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Guatemala Travel Blogs

Background: The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.

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By Fran
October 12th 2008

Volcanoes and the Posh City...

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Antigua » Antigua

Terry on the roof of our hotel

Back to School in Antigua Our next stop in Guatemala was the colonial city of Antigua, really pretty place with cobbled streets and lots of fancy coffee shops and restaurants. Stopped here for a couple of days before we decided to take a week of Spanish classes, this place is apparently famous as a centre for learning Español and there are tons of schools around the town. Anyhows, we decided that it would probably be a good place to improve our pigeon-spanish so we signed up for 5 days of classes and we opted for the 'total immersion' approach by living [View Full Entry]

Street in Antigua - Volcan de Agua overlooking the city

By Sam and Shane
October 12th 2008

The search for Dr Roparta.....

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala

On the dive boast, Ultilia

Central America turned out to be full of drama for your Dynamic Duo. It started out like any of our adventures, full of food, maybe the odd tipple here and there, a bit of danger, before disaster struck twice. We commenced our Tour of Duty in Antigua, Guatemala. Coming from the rations of Cuba, Antigua was a City of Dreams. Easy on the eye and stomach which was our priority. While there, in direct disobedience with all OSH guidelines, we scaled a living Volcano in our sandels, and proceeded to dance around the flowing lava while toasting marhmallows to appease the [View Full Entry]

Antigua with one of the Volcanos in Background

By Brennan P
October 10th 2008

Onto the Back Nine

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Guatemala City

Some of the surrounding neighborhood
Just a few shots of the houses near by

Hey Everyone, Just this week I passed my half way mark here. Looking back I can confidently say that i have changed, physically and mentally. Physically i am definitely thinner than i was before i came. My pants aren't fitting like they did when i came and i have been tightening the belt every so often. But in my mind it's a healthy thin and i consider myself to be in the best shape of my life. Kinda hard not to be when i am on a diet of beans and rice with snacks like bananas (which is not exactly the [View Full Entry]

By Fran
October 8th 2008

Guatemala

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

Tikal at Daybreak

Well leaving the beach in Belize was hard but we had been there for over a week and it was definitely time to move on.. We headed for the Guatemalan border with Jeff (our canadian friend) via Belize city which is a bit dodge. Our first stop in Guatemala was Flores, which is a nice old town sitting out on a lake and reminded us a lot of the towns we visited in Croatia. We booked a trip for the next day to the ruins at Tikal with a scottish guy Stephen and his kiwi girlfriend Elise that we met on [View Full Entry]

By stewartgetslost
October 7th 2008

Going solo

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Chiquimula

Even though it's not long since I last scribbled here, I'm at a bit of a loose end this evening, so figured I'd bring you up to date with my goings on. It could be worse, I could be getting bored and breaking the Corby trouser press in the hotel room (one for the Alan Partridge fans amongst you there). After the photo disaster of my last entry, I won't be trying that again, my photos are on Facebook if you're interested. So, I'm currently in Chiquilma near the Guatemala/ El Salvador border. Tomorrow I take on my first ever border [View Full Entry]

By jacqaher
October 5th 2008

Xela Guatemala

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Quetzaltenango

Friends
Good people I have met here.

Where am I? I am in Xela or Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. It is my kinda town. A lively city with fun nightlife like salsa dance clubs, shops for all your needs and surrounded by mountains. The weather at the moment is pretty consistent. Sun in the morning and rain in the evening. Soon enough though the rain is going to stop and it is going to get really hot. My favourite part of the city though are the friends I have made, both Guatemalans and whites. I’ve been so lucky to fall into such a kind, caring group of people. So what [View Full Entry]

By Victor78
October 4th 2008

Tikal

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

Photo 15

My first port of call in Guatemala was a little town of Flores, which is an island on a picturesque lake in the north of the country. The reason for my visit was to visit the Mayan city of Tikal. [View Full Entry]

By jprau
October 2nd 2008

Chicken buses, volcanoes and glorious Moza

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala

Sign on entering a bar
Bit different from no shoes, no shirt, no service im used to!

Well some much needed catch up is needed on our last journey so hopefully i can complete our Guatemalan leg tonight! Now i have more free time as we finished our epic translating job.....epic because it was incredibly dull and long. The job was to translate a historical book based on local celebrations in the area.....sounded interesting until we discovered it was about repetitive post spanish intensely catholic 'parties'.....not exactly exciting....i learnt alot of things i have already thankfully forgotten and very glad to be finished. Anyway carrying on from last blog....we woke up brigh [View Full Entry]

By bcleite
September 30th 2008

Crazy histories at Guatemala!

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala

Tikal!

What a crazy country! We (me and more 7 backpackers that i met in random places from Tulum to Caye Caulker) entered in Guatemala from Benque Viejo del Carmen, East border with Belize, in September 12th and we had a crazy experience there! From the border we got the local transport to Flores, was maybe one of the longest rides ' till now, but woth it, we saved something like 15 US bucks, but was defenitly crazy! In Flores we went to a really nice dutch-runned hostel called Hostal Los Amigos, really nice atmosphere and good prices! Inside the hostel we [View Full Entry]

By Poupoune autour du monde
September 30th 2008

Tikal, a magic ancient world- Tikal, un ancien monde magique

Central America Caribbean » Guatemala

Temple I, Tikal

I left Belize to go back to Guatemala, for the last -but my no means the least- thing I wanted to visit there: the Mayan ruins of Tikal... At the border, the Guatemalan custom officer tried the old trick of telling me I had to pay, but I just answered that it wasn't true, given that I hadn't had to pay the first time I entered the country... To which she answered 'you only went out of the country last time' (I have no entry stamp for my 1st time in Guatemala, given that the one you get in Nicaragua is [View Full Entry]

Sunset over Lake Peten/ Coucher de soleil sur le Lac Peten

Big, ugly hairy spider/ Immense et laide araignee poilue

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Guatemala