Guatemala

This topic was created by Paul (webmaster@vancouver.hm)
[Mon 19 April, 14:18 Tasmanian Standard Time]

Ok, I know i just placed a post a few topics down. I've now
decided, I have enough airmiles to fly my girlfriend and
myself to Guatemala from san Jose and work my way just the
one way. My girlfriend likes to spend a few days just veging
out on arrival, so I figure on going to Lake Atitlan for a
few days. i was there in 1980, so I have know idea what it
is like now. can anyone tell me what the weather is likely
to be like in mid-june, and also any info on a nice town to
stay in with a nice cheap hotel. (maybe $10 a night or
thereabouts). We were planning on getting diving tickets in
Honduras (Bay Islands), but I notice off a web site, than
you can do this quite cheaply at Lake Atitlan. Anyone have
any feedback on that. The other question I have is rather
odd. I've travelled all around the world with my ex-wife, a
rather average looking brown haired girl. My current
girfriend is a very attractive blonde. She is in her mid
40's, but looks about 30. Am I going to have to fight off
amorous Latin American men, or is it no hassle?
By the way if anyone needs info on Vancouver, Canada, I
run a backpacker oriented site on that subject, and am quite
willing to answer questions.
Paul
http://www.vancouver.hm

[There are 6 posts - the latest was added on Sun 25 April, 12:27]

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  1. Jaibalito Added by: john (john.powers@arch2nara.gov)
    [Timestamp: Tue 20 April, 0:34 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    When you go to "Atitlan, take a ferry to Jaibalito and stay
    at Casa del Mundo. The rooms, all with splendid views of
    the lake and the volcanos, are about $10/night. The owner,
    originally from alaska, has also built a hot tub down by the
    water. Great dinners and breakfasts. There are nice hikes
    in the area and he has kayaks too.
    If you are into a leasure bike trip to the lake, we used Old
    Town Outfitters in Antigua and mountain biked to Pana.
    e-mail me if you have questions,
    john



  2. blonde in Guate Added by: leanne (leanne.selles@konbib.nl)
    [Timestamp: Tue 20 April, 1:16 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Hi Paul, just read your questions an I have a few answers
    for you. To start with the alst one, I am a (tall) blond
    girl and I was in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras last winter
    and I had absolutely no problems with that. I was there
    with my husband. The men are friendly, but not anoying or
    harrassing you or anything, they are more a bit shy, at
    least that was my experience. So I would't worry about that.
    Only thing is that you have to know what to wear, they are
    very catholic and don't like it when a girl is dressed in
    hotpants or goes swimming topless, or something like that.
    It also depends on where you are, in Panajachel (Lake
    Atitlan), they are more used to western tourists and the way
    they dress than for instance way back in the mountains but
    that speaks for itself I think. You also asked about Lake
    Atitlan, we spent a few days in Panajachel, that is the
    biggest village at the lake, with the best facilities and
    with a big hippy-community. It has a good and relaxed
    atmosphere. We staid in a little hotel almost at the end of
    the main road towards the lake, on the right, it lies a bit
    further away from the street, so you don't hear the
    streetnoice. We had room nr. 6, the room on the roof, it had
    it's own roofterrace, that was really great. The only thing
    is, I forgot the name, I am at work now so I don't have my
    lp here (it is in it, section budget hotels Panajachel) if
    you are interested I will look it up for you, let me know,
    it costs about 12 dollar (in winter, maybe it is more
    expensive in summer). From Panajachel you can make several
    boattrips, to visit the lovely indian villages around the
    lake; San Pedro, Santiago, San Antonio, Santa Cruz. In Santa
    Cruz there is a diving school, we went there to get some
    information about diving in Honduras because the guys who
    own that school also know the situation in the Bay Islands
    very well. There is an informationshop from the divingschool
    at Panajachel, at the opposit of the tourist information.
    So I don't know anything about diving at the Lake Atitlan
    but I do know about diving in Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras:
    it is absolutelty great, and absolutely cheap! I did my Padi
    open water exam there for 125 dollar, and that includes 4
    nights in a great hotel. There are about 15 or so
    divingshools in Utila and they all charge about the same for
    the open water course. The difference between the schools
    lies in the accomodations they offer. I took my course at
    the Bay Island College of Diving and they have a deal with a
    great hotel with view at the ocean on one side and a view at
    the laguna on the other side. I forgot the name of the hotel
    but it is something like Marinaville, it is at the end of
    the island, really great place! The diving is also great,
    the reef was a bit damaged after Mitch but I think that
    everything will be okay by the time you'll be there. Utila
    is also an experience, quiet laidback, more a carribean
    than a Latino atmosphere. Well, that's all, I hope you have
    a great time there, I know we did!!! Bye, Leanne (from
    Holland)



  3. Pana Added by: Bob (bklinge1@san.rr.com)
    [Timestamp: Tue 20 April, 6:02 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Most of the hotels in Panajachel are on the main street that
    leads from where the bus drops you off to the lake. Only a
    few blocks long so easy to check out the places. Quality and
    price varies. Something for every budget. I can't imagine
    diving in Lake Atitlan. The runoff from the towns, pastures
    and fields goes there. Its not for nothing that Pana is known
    as Hep City. Dive at the Bay Islands.



  4. Listen to bob Added by: Kirk
    [Timestamp: Sat 24 April, 6:32 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    Atitlan is wonderful for lots of things, but I got to tell
    ya I would do my water stuff in the ocean. There are also
    hot tubs in San padro, it is in the lon. planet, really
    nice. have fun- kirk in atlan



  5. Listen to kirk and bob Added by: MP (cypressgirl25@hotmail.com)
    [Timestamp: Sun 25 April, 12:26 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    San Pedro la Laguna at Atitlan is awesome. My friend runs
    the hot tubs there now and he also has a sailboat and runs
    to Bay of Islands about once a month for a good price. He
    doesn t advertise much so this is a good bit of info. Ask
    at the hot tubs, sailing is the best way to Utila. Dive
    Utila.



  6. Listen to kirk and bob Added by: MP (cypressgirl25@hotmail.com)
    [Timestamp: Sun 25 April, 12:27 Tasmanian Standard Time]

    San Pedro la Laguna at Atitlan is awesome. My friend runs
    the hot tubs there now and he also has a sailboat and runs
    to Bay of Islands about once a month for a good price. He
    doesn t advertise much so this is a good bit of info. Ask
    at the hot tubs, sailing is the best way to Utila. Dive
    Utila.




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