enjoyed clear aerial views of Ciudad Viejo, Hocatanengo Village, and the volcanoes of Agua, Acatango and the active Fuego. Gliding vultures that appear close enough to touch enhance the visual.
Woman weaving on Lake Atitlan’s Santa Catarina
6. The Locals
For the most part, Guatemalans — especially in areas where tourism is the bread and butter of the economy — are very friendly and receptive to visitors. This allows you to not just interact with locals and get to know the culture, but also practice your Spanish. Tip: Guatemala is full of language schools, and you might want to consider taking a course during your trip.
Earth Lodge is a great place to just relax, meditate and enjoy the view
7. Budget-Friendly Holistic Offerings
Guatemala seems to attract a very hippie-style traveler, and you’ll find many lodges and venues offering yoga, delicious vegan meals, permaculture classes, massages and other holistic health and wellness offerings for very cheap. My personal favorite holistic offering was staying at the secluded Earth Lodge near Antigua, located up in the mountains and not accessible by car. Their most expensive accommodation is the Treehouse for $35 a night, totally worth the splurge to wake up to unobstructed views of the surrounding volcanoes. The property is located on a farm, and meals incorporate ingredients sourced onsite and from the market in Antigua. Enjoy complimentary morning yoga, a dry sauna, sports offerings like badminton and volleyball, scenic hiking and just lounging in hammocks with a Guatemalan Gallo beer and enjoying the natural beauty around you.
Yummy chocolates at Antigua’s ChocoMuseo
8. The Chocolate
Guatemala is one of the world’s richest cocoa-growing countries. In fact, chocolate is said to have originated in Guatemala, used by the Mayans who worshiped the cacao tree and called chocolate the “food of the gods.” While you can find chocolate all over Guatemala, Antigua is particularly interesting for chocoholics. Not only are there chocolate shops on every corner, but this is where you’ll find the ChocoMuseo, a museum and cafe offering free samples of fine chocolate, chocolate-making classes, chocolate fondues and drinks, and interesting displays talking about the history and culture of chocolate in Guatemala.
Coffee cherries abound in Guatemala’s many coffee plantations, many of which visitors can tour
9. The Coffee
Coffee production in Guatemala began in the 1850s, and today the country is one of the world’s leading coffee producers. In order to keep quality high, Anacafe (Asociacion Nacional del Cafe) was established to represent all of Guatemala’s coffee producers. The group helped establish the eight different coffee zones in the country and its “Rainbow of Choices.” No matter where you are in Guatemala spend some time in a local cafe people watching and sipping this elite java, or book a coffee plantation tour to learn more about the crop firsthand.
One of the many beautiful street views in Antigua
10. The Beauty Of Antigua
Forget for a second that Antigua is overrun with tourists and language students and think about the bigger picture. You’ll walk down cobbled streets, weaving in and out of weathered colonial buildings in pinks, purples, blues, greens, yellows — some with a rainbow speckled exterior. Relaxed plazas and parks abound, as do dramatic arched structures, ruins and cathedrals. Here you’ll find more trendy restaurants, bars and cafes than in other places, and tourist attractions like the ChocoMuseo, Catedral de Santiago and free salsa lessons everyday at 5pm at Salsa con Gloria y Moi Dance Academy enhance the experience. Bonus: Antigua’s location near numerous volcanoes — some of which include Agua, Acatenango, Fuego and Pacaya — allows for some adventurous day trips.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
