Volcanoes, pandilleros, and chicken buses…oh my!! What is a chicken bus anyway?! If you want to travel, discover, and do something worthwhile, then Guatemala has a lot to offer.  Part III of III - last call for Guatemala!

Tips and Suggestions for Travel in Guatemala:

You’ll be landing in La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City known as the “el mas moderno aeropuerto en centroamerica”. I’m not sure how to measure modernity, but I’ll take their word for it. Getting through Guatemalan customs took about three seconds, so not to worry about long and hassling lines. The next step is exchanging your dollars. There are 7.5 quetzales to a dollar, which could buy you a meal in some parts of Guatemala.

There are tons of affordable hotels in Antigua and of course you’ll find the expensive five star hotels. If you want to vacation and contribute to a cause, then stay at Hotel Posado Lazos Fuertes. Camino Seguro (see in Part I), a non-profit organization, owns this particular hotel and all of the profits go directly to the organization to support the children’s education. If you choose to stay here, it is only $39 a night for a decent sized room with either two twin beds or one queen sized bed embellished with swan-shaped towels, a television with basic cable, and a clean bathroom with hot water.

At night from the third floor of the hotel you can see the Cathedral light up the sky. At first it seemed like an Arabian sultan’s palace in the hills, but I soon realized that it was the Cathedral glimmering from the Parque Central. From the roof of the hotel you can see the three volcanoes Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego on the outskirts of Antigua. On a clear morning, you can see smoke spewing from the mouth of Fuego, which has been far too active to climb. 

Parque Central is the heart of the town where you will find couples relaxing, families gathering, and friends hanging out.  Around the plaza, there are many calles with clothing stores, markets, restaurants, bars, and museos. 

Nightlife in Antigua

Monday is definitely the dead night, but there are always low-key bars to get drinks.

Tuesday
If you’re looking for a city with a bustling nightlife, Antigua is the place to be in Guatemala. Want to stick with the highly drunken American and European crowd? Then check out “Mono Loco” on its Ladies’ Night on Tuesday. It’s a bit too overcrowded and infiltrated with tourists for my taste, but you can’t beat the drinks for Q3 on Tuesdays. The alternative for Tuesday night is “Sin Ventura” right next to “Mono Loco”. You’ll find more of an Antiguëno crowd here rockin’ to the beats of Reggaeton and Salsa music.

Wednesday
On Wednesday nights at “Cielos”, the Cuban band Buena Vista Social Club plays live. This bar attracts some of the hottest and most stylistic salsa dancers in Antigua.

Thursday
“La Sala” is another bar that features live Latin music and a good mix of other music. Thursday is Ladies’ night and you can get drinks for Q5.

Friday
For a low-key evening, try “La Sala” for their Blue’s Night with a live band. The entrance fee is Q5 and drinks are moderately priced.

Many Antiguënos will find themselves at “Sin Ventura” again or at the discotech “La Casbah”. It cost Q30 ($4) to get into Casbah, but you get a drink with the entrance fee. At Casbah you’ll find an appealing medley of music: Salsa, Reggaeton, Hip-Hop, and Techno. There are two floors, three bars, one with dance floor with a stage, and a gorgeous rooftop complete with red concrete seats and view of Antigua.  “La Casbah” is the perfect compromise between the foreign and the Guatemalan crowd. You may get some laughs when you spot some of the characters in the crowd. Be on the look out for a Brazilian Guido with an illuminating gold tan, wearing the Zoolander face, and thrusting his pelvic bone to the beat. 


Food in Antigua

Dulces:

Doña Luisa is a wonderful panderia that sells the freshest, warmest, and sweetest Pan Dulce. They sell banana bread, pound cake type bread with a layer of glazed nuts on the bottom, chocolate with oranges, and much more for only Q21($3) a loaf.

Luna de Miel is a little crepe place owned by a French man. If you’re craving a crepe made of nutella con strawberries, nutella con bananas and brandie, or nutella with anything! You can also find savory crepes here. If you’re in Antigua, you must go to this place!

Sunday Morning Brunch:
Café Condesa has a delicioso and filling buffet-style brunch on Sunday for only Q64 ($8.50). The brunch lasts from 10am to 1pm, so make sure you stay the whole time until you’re stuffed!


Weekend Getaways

Lago de Atitlan is one of the most beautiful and calming places in Guatemala. It’s about two hours outside of Antigua, depending on traffic. You can find very reasonable shuttles that will take you there for $5-10. On you’re way there you’ll pass through the Guatemalan countryside and take some wild turns around the mountainside roads.

There are thirteen villages on the shores of Lake Atitlan. To get to one of these towns for your accommodations, you’ll have to take a lancha from Panajachel. For a quiet, relaxing time by the lake, go to the village of Santa Cruz La Laguna.

Arca de Noë is a hotel set in a naturally tropical paradise. There are numerous cabanas with private bathrooms. There is a comedor where they serve a six-course dinner for Q72. Talk about being full!

Chichicastenango is home to the most colorful market full of quality textiles made by the Mayans in Guatemala. Here you’ll find beautiful hand-made purses, tapestries, woven hoodies, and more. Get ready to set your maximum price and bargain away!

There are many travel agencies in Antigua that offer bus trips to other Guatemalan towns that feature a beautiful coast or Mayan ruins and you can even find cheap and safe trips to other Central American countries and Mexico.