I am planning to spend four weeks travelling around Mexico
and Guatemale this summer and I really need your advice!
First of all, what are the things we really should not miss?
Do you think we will have problems in finding accomodation?
I am going with my boyfriend and we plan to sleep in budget
/middle price hotels.
What are the best places to visit around Atitlan lake?
We want to go to Tikal and spend one night there to have
more time to visit the ruins. Is it better to go on our own
or with a tour? If so, can you suggest a good agency? I
have read a lot about Nancy, is she as good as it seems?
When we go to Tikal, is it worth going to Ceibal too?
Is Valladolid worth a visit? And what about Campeche?
Thanx a lot for your help!
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Lake Atitlan in Guatemala is the most romantic place i┤ve
ever spent time in my life.You should defenitely go there.If
you┤re not into space cakes you┤re not going to like the
village called San Pedro. Everybody is high there most of the
time just laying in hammocks and looking over to the
mountains, smiling. Well, me and my man we just loved it. In
the mornings we took a swim in the lake(in the middle way
between the ports, where all the women go to do the laundry
by the rocks.Do the climbing.).The water is ice cold and
propably really poisoned but feels like you have a new soul
after washing in that magical lake!San Pedro is also really
shitty, people just leave their garbage on the yard so it
smells and all.But we liked it anyway for some mysterious
reason.We had a really nice room we called penthouse (
because we had a wiev over the lake and the vulcanos)in a
really cheap pensionata in the western part of the
village.Called ZenZen or something like that (also a
restaurat/bar/pooltable under the same name, across the
street). There are 12 other villages to choose from, like
Santa Cruz.We had to climb up to the very high hill but it
was really worth it(Dont be lazy staying lakeside because
prices for accommodation are triple down there).For
accommodation, ask Maria.She is a wife of the chief of the
village and has a free room with three beds in it. Really
nice:warm sower and all.You can sit on your own porch and
watch the sunrise or the stars and the moon...
All the other villages between Santa Cruz and San Antonio are
beautiful, too.The "maintown" Panahachel is really too much
touristic and expensive, don┤t stay there any more longer
than what it takes to send your e-mails (at least 2 internet
cafes). I really hope for you two all the best there in that
breath taking beautiness of Lago de Atitlan !
Nancy is very helpful. Email me if you want her website..I
have it on my home machine.
Valladolid is high on my list of off the beaten track places
to go. It is easy to get to by bus from Cancun. It has a
beautiful central plaza with two good hotels right on the
plaza. I highly recommend Meison des Marquesses which has
both old and new rooms, a pool set in an enclosed courtyard
and friendly staff with a very good restaurant. The plaza
has an old church with the most grotesque Christian statues
I have ever seen. There is a cenote and a real open market
about 4-5 blocks walk. An old monastery about 7 blocks walk.
The cenote dzinup is a short combi ride. We liked it so
much we stayed there 2 extra days. Email if you want more
info.
On the Lake, i really enjoyed staying at La Casa del Mundo
at Jaibalito. The rooms have huge windows overlooking the
lake and the volcanos. They also have a very cool hot tub
and kayaks. The hiking around there is great too.
Obviously, Tikal is very cool. It is worht it to spend the
night at the ruins, staying for both sunset and for sunrise.
You have the park to yourself during the early mornings and
late afternoons, so you'll see tons of wildlife. It is far
cheaper to camp there ($5).
Consider some hking in Quiche around Nebaj--it is absolutely
beautiful and also provides perspective on indigenous life.
If you like mountain biking, we used Old Town Outfitters in
Antigua. they were great!
john
Lake Atitlan is interesting all the way around. Everybody
has a favorite place but in order to find your own ideal
spot why don't you take a trip or a hike around the lake to
choose your own? Nancy seems to know what she doing and the
only beefs I've seen about her are from persons whose
opinion would not seem to matter much.If you're on a budget
you should have no problems finding accommodations. I would
prefer to head out to Tikal myself with at least one
overnight stay inside the park a must, but if you're short
on time or Spanish ability, Nancy seems to be the place to
go in order to get started.
I am not a person who is into tours, but book it through
nancy, my trip was cheaper than others i talked to paid. and
spend the night for sure. You really won't feel like you
are on a tour at all, just everything is arranged and much
easyer, this is good 'cuz your time is so limited and there
is soooo much to see the size of the place will amaze you,
and GET UP FOR SUNRISE!!! hav