So many things we can say about Guatemala but there are just not enough words to describe how beautiful it is.
Guatemala was a surprise for me. I had this weird prejudice as growing up in Mexico so close to our neighbours in the southern border that I just kept thinking why were we travelling there in the first place. I thought all my judgemental nonsense disappeared when I moved abroad but then I realised I still had those fears creeping back. Martin was asking why I didn’t like Guatemala or Belize and I just couldn’t really respond.
I was wrong. I say it again, I was wrong to have this unjustified prejudice because Guatemala is a beautiful place. Very soon after we crossed the border we were amazed by the change in landscape and the people. Guatemala is known for being a very traditional and poor country, but its beauty cannot be compared. The people are friendly and warm and they were always very curious and interested in talking to us.
The first night we spent in Guatemala was at a Christian camp that we found in the map in a town called Huehuetenango. It was getting late and we needed to find a place sooner rather than later as setting up camp in the dark is not fun. We parked the car outside the gate. It turns out that this campsite gets used for church events and youth groups so they can be surrounded by nature. The caretaker let us camp for 25 quetzales. His family lived in the property and we found out that they moved in a few months ago from Zacapa, a town really far away but they were seeking work and opportunities so they have no choice but to leave. The children were eating ice cream with such joy that day that we regret not taking any pictures of them. We felt safe even though we could see and hear the traffic outside the camp and lots of truck drivers even stopped for a moment to check us out. We figured it was the first time people have seen a car like ours with a rooftop tent. I sometimes still feel amazed by how adventurous we look when we are camping! If I could talk to my younger self, she wouldn’t believe me that we are living in a car, driving around Central America by my own free will (sorry city girl! You have to get used to nature now).
The next day, after a very long drive from Huehuetenango, we got closer to Lake Atitlán. We’ve never heard of the place but it seemed nice to park next to a lake. I had a quick look at Google maps and decided to take us to a place called Pasajcap near San Marcos La Laguna. The road down to this place was an adventure on its own! The road was narrow, steep and busy. We had to stop at some point to let our brakes cool down a bit. However, we were probably just inexperienced because the locals travelling in their minibuses were even overtaking us with really good speed.The views from the top were beyond compare. There was a lake below surrounded by volcanoes, blue sky and colorful villages. This place felt like home. We quickly figured that this was a very popular destination for travellers and many of them keep coming back every year.
Lake Atitlán is a magical place. After parking the car, the best way to travel and visit the villages around the lake is by boat. Nobody bothers to drive around as the journey might take a few hours to each village. When we got to Pasajcap campsite, we were greeted by a friendly Guatemalan that quickly opened the gate for us and we descended to the most beautiful place we’ve seen. It was a big property with a lovely grassy area where there were 2 other overlanders already parked; we all had front row seats to the lake and the volcanoes. A little soon after, a man named Pierre approached us and welcomed us to his home. We parked Alita and we met our overlander neighbours, Nat and Marc, a canadian couple travelling with a lovely dog called Walter. They have been in Lake Atitlán a couple of times and this time they were staying there for a few weeks before turning around and go back up north again. We were only staying for one night as we were eager to head south and cross Central America quickly. Marc laughed and said that he has never met anyone who has only stayed in Lake Atitlán for one night. We were not the exception. We stayed 3 nights, and to be honest, thinking back I don’t know why we left so soon.
Martin and I could unwind and chill a bit in Lake Atitlán. We were amazed by the colourful markets, clothing, fruits. San Marcos La Laguna is a hipster town with cute shops, restaurants and cafes. We met people from Germany, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Ireland and many more. We were quickly captivated by this place that is so vibrant and chilled. This place is still one of favourites along our travels and one that we would like to visit again. So if you ever think of visiting Guatemala, Lake Atitlán is a must see, you will not regret it. The views are hard to beat, the towns around the lake are all different and have something for everyone. This place offers tours with local artisans, hiking trails for all levels, party hostels, luxury cabins, yoga training, Spanish lessons, cooking lessons, well you name it. Martin and I enjoyed swimming in the lake, walking through the towns, riding on tuk tuks and mingled with our fellow overlanders.
With great regret we left our beautiful camping spot in San Marcos La Laguna and we made our way towards the Honduras border. It was a really long journey crossing Guatemala city and at some point we got stuck in traffic. I found a place in iOverlander that looked like the ideal place for us for the night as it was a camping spot up in the mountains in Sierra de las Minas National park.
The way to get there was a bit scary as we kept going uphill, until it started to get really late and we even thought that the place didn’t exist. We arrived after 7pm and it was pitch black but the place was opened and it was a beautiful and self sustainable farm. The guard was a very nice man that quickly called the manager to bring a girl to cook dinner for us and give us information about how to camp in their farm.
We got served a lovely dinner made by Nora, a guatemalan girl who was very curious about our trip and our lives. She gave us scrambled eggs, cheese, cream, bananas, beans and thick tortillas. It was absolutely delicious. Everything she made herself including the cheese that was freshly prepared earlier that day and all the ingredients were grown in the farm including the coffee.
The manager let us camp in the football ground of this beautiful farm and the guard even lit a fire for a us and we enjoyed every minute of that experience. Guatemalans are very welcoming and warm so we would definitely like to properly explore this beautiful country again.
Regardless of our quick visit to Guatemala, it was our favourite country in Central America. Good people, stunning scenery, cheap eats, what’s not to like?
