Blogs from Lanquín, Verapaz Region, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean
The Only Thing that Sucks About Travelling is the Travel Part
Published: March 2nd 2012Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
February 19th 2012
Since it's always a guess when I'll have a good internet connection down here and whether I'll actually be able to get a blog entry up, I've maintained a journal in which I've kept track of the trip and from that I plan to continue this blog online. That being said, the first line I wrote in my journal after arriving at our hostel in Lanquin may have been a little exaggerated, but was, “I'm pretty happy right now that I'm not dead, have not been robbed, nor assaulted in the last 24 hours.” The trip was my first experience of how variable Central American travel can be, and I have no doubt that there will be more like it and worse. Leaving San Pedro, we took an 8 am shuttle to Lanquin. In reality, our ... read more
Guatemala - Coban, Lanquin and Semuc Champey
Published: June 20th 2011Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
June 19th 2011
David here... The bus journey to Coban was surprisingly comfortable with not too many people on board, with a stop on the way where we had a very nice chicken sandwich. We arrived in Coban early in the afternoon and checked out a few hotels before staying at the Posada de Don Pedro which had clean enough rooms, shared bathrooms but a nice garden area to sit in. It was here that I noticed that the bag I use daily had been slit while we were traveling either from Guatemala City or the previous day when the buses we were on were particularly busy. Fortunately as the bag had our pac-safe in it, the slit they had made was too small for anything to be pulled out, so we lost nothing. After a quick patch up ... read more
Alta Verapaz
Published: February 22nd 2011Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
February 21st 2011
After two weeks on and around Lake Atitlan I was keen to continue my travels, I headed north into the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala which offers some of the finest examples of natural limestone features in the world, I have spent the past week either wallowing in tropical lagoons or exploring huge underground cave systems. Lanquìn and around A days travelling took me north to the small town of Lanquìn and were it not for the picture perfect Zephyr Lodge the place would hardly be worth a mention, perched atop a narrow ridge above a meandering river, the lodge is an idyllic backpacker retreat and affords amazing valley views from practically any hammock you chose to plonk yourself in. It was also an ideal jumping off spot for a day at Semuc Champey. I opted ... read more
Flores to Lanquin
Published: February 8th 2011Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
February 1st 2011
Slept in a bit today. Finished up the pics. Ate a couple of tacos in flour tortillas, which was different & goodbye Flores, with lighter backpacks after our expensive & heavy package was sent (primarily due to the conch shell Geoff found in Mexico on the beach). Tuk tuk'd to Santa Ilena & got to the bus station. Again, herded by 3-5 guys surrounding out tuk tuk. Geoff said, "guys let us at least get out, give us a minute." They backed up about 1/2 inch so that was nice. We were herded into the oficina where we were told it would cost us 300 Quetzal to get to the city of Coban & that bus didn't leave for 2 hours & wouldn't get us to Lanquin which is where we'd like to end up tonight ... read more
Lanquin, Semuc Champey & Tikal
Published: July 4th 2010Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
July 4th 2010
So we arrived at Lanquin after an interesting journey through the mountains on a gravel road after the paving ran out and the humidity just got higher and higher...by time we reached our hostel (El Retiro) we were ready for a swim. We booked a room and headed for the river at the bottom of the hostel to cool down. The hostel was great - a complete change to what we had been used to - cobañas with thatched roofs on stilts with hammocks outside - jungle around and a fast flowing river at the bottom - it was bliss! 10 mins after getting in the water we were asked if we fancied some tubing down the river...of course we did...it was exactly what was required! We jumped in the back of a truck with our ... read more
Not to waste a minute
Published: September 25th 2009Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
September 25th 2009
Keep on moving In Quetzaltenango I met a guy from Switzerland and we walked around the city the same afternoon. One of the most interesting places was the marked. With so many stalls with food, shoes and clothes. In the evening we met two English girls and we went to an Indian restaurant. I was surprised there even was one. The food was delicious and it was fun to talk about travelling. The next day I went by bus to Huehuetenango. Every time on the bus it is so much fun to look around what’s happening and look at the beautiful landscape passing by. Besides that it feels good to travel and to be on the move, not staying a minute to long at the same place. Being joyful in a rotten place When I arrived ... read more
Lanquin und Semuc Champey
Published: April 30th 2009Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
April 30th 2009
Nachdem wir uns nach langer Zeit von Antigua loesen konnten. Ist unsere Reise nach Lanquin weiter gegangen. Hier sind wir wieder in einem kleine Paradies gelandet. Gestern haben wir einen Ausflug nach Semuc Champey gemacht und dort eine Hoehle besichtigt. (fast) nur mit Kerzenlicht ausgeruestet sind wir gewatet, geklettert, gesprungen und haben die unglaubliche Hoehle erforscht. Am Nachmittag haben wir dann einen wunderschoenen Aussichtspunkt erklommen und uns danach das entspannende baden verdient. Morgen geht es voraussichtlich schon nach Rio dulce weiter. Fotos muessen noch etwas warten, werden dann aber um so toller...jippie... Die Schweinegrippe hat es noch nicht bis nach Guatemala geschafft....die (teils fraglichen) Informationen allerdings schon. Klar ist auf jeden Fall, dass ich meinen uebrigen Mexicanischen Pesos, welche ich gerne mit anderen Travellern getauscht haette, jetzt ... read more
Bartending in the Guatemalan Jungle
Published: April 25th 2009Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
April 24th 2009
What can I say about my time as a bartender/waitress in Lanquin? Well half the time I was sick with an intestinal infection and the other half was like being sick with an intestinal infection at a big party. El Retiro is a place of excess (think back towards the donkey playground in pinocchio), in which no social stigma is unaccounted. People tend not to sleep well at night and resting in the heat of the afternoon sun proves difficult. The combination of these factors led to a slightly tumultuous, at times physically, mentally and spiritually-trying, although not altogether terrible experience. And there were a lot of big bugs (i.e. put your hands out, palms facing you, fingers closed, palm-sides touching...and you're looking at the average size, yes average, of a local cave spider-in our ... read more
Too many sacrifices
Published: March 6th 2009Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » Lanquín
February 28th 2009
The transport links in Guatemala got a little more complex from Xela. The options were a two day six bus combo or a long day with Guatemala City bus changeover. Whilst not ecstatic about heading back through Guatemala City, Guate as the locals call it, it seemed the best choice to get to Coban. Between Guatemala City and San Salvador (El Salvador) it’s a close call as to which is the most dangerous Central American capital city. As we crossed Guate for the second time in a taxi to switch between bus depots it once again appeared calm and up together it was only the omnipresent security guards most sporting full army style gear and a large shot gun that suggested otherwise. Although in Central America the sight of this style of security has been far ... read more
El Retiro...the kind of place you could retire
Published: January 8th 2009Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Verapaz Region » LanquínJanuary 8th 2009
So after a stop over in Coban for a night, we made it to Lanquin yesterday around lunch time. I´ve never seen something so beautiful. We´re staying at a place called El Retiro...a field full of bamboo huts, a river right outside our door, and surrounded by mountains. Its so peaceful. We´re sleeping in a loft, so we have our own little private room. Its great. We went tubing yesterday down the river right from our hostel. It was about a 20min tube ride through the trees. It was so cool. Then we got to ride in the back of a pick up truck at the end to bring us back to our hostel. Katia´s dream come true...lol. We spent the afternoon playing cards, sitting in the sun with some beers...just fabulous. We had a huge ... read more
