My WordPress Website

Category: Central America

  • Our Ambergris Caye Restaurant Guide

    Our Ambergris Caye Restaurant Guide

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While Ambergris Caye is relatively small, there was no shortage of delicious food to eat while we were there. These were some of our favorite spots![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rain Restaurant & Roof Top Terrace – our first dinner stop was Rain, near the Grand Caribe Hotel, north of town. You’ll need a golf cart to get here, or you can contact them about a complimentary water taxi ride if you don’t have a golf cart during your trip. The big draw here are the sunsets you’ll catch (unfortunately the night we ate here there was not much sun) but the food was great as well! From bacon wrapped dates on top of pineapple, mussels and clams in champagne, coconut crusted shrimp and our favorite key lime pie of the trip (yes, we may have eaten key lime pie every night) everything was delicious. They also had cocktails, beer, and a great wine selection.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1016″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470795-aba98551-ed9d-9″ include=”1017,1018″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Elvi’s Kitchen – located right in town, this is another must while you’re in Ambergris Caye. While I am sure everything tastes great here I have to advise you – get the coconut curry! It was so delicious, definitely one of the best meals I had while there.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1035″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Blue Water Grill – located just south of town and right on the beach, this is a great spot for a nice dinner. While not originally planned, we ended up here for Toby’s birthday dinner. If you like sushi, make sure to visit on Tuesday or Thursday. Otherwise get yourself some dumplings, the scallops appetizer, the shrimp dynamite crusted snapper, and the mixed grill![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470811-b4e15985-90b2-5″ include=”1020,1021,1022″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Estel’s Dine by the Sea – we had a kitchen so spent most mornings cooking up our own bacon and eggs, but treated ourselves to one brunch at Estel’s. The menu is written on chalkboard, so figure out what you want to eat, order, and then take a seat and enjoy the ocean view. We had yummy shrimp and lobster omelets but whatever you get, you must order fry jacks! I probably don’t need these in my life every day but we need more restaurants to start serving them! Wash your breakfast down with a mimosa or two and enjoy your day![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1023″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”1024″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hidden Treasure – we, very unfortunately, did NOT get to try this restaurant while we were in town. I had made reservations for Toby’s birthday dinner (check out the photos – the place looks cool!) and we made the long drive from our hotel north of town to this southern part of the island to find they were closed for repairs! While upsetting, we luckily ended up having a great dinner at Blue Water, and when I emailed Hidden Treasure to share my disappointment they responded immediately and apologetically and send us a meat and cheese tray and bottle of wine that accompanied us to some deserted dock sunsets later that week.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1025″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Stella’s Smile – we noticed the sign for this wine bar on our many trips to and from town – located on the lagoon side, it made for the perfect sunset stop. We enjoyed a couple of glasses or wine, appetizers, and a beautiful sunset.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1026″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”1027″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]El Fogon – located close to the airport, be prepared to sit outside without much of an ocean breeze. However, that doesn’t mean the food isn’t great! Get yourself some Belizean Creole and enjoy![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506055470839-9b66d462-889e-7″ include=”1029,1030″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hungry Grouper – I always go between loving to research and leaving some things up to chance – on our last night we picked one of the higher rated restaurants on Tripadvisor and ended up at the Hungry Grouper on the lagoon side of town. It was a small, hot place, but they know what they are doing. We let the owner order for us – from jerk shrimp to blackened fish and dirty rice – I’m not sure you can go wrong here. Just remember to BRING CASH![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1028″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sandy Toes Beach Bar & Grill – located barely north of town, this little beach bar is an easy spot to spend a couple of hours at. With Adirondack chairs and inner tubes in the shallow water and yummy drinks and food for lunch, we enjoyed a nice afternoon here after Toby went diving.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1032″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One spot that we didn’t get to because it was closed for the season was the Truck Stop. Located north of town, the Truck Stop is a few different food options in shipping containers on the lagoon side – complete with a nice little dock to catch the sunset from. So, if you go, make sure you check it out and let us know what you think![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Aside from all of the eating we did, there are plenty of fun bars to visit while you’re there. From late nights at Jaguars to hermit crab races at Canucks, there is something for everyone on this little island.

    Read more about what we did on the island here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • 5 Perfect Days in Ambergris Caye

    5 Perfect Days in Ambergris Caye

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For this year’s annual birthday trip we decided to take a more relaxing route and chose to spend five perfect days in Belize. We absolutely fell in love with Ambergris Caye and have already been recommending it to everyone.

    As a disclaimer, we did go in early September, right before the slowest of the slow season, so we may not have gotten a taste for how crazy or busy the island can get at more popular times of the year, so keep that in mind![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On the first day, we arrive in Belize City on a flight from Atlanta. It sounds like most flights from the United States come from there or Houston. Their international airport is tiny, but has food options, a bar, rum tastings, and plenty of knick knack souvenirs to buy.

    We were through customs and waiting for our puddle jumper flight to Ambergris Caye in no time. There are two airlines that fly to the cayes – Tropic Air and Maya Island. We found cheaper rates on Maya (around $60 one way) and took the easy 15-minute flight over. You also have the option of taking a taxi ($25 – 30-minute ride) to the ferry (about $15 one way – 90-minute ride) but since we had limited time we opted for the slightly more expensive flight – plus the views from the plane are amazing.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707430-8fc4b35c-f942-9″ include=”995,1003,1004″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Where to Stay

    We used Chase Sapphire Reserve points and chose Belizean Shores Resort. We opted for this resort as it was a little smaller than some that came up in our search, but was still beach front with a great pool. We had a one-bedroom seaview condo during our stay. I can’t say enough about how amazing the staff was before and during our stay. Jose was always quick to respond to any questions we had along the way and offered to be as helpful as possible.

    The resort is located 3.5 miles north of town, so we ended up renting a golf cart for the length of our stay (the longer you rent a car the cheaper it gets!). They do have water and land taxis, but the water taxis are pretty infrequent and stop around 10 pm. To be able to go wherever you want, whenever you want, I’d highly recommend going the golf cart way.

    That being said, we did drive to town every day and night, so while I absolutely loved Belizean Shores, I think we would potentially opt to stay closer to town on our next trip – of course, if you have no desire to be anywhere near town then again, I can’t recommend Belizean Shores enough![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707439-a0eda903-b529-5″ include=”996,991″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What to Do

    Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley – there seems to be an endless amount of companies who run snorkel trips, but we settled on Chuck & Robbie’s and couldn’t have been happier with our experience. You can do this snorkel trip in a couple of hours so you have the option to choose the morning or afternoon trip. Their shop is located just north of town and if you’re staying outside of town they’ll also pick you up in their boat (for a fee). The snorkel spots are just a few minutes away from the dock and the marine life is absolutely amazing! Another spot (that we didn’t get to) is Mexico Rocks, a spot more recently turned into a marine reserve.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”997″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Scuba Dive – if you’re a diver, Belize is probably already on your list. The Blue Hole is probably on your bucket list. However, after some research and chatting with a few people, Toby decided to stick to diving the reefs right off shore than making the long (and expensive) trip to The Blue Hole. From what we heard there is almost no marine life, your a few hour boat ride away, and really, it’s just a bucket list dive.

    We had been so happy with Chuck & Robbie’s that Toby went back to them for a two tank reef dive – the diving is SO close that you actually spend your surface interval going back to the dock to grab your next tank (plus snacks!).

    If you don’t dive but are still interested in checking out The Blue Hole, there are snorkel trips, fly overs, and even skydiving. All of these activities come at a high price though – so just be prepared if it’s on your list![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Secret Beach – a long bumpy road, Secret Beach was worth a few hours in our opinion. There’s no seagrass here and a couple of little restaurant bars have popped up so you only have to come prepared with your sunscreen and bathing suit. I’m sure the sunsets are pretty amazing here as well but the drive back would be quite dark![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1006″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Day Trip to Caye Caulker – when we were initially planning our trip we were thinking about splitting our stay between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, or possibly just staying in Caye Caulker the entire time. Because Caye Caulker’s motto is “Go Slow” and we were already going to be in the throws of the slow season, we opted to just take a day trip and not spend the time switching hotels. I don’t regret the decision but I’d also love to spend a night or two on Caye Caulker next time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wander around the town, grab a delicious iced coffee (I cannot remember the name of this place but it was so good!), jump off the platform at the Split and grab a slushy drink at the Lazy Lizard, and get yourself over to Koko King. I could have lost a few days loving life at Koko King.[/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707451-201e3238-0fb8-5″ include=”993,990″][vc_single_image image=”1002″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Relax! Here were some of our favorite spots to grab a day drink:

    • Palapa Bar and Grill – grab a drink and hang out in an inner tube of the dock. Sometimes there is a live band (other times they just play all of my favorite country music songs) – just north of town (and just south of Chuck and Robbie’s!)
    • Sandy Toes – just a little bit north of Palapa, this bar has Adirondack chairs that you can sit in the shallow ocean while sipping on a drink – and inner tubes as well!
    • Amber Bar & Grill – if you’re looking for a little fun just south of town, Amber Bar & Grill is home to the El Diablo waterslide as well as some inflatable ocean toys – accompanied by delicious drinks on a bar over the water.

    [/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ gap=”10″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707460-b8351f58-3dad-6″ include=”998,1005″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Catch the sunset – the sun sets on the lagoon side of the island and while many bars and restaurants sit oceanfront, there are a handful that have docks over the lagoon – the perfect way to wind down your not-so-stressful day. Or, when it’s slow season and places are starting to close down, grab a bottle of wine or a couple of beers and find an empty dock all to yourself![/vc_column_text][vc_media_grid element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506053707466-925563ba-1b85-0″ include=”992,1001″][vc_single_image image=”999″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Fish – while we didn’t end up doing any fishing, there are a variety of fishing tours available and plenty of fish to be caught![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Party – one thing we weren’t totally expecting was the late night party scene here. While Caye Caulker is known to be more of a happy hour place, Ambergris Caye is pretty empty until people finish up dinners around 10 pm (or later). Of course, being the slow season there wasn’t a whole lot of craziness going on but you can still catch Hermit Crab Races at Crazy Canucks, the Chicken Drop (still sad we weren’t there on a Thursday), and enjoy cocktails at a variety of spots in town.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”994″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All in all, we absolutely loved our time in Ambergris Caye and would definitely come back.

    Check out our Restaurant Guide for Ambergris Caye for our foodie reviews of all of the delicious meals we had while we were there![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Stopping Through Santiago

    Stopping Through Santiago

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I fell in love with Buenos Aires in 2012, but hadn’t been back to South America since. Toby had spent 3 weeks mountaineering in Peru in 2011 – and we knew we were getting due for another trip down south. I had always assumed the next stop would be Rio, maybe somewhere in Colombia, until we scored $200 flights through an Orbitz error fare. We didn’t spend a whole lot of time in Santiago as we wanted to see as much of the country as possible (in a whopping 8 days) but we did manage to sneak in some great meals and sightseeing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Stay

    W Santiago – We used points for most of our trip to Chile, which landed us at the W for the first two nights we were there. The W definitely didn’t disappoint (I’m a sucker for hotel rooms with balconies) and most of the Starwood and Marriott hotels were in the same neighborhood (Las Condes). The neighborhood seemed to have some restaurants but seemed to be more of a business district so we did spend time ubering back and forth to other parts of town, like Bellavista.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”787″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hotel Loreto – an overnight layover seemed to be our only option between our time in Patagonia and the Atacama desert, so I chose somewhere that would be nice enough to sleep and shower in, and focused more on the neighborhood. We ended up having a 3-hour delay leaving Patagonia so I was even more pleased with my decision to not spend a large sum of money or points for about 6 hours in a room. The room was nice enough (small) and the location was great (and only about a block from the restaurant we had dinner reservations at). I’d recommend this hotel to anyone on a budget – after all, you’re probably spending most of your day out and about![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    Where to Eat (and Drink)

    Bocanariz – We landed in Santiago a bit before lunch time, so I was more than ready for some food (and wine) once we dropped our bags at the hotel. Bocanariz hit the spot. They had many different wine flights to choose from so we each ordered something different, and snacked on empanadas and their version of patatas bravas. It was also my first introduction to Chile being more expensive than Argentina.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”780″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Restaurant 040 – while I didn’t find many of our meals in Chile very inexpensive, Restaurant 040 was our splurge. We did a 10? 12? course tasting that was absolutely amazing. I mean everything. Was. So. Delicious. And worth every dollar. We booked in advance and were able to go to Room #9 (their speakeasy bar) after dinner. Even if you decide not to splurge for dinner, I recommend trying to check out Room #9 – I believe there is a new password every day, but the drinks and setting are amazing. The restaurant was located in the Bellavista area, so convenient to many other places.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”786″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sarita Colonia – located a block away from Hotel Loreto in the Bellavista neighborhood, this restaurant was full of quirky, strange things, and delicious food with a Peruvian flair. We ended up getting to our reservation an hour late (thanks to our 3-hour flight delay) but they were still able to sit us. I’ve heard that the roof deck is amazing but we didn’t have a chance to check it out.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”789″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Barrica 94 – this restaurant and wine bar is located in the area named Patio Bellavista. What that is is really a collection of all different types of restaurants (including a steakhouse called Montana that I found myself facing the entire time we were sipping on wine). The idea of the Patio isn’t really my style – I felt like I was in some sort of outdoor restaurant shopping mall, but I can understand why people go there and the wine (and steak) at Barrica 94 didn’t disappoint.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chipe Libre – Républica Independiente del Pisco – no trip to Chile is complete without taking in at least one (or many) Pisco Sours. I’m sure there are plenty of places to grab a great one, but we found ourselves enjoying our last of the trip at Chipe Libre – conveniently enough right next door to Bocanariz. The decor inside was great and they had a lovely outdoor patio as well. And of course, delicious empanadas to go along with your pisco. If you really want to get into pisco, they offer pisco flights there as well.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”791″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mercado Central de Santiago – I would NOT recommend going here if you hate fish. While you may find something to eat there that doesn’t come from the sea, the entire market is full of stalls selling all kinds of seafood so the smell is undeniable. We settled on Augusto’s, which seemed to be the largest place there, and enjoyed some King Crab and shrimp. It wasn’t anything to write home about, but the experience was at least worth a walk through.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”790″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    What to Do

    To be honest, we didn’t DO a whole lot in Santiago. We walked around the city, stopped for food and drinks along the way, and basically used the city as numerous long layovers.

    San Cristobal Hill – while there is probably a good chance you’ll have to wait in line for a bit, I decided it was worth it to take a funicular up to the top for great views of the apparently giant city we were exploring. You can hike to the top as well but it was a rather hot day when we were there so we opted for the lazy (but sort of fun) funicular ride.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”788″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_single_image image=”783″ img_size=”500x” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Plaza de Armas – this main square wasn’t too far from San Cristobal or the Mercado Central, and I’m glad I didn’t go well out of my way to see it. There were some pretty buildings but I felt the area was loud, congested, and made me want to run back to the peace of the Atacama desert.

    Buy Yarn! I had heard there was an entire street filled with yarn shops – and this is true. I hadn’t made a definite decision on whether I was going to buy an alpaca yarn, but when we stumbled upon the street leaving Mercado Central I felt like it was meant to be. Unfortunately, it was a lot hard to find Chilean alpaca wool than I would have thought, but I nabbed a few colors and shipped them off to my mom. Photos coming as soon as she finishes knitting me a scarf!

    All in all, I thought Santiago had enough to offer for a couple of nights. I see it more as a city people live in instead of visit (which must be why I know more people who have lived there for a few months or years at a time than visitors) but the proximity to beaches, mountains, and wineries is also amazing (reminds me of a place I might live in).

    Stay tuned to for posts on our day trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar and our time in the Atacama Desert.

    Check out our trip to Patagonia here![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Antigua on Election Day

    Antigua on Election Day

    4 Days in Guatemala – Part 2

    If you’ve read Part 1 of this story, you know we spent our first couple of days in Guatemala relaxing in Lake Atitlan.  On the afternoon of Day 3 of our 4-day adventure we arrived in Antigua.  Antigua is a small city surrounded by volcanoes about an hour away from Guatemala City.  It had been the colonial capital for 200 years before Guatemala City took the title.

    Where to Stay

    San Rafael Hotel – I felt like we splurged here (in terms of Guatemalan prices) but the hotel was perfect.  It was a small, beautiful boutique hotel a stone’s throw from the main road and the famous Santa Catalina Arch.

    IMG_4059

    What To Do & Where To Eat

    We spent the afternoon wandering the cobblestone streets and popping in and out of shops until we came upon a sign that read “On Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, and Monday 7th the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited due to elections.”  I was in disbelief.  Here we were halfway through our vacation and we wouldn’t be able to even enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.

    Tip: check and see if the country you’re traveling to is having an election and if that might affect your trip in any way.

    Fortunately, that didn’t stop us from enjoying an amazing meal. A good friend suggested Hector’s and it was incredible. If you find yourself in Antigua make sure you stop by there for dinner one night!

    Pacaya Volcano
    Pacaya Volcano

    On a positive note, the lack of alcohol made it easy to go to bed early and wake up at sunrise to hike Pacaya Volcano.  We went back and forth about the hike knowing that we wouldn’t be witnessing red flowing lava but then decided it would be worth the trip.

    It was a pretty good hike (you can ride a donkey up if you’d prefer) full of shade, but also plenty of time to stop and take in the gorgeous views. When we got near the top of the volcano you could start to feel the heat under the volcanic rock and we were able to toast marshmallows! Touristy, I know, but who doesn’t want a sugary reward after hiking up a volcano?

    Marshmallows on Pacaya Volcano
    Marshmallows on Pacaya Volcano

    After the hike, we had the afternoon to go visit the museum in Casa Santo Domingo.  We wandered through courtyards, underground crypts, and throughout the property until the rain started coming down and it was time for lunch.  The entire property is made of wood and stone and is relatively dark – the restaurant was no different except that parts of it were open to the outside.  We had a delicious (albeit expensive lunch) while torrential rain went on outside (and inside) the restaurant.

    As soon as the rain subsided we decided to trek up to Cerro de la Cruz – the large cross on top of a hill overlooking the city. A nice little walk and hike up if you’re looking for a little exercise or cars can drive to the top as well.

    Cerro de la Cruz
    Cerro de la Cruz

    Once our two hike day was complete, we made our way back to the hotel, stopping by a small store on the way home that let us buy that bottle of wine we had decided we so desperately needed.

    And that was that! After a relaxing last night in Guatemala, we were on our way back to LAX refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.  Maybe not being able to drink part of our vacation was a blessing in disguise!

  • Finding our Zen at Lake Atitlan

    Finding our Zen at Lake Atitlan

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

    4 Days in Guatemala – Part 1

    After giving up my seat on a work trip from Florida and spending the night in Atlanta, I was awarded a $700 credit from Delta – I just had to use it within a year.  Knowing I didn’t have a lot of vacation days to play with because I was already taking a week off to go to Iceland, I started looking up short, direct, affordable flights from LAX.  We landed on Guatemala.

    You may think 4 days in Guatemala is not enough – and trust me, if you want to see all the highlights, it’s not.  Guatemala is much bigger than you think and they don’t have the infrastructure like we do in the states.  We didn’t make it to Tikal or Semuc Champey, but we did spend 4 wonderful days at Lake Atitlan and in Antigua.

    We took a redeye from LAX and as soon as we landed in Guatemala City we hopped in a car and made the three-hour drive to Lake Atitlan.

    Tip: hiring a car to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan costs around $100 but I was able to lay down and nap for most of the trip so if the bus schedule doesn’t work with your flight times – it’s pricey but so worth it, especially if you have limited time.

    We had booked two nights at Hotel Atitlan.  It was perfect for us.  Lake Atitlan is made up of 7 villages – all with a slightly different vibe (and size).  Panajachel, or Pana, is the main village you arrive at and then you can opt to make a further drive to certain villages or hop in a boat to the village of your choice.  We like to have the option to go to different restaurants and check out nightlife so Hotel Atitlan offered us the best of both worlds – a 5-minute ride from the main streets of Pana but in one of the most peaceful settings I had ever been in.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”241″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We spent the afternoon by the pool before getting checked into our room and setting out towards town.  We stopped by Crossroads Café to drink and buy some delicious coffee and then ducked into bars as a torrential rain storm passed by.

    Tip: If you’re a coffee lover, take a few minutes out of your day and stop by Crossroads for some coffee and friendly conversation.

    That night was Toby’s birthday, so after an uneventful dinner, we discovered Circus Bar where I was able to score ice cream with a birthday candle and the live band sang Happy Birthday in English and Spanish.

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”224″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”225″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The next day we woke up early, had breakfast, and bargained with some of the men who handled boat trips before deciding we would visit San Juan La Laguna and San Pedro.  San Juan is known for their textiles while San Pedro is more of the backpacking town.  We wandered up and down their mountainous streets, taking in the scenery, food, and local beers.

    Church of St. Peter in San Pedro
    Church of St. Peter in San Pedro

    By early afternoon, the water was starting to get rough (this is common in the afternoon and was no joke) so we made our way back to our hotel to relax before another night at Circus Bar.

    The next day, before our drive to Antigua, we walked over to Atitlan Nature Reserve to check out some animals, butterflies, and a quick morning hike.  Not a must-do, but when it was in walking distance from our hotel it seemed like a great way to work off all of the Guatemalan food and beer.

    IMG_4080

    Be sure to check in for part two and find out what a Guatemalan presidential election is like.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]