A Month In Central America

Your best bet would be to fly into Belize City and out of Panama City. See Tica Bus for transport from Guate City onward. From Belize City, head to Flores to see Tikal on your way to Guate City. You seriously need a good Central American guide book to help you.

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I spent three months in Guatemala last year, and can make plenty of recommendations.

The ruins at Tikal are amazing--stay the night and get in early to get the whole place to yourself. While some people recommend paying a guide, I'd say do a little research for yourself beforehand and go it alone to avoid traveling with a large tour group.

Semuc Champey is a little out of the way, but also worth a visit. Stay at El Portal closest to the site and, especially if there's moonlight, walk up at night and ask the guards to go in after it closes.

There are some great places along the eastern shore near Rio Dulce, including an incredible encampment/hostel called Oasis Chiyu and a hot spring waterfall at finca paraiso.

While visiting the markets is always an experience, I wouldn't waste alot of time with them on a short stay unless you have a particular interest in buying textiles as souvenirs.

Antigua is the tourist capital of Guatemala--it's a beautiful place to eat and drink, but that's about it.

If your trying to see all of central america I would consider getting some flights internally as opposed to bussing the whole route. The mountains and poor road conditions make busrides slower going than the routes appear on a map. It was my original plan to travel from Guatemala to Panama during my 3 month stay, but I realized that with all that traveling I'd actually see much less.

I'd be happy to go into more detail if need be, let me know.

Dan Reply to this

I didn't fly when I was there. Everything I searched from the US was more than I wanted to pay (e.g. 250 us from guate to costa rica). You may very well be able to find flights when you're there for less, though I would consider consulting a more reliable source Than I about the safety and reliability of those flights. I have have heard that many of the CA based air carriers have fairly lax standards, though it never seems to be as bad as travel.state.gov and other slightly alarmist sites make it out to be.

If you end up bussing alot, as I'm sure you will either way, keep in mind that for longer trips it's often worth it to pay a little more for a first class bus. The chicken busses--always an experience--can get a little old on an eight hour ride. Reply to this

hi

i hve been living in Antigua for 6 months and have not seen everything that i want to see around antigua so you cant go wrong here. the ruins arent super great because,well, there ruined. at the same time there is the churches that are in really good shape concidering they werebuilt in the 1700's. also you should climb the volcano pacaya. there are really active lava flows and you can have a lot of fun throwing stuff in the lava. and just a little fyi, guatemala city is not beautifull at all so only go there if your flying out of there. also be sure to go to lake atitlan. the lake is surrounded by volcanoes is amazing and you can see some cool villages via boat

good luck

that kid in Guate Reply to this