Things to do in Guatemala
-
A
Academia de Español Antigueña
A highly recommended school, only hiring experienced teachers. They can arrange volunteer work in hospitals for social workers, lab assistants and child care workers on request. Also supports an educational project in San Antonio Aguas Calientes.
reviewed
-
Volunteering in Quetzaltenango
The Quetzaltenango area has many nonprofit organizations working on social projects with the local K'iche' Maya people and others that need volunteers. Volunteer jobs can range from teaching math to village children, to designing websites for indigenous organizations, to developing sustainable agriculture, to medical work in clinics, to working in orphanages for disabled children. For anyone in a giving frame of mind, the possibilities are endless.
You can volunteer part time for a week or two while also studying Spanish, or you can live and work in a close-knit indigenous village for a year. Obviously, the more Spanish you speak the better, but in a few weeks at one of…
reviewed
-
Buddha Bar
An excellent place to hang out - downstairs there's a pool table, upstairs a restaurant doing convincing versions of Thai, Indian and other Asian dishes.
reviewed
-
B
Utatlán Spanish School
One of the town's many language schools. Described as young and energetic with plenty of parties and activities.
reviewed
-
Cooperativa Spanish School
Run as a cooperative (therefore guaranteeing fair wages for teachers), Cooperativa Spanish School comes highly recommended. A percentage of profits goes to needy families around the lake. After-school activities include videos, conferences, salsa classes, volunteer work, kayaking and hiking. The office is halfway along the path between the two docks.
reviewed
-
C
Traveler Menu
Not nearly as unimaginative as the name would imply, this little bar-restaurant serves up big portions of food that you may have been craving (chow mein, curry etc) in an intimate candlelit environment.
reviewed
-
D'Noz
This is upstairs above Nick's and is another popular hangout - it's about as close as San Pedro gets to a cultural center, with a global menu, free movies, a big bar, board games and a lending library.
reviewed
-
Chile's
Chile's deck overlooking the Pana dock and lake will always be a popular option. The party starts later here, too, with free salsa classes and dance music through the week.
reviewed
-
D
Kaqchikel Tours
Kaqchikel Tours is a well-run, locally owned outfit specializing in volcano ascents and other great-value hikes, with camping along the way on some trips. Two-day Tajumulco trips cost around US$40. Kaqchikel also offers full-moon ascents of Santa María (around US$15) and challenging two-day Santiaguito trips (around US$66 with a minimum group size of four), camping on a small hill as close as is safely possible to the active crater.
A three-day Quetzaltenango-Lago de Atitlán trek is around US$70, and a five-day Nebaj-Todos Santos jaunt across the Cuchumatanes mountains is around US$130. Prices include transportation, food, equipment and a guide.
reviewed
-
Chichi Market
Guatemala's largest and most colorful indigenous market, the twice-weekly Chichi market attracts traders from highland villages for miles around. Stalls and blankets are set up on the plaza and the streets around it. As well as essentials like fruit, vegetables, clothing and spices, you can search for handicrafts such as textiles, masks and carvings.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
E
Mesón Panza Verde
This guesthouse restaurant provides divine continental cuisine in an appealing Antiguan atmosphere. If you don't have the budget for a full meal but want to check out the great ambience and gorgeous patio, have a drink or snack at the Panza Verde's Café Terraza.
reviewed
-
F
Restaurante Doña Luisa Xicotencatl
Probably Antigua's best-known restaurant, this is a place to enjoy the colonial patio ambience over breakfast or a light meal. The bakery here sells many kinds of breads, including whole grain. Check out the hot-from-the-oven banana bread daily at around 14:00.
reviewed
-
G
Café Baviera
This European-style café has good coffee, roasted on the premises, and is a decent place for breakfast or a snack (crepes, croissants, soups and salads). The wooden walls are hung with countless photos and clippings on Xela and international themes.
reviewed
-
El Nahual
A bit out of town, but runs some excellent, grass roots community projects in which students are invited to participate, such as teaching classes for underprivileged kids and maintaining an organic community garden.
reviewed
-
H
Rainbow Café
Fill up from an eclectic range of all-day breakfasts, curries, stir-fries, Cajun chicken, guacamole and more, and enjoy the relaxed patio atmosphere. The Rainbow has a bookshop and travel agency on the premises.
reviewed
-
Fata Morgana
Really good coffee has finally made it to San Pedro thanks to this little Italian restaurant/café/bakery. Also on offer are some good basic pastas and excellent homemade breads and pastries.
reviewed
-
I
Monoloco
An old-time tourist hangout (take that as a recommendation or a warning), this place serves up a good blend of comfort foods and local dishes, as well as ice-cold beers in a relaxed environment.
reviewed
-
J
La Democracia
In a residential part of town, this highly recommended school arranges volunteer work teaching English to underpriveleged kids and building classrooms.
reviewed
-
Shanti Shanti
By far the best set-up as far as lakeside chilling goes. Falafel, sandwiches and curry are just some of the tempters on the menu here.
reviewed
-
Language Courses
Xela's many language schools attract students from around the world. Unlike Antigua, which has had a similar reputation for quite a bit longer, Xela is not overrun with foreigners, though there is a growing social scene revolving around language students and volunteer workers.
Xela seems to attract altruistic types, and most of the Spanish schools listed individually provide opportunities to get involved in social action programs working with the local K'iche' Maya. Prices for the schools vary a little but not by much; the standard price is around US$110/around US$130 per week for four/five hours of instruction per day, Monday to Friday, including room and board with a…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Mayan Encounter
17 days (Playa del Carmen)
by Intrepid
Travel south through legendary Central America, Enjoy sand, sun and fun in Playa del Carmen, Learn the history of ancient Guatemalan ruins, Experience…Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,170 -
K
Old Town Outfitters
Professional and friendly outfit offering volcano ascents, guided walks and mountain bike tours. You can either do a volcano day trip or an overnight trip, camping up in the mountains. Try a guided half-day walk in the hills around Antigua, go to any summit in the country, or try a three-day trek through eastern Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas, with its cloud forests.
This outfit also rents out quality bikes with gloves, helmets and maps; offers a range of mountain-bike tours at all levels of difficulty, including the two-day Pedal & Paddle Tour, which includes kayaking and hiking at Lago de Atitlán; and it rents out and sells camping gear.
reviewed
-
Lago de Atitlán
This dramatic crater lake is surrounded by looming volcanoes and its shoreline is dotted with traditional Mayan villages. For travelers, this is the beautiful heart of the Guatemala highlands, a place to kick back, relax and soak up the cultural scene.
Panajachel is the main lakeside town and where most foreigners stay. On the southern shore, Santiago Atitlán is a Tz'utujil Mayan market town with strong traditions, and a large arts and crafts scene. San Pedro Laguna is another village popular with backpackers for its language schools and proximity to San Pedro volcano. Boats run frequently across the lake, connecting villages.
reviewed
-
L
Volcán Santa María & Santiaguito
With early starts, Volcán Santa María (3772m), towering to the south of the city, and the active volcano Santiaguito (2488m), on Santa María's southwest flank, can both be done in long morning hikes from Xela.
You start walking at the village of Llanos del Pinal, 5km south of Xela, from which it's about four hours up to the summit of Santa María (then three hours down). Getting too close to Santiaguito is dangerous, so people usually just look at it from a mirador about 1½ hours' walk from Llanos del Pinal.
reviewed
-
Mayan Explorer
9 days (Antigua)
by Intrepid
Look for toucans and macaws in the lush canopy around Tikal, Learn about the Spanish-colonial past of Antigua, Kick-back beside the warm Caribbean waters in…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,030