Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
70

Hi Everyone,

We are traveling in Guatemala for 24 days. We are more adventurous and would like to do a mix of outdoor activities with seeing some off the beaten path areas.

Would the following itinerary be possible?

10/29/2016 Antigua - Shuttle from Airport
10/30 Antigua - Overnight hike to Volcano with OZ
10/31
11/1/2016 Antigua - Day trip to Kite Festival for Day of the Dead
11/2/2016 Antigua - Earth Lodge http://www.earthlodgeguatemala.com
11/3 Antigua - Earth Lodge
11/4 Lake Atitlan
11/5 Lake Atitlan
11/6 Lake Atitlan
11/7 Travel Lake Atitlan to Xela
11/8 5 day Trek Nebaj to Todos Santos with Quetzaltrekkers - http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/xela/treks/nebaj-todos-santos/
11/9
11/10
11/11
11/12
11/13 Travel Todos Santos to Coban
11/14 Coban (Lanquin)
11/15 Coban (Lanquin)
11/16 Travel Coban to Fronteras
11/17 Rio Dolce River Lodge http://www.hotelitoperdido.com/
11/18 Rio Dolce River Lodge
11/19 Rio Dolce River Lodge
11/20 Travel to GC
11/21 Flight back mid day

A few questions: Do you know how we would get from Todos Santos to Coban? Once in Coban we want to explore Semac and Zan ba caves - do you recommend we stay in Coban or Lanquin?

Also, does anyone know how to get from Coban to Rio Dolce area? Is it possible to go straight from Lanquin?

Any advise or opinions would be greatly appreciated, thanks

Edited by sara5764
Report
1

Sounds like a great travel you have planned. I don't have the answers to your questions, but other than that it sounds very possible. Which kite festival are you planning to attend. I like Sumpango.

Buen viaje!

Report
2
In response to #1

We are going to Sumpango!

Report
3

It depends on your Spanish. The trip between Todos Santos and Lanquin requires a number of bus changes. The highway, 7W, is through some of the best scenery Guatemala has to offer. I've always rented cars for Guatemala's back country. 7W, the last time I was across it, had washovers and washouts along its route. It was a typical backcountry road. We had a 4x4 but really all we needed was the clearance, it was the dry season. I've never tried the Lanquin-El Estor-Rio Duice run on 7E but my understanding is that it is about the same as 7W. Both routes are served by common carriers, adhoc, I'm sure.

Report
4

Consider going to Xela after Antigua ( 4 hour direct shuttle) and then hike from Xela to San Pedro on Lake Atitlan, then make your way to to various lakeside villages a few nights here and there...

Then arrange from there either Todos Santos or Lanquin/Semuc...or head back to Antgua a night, then head from there, will be a lot easier IMO. Deduct a night in Antigua in beginning and add it for the hub night to points north. (Or East).

But you are going to some great places, some of which I have yet to reach.

Happy Trails


Adventure Travel to Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, EU, USA National Parks, enjoying culture, cuisine, motorcycling, scuba diving, surfing, sailing, rafting, hiking, fishing, camping, nature, wildlife. Get a Guidebook, and get lost!
Report
5

It's entirely possible. The most challenging day would be going from Todos Santos to Coban. This would be possible with 3-4 different bus changes, definitely in Huehue, and I'm not sure how many other small towns.

From Coban to the lodge you named by public transport sounds possible, but also it's possible you wind up in Rio Dulce for the first night without transport to the other end of the lake. If no boats are going later in the afternoon, you might need to pay a big price for private boat.

Report
6

If you arrive in Rio Dulce late, there are some nice hotels right near town that would be easy and pleasant enough. Tortugal is really lovely and it's only about a 5 minute boat ride from town.

That sounds like a good trip overall. I agree that your challenges will be Todos Santos-Coban and onward to Rio Dulce. Both are along beautiful but treacherous mountain roads that, as Kwallek mentions above, are subject to frequent washouts and occasional closures due to landslides.

Report
7

I am not sure if Todos Santos to Coban is possible in one day. You would have to take a bus to Huehue first, then to Sacapulas, Uspantan and Coban. You might have to stay overnight in Uspantan (nice town). You need a full day for Semuc Champey and the Kan'Ba caves. I would definitely stay in Lanquin (not Coban) or in a hotel closer to Semuc. I believe it is possible to go from Lanquin to Rio Dulce by bus (via El Estor).

Report
8

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner