Peru vs. Guatemala

I haven't been to Peru yet. But a trip to Guatemala 2 years ago is one of the best travel experiencies of my life. Colorful, mysterious, shamanistic, very friendly country offering a unique mix of Mayan and Catholic cultures, splendid architecture, viabrant nature, volcanos and, of course, Tikal. This is a link to my photo gallery: http://lempert.smugmug.com/gallery/986923#45592125<BR>I visited Antigua, Tikal, Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango. Also spent some part of a day in Guatemala City. My Spanish is very limited. I am not sure what you mean by "Backpacking trip". Guatemala is inexpensive by US standards. There are plenty of budget accomodations, esp. in Lago Atitlan area.

Guatemala is much smaller travel distances, very inexpensive SPanish classes, and has lots of architecture and ruins. I think you can do more in 14 days there because you needn't travel so far to visit different regions. (Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal..even Copan, Honduras is just 5 hours away)

Those are great responses. thanks. So you think that it wont be more difficult to get around in Guatemala (thus offsetting the advantage of having a smaller geographic region to cover?)

I went to Guatemala 2 years ago and am off to Peru in September. Loved Guate - not difficult to get around by bus, and since you only have 10-14 days, you'll probably get to see more sights/diversity of regions than if you went to Peru. Many of the places we visited we were the only tourists, which in some ways was great as we experienced more of the true culture, but in some instances we did feel a little unwelcome and uncomfortable (like on buses). But its all part of the adventure!

Having said that, I get the impression that Peru might be easier if you don't speak much spanish (being more of a tourist destination). I speak a little spanish and just about got by in Guate (hardly anyone spoke English except some of the tour guides at eg tikal), but it exhausted me and I came back needing a holiday!

Have been to both and, with your time availability, I would head to Guate. No doubt about that. You can really see most of the country in 2 weeks, especially if you fly at least once from Guate City airport to Flores. Leave Peru' for another time, when you have at least 3-4 weeks.