Todos Santos Cuchumatan to Playa Grande

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kayaktom
kayaktom

Hello.

I was in Guatemala last year and traveled from Antigua to Chichi/Huehue/Todos Santos Cuchumatan and then on to San Cristobal and Mexico City. I'd like to go back and really want to re-visit Todos Santos but then head north and east. I'm interested in Jacaltenango and towns along the road to Play Grande. I plan to meet friends in Tikal and then on to Belize.

So I'm wondering if anyone has taken this route and can give me information on towns or sites worth visiting. I also would like any advice on how to travel through this area. What routes? Should I go back to Paquix after Todos Santos and go north from there? Should I go the north route through La Trinidad? And lastly, what are some realistic times for busing through the area (or do I take other transportation like collective pickups)?

My guidebook mentions a bit about this area but I'm looking for more details and advice. Thanks for any help.

Tom.

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enroutesiglo
enroutesiglo

Wish I could help but I've only been up through Soloma/Santa Eulalia/San Mateo. The only person here who may have been up by Playa Grande is Braxman I think? Anyway, I found the transport system along that corridor to be quite good, and as I tend to mention a lot for perspective in other threads, they have a nice caminoneta (chicken bus) arrangement that goes straight up to Barillas at all hours of the night due to relative calm and control in the area. I know that Barillas is a jumping off point for PG and that there are frequent departures from there.

Not sure about the route that you mentioned viaJ acatanengo – a place I'm curious about as well – but I know from talking to locals that any travel off that main route, i.e. via Nenton or Coatal, is very consuming. However, lots of microbuses rolling around in there, so you can pretty much eventually get where you're going if you have enough time. Otherwise, heading up through Soloma and San Mateo is definitely the most direct... and fascinating as well, for the variatons of Q'anjobal and Chuj culture. Nice comfy basic hotels in both of those towns.

Be sure to post back...!

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braxman
braxman

I've been as far as playa grande, but going the other way, coming from Cuban. that whole route is part of the new Highway project and the road East of Playa grande at least is fantastic. no idea how progress is going to the west, but I am curious. if you're up that way don't miss Laguna lachua - a beautiful, rarely visited spot.

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