Categories
Guatemala

Getting from Guatemala City to Antigua

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala and although there aren’t many things to do here, it’s the transportation hub of the country and the gateway for international flights.

Antigua Guatemala, commonly known just as “Antigua”, was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important travel destinations in Guatemala.

Located just 45 km west of Guatemala City, most visitors arrive in Antigua via the airport serving the capital, La Aurora International Airport (GUA). It handles both domestic and international flights. There are regular shuttle vans which take visitors from the airport directly to Antigua for Q80 (about US$10).

Quick summary

For the budget traveler, the chickenbus is the best option for traveling between Guatemala City and Antigua. Other options include the private buses (which cost more than taxis, by the way) or the shuttle buses from the La Aurora Airport.

Chickenbus from Guatemala City to Antigua

The chickenbus is used by the locals and is definitely the best way to experience real Guatemala. To get on the bus to Antigua, make sure you are on Boulevard Liberation, the major avenue in Guatemala City. This is where the chickenbuses stop (there are bus stops every few hundred meters). The fee is Q8 (about US$1). The travel time is about an hour.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Guatemala

Driving from Guatemala City to Antigua

You can rent a car in Guatemala City and drive the 37 km via the Pan American Highway to Antigua. The drive time is about 35 min.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Guatemala

Getting from Guatemala City to Tikal

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala and all the country’s highways start from here.

Tikal is a large archeological site. During the Classic Period it was one of the most important Mayan cities. Due to its remoteness and jungle setting, Tikal is one of the most popular Mayan sites to visit. Flores is the largest near-by town , through which visitors can connect to the rest of the country.

A travel agency practically has the monopoly of the buses that will pick you up from the hotel in Flores in the morning. The cost is Q60 (about US$8) round trip and Q35 (US$4.50) one way.

Quick summary

The cheapest way to get between Guatemala City and Tikal is by bus to Flores. The travel time is about 8 hours but the ticket costs about US$20. Once in Flores, choose a bus which will take you from the hotel to Tikal and bus for about US$8.

Flights from Guatemala City (airport code: GUA) to Tikal (Flores)

La Aurora International Airport (GUA) serves Guatemala City and is located about 6.4 km from the city center and 25 km from Antigua. It handles domestic flights , as well flights from other countries in Central and Northern America. A direct flight from Europe (Spain) is also available.

Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) serves Flores, the largest city near Tikal. It handles both domestic and international traffic (Belize).

Flights between Guatemala City and Flores are operated by TACA. The flight time is 1h 10 min. Regardless of when you fly in 2012, expect to pay US$159 per person, one way. Round trip flights cost US$275.

Buses from Guatemala City to Tikal

Linea Dorada (attention: site only in Spanish!) runs buses between Guatemala City and Flores. There are two buses per day, one leaving Guatemala City at 10 a.m. and the other at 9:30 p.m. The single fare is Q170 (about US$22). On the way back, catch the bus from Flores at 10 a.m. or 9:30 p.m. The same fare applies. Reservations can be made online here .

Another much expensive option is to take a two days tour from Guatemala City to Tikal by bus. The price is US$180 per person and includes an English guide (doesn’t include beverages and taxes, though).

>>read more about Bus Travel in Guatemala

Driving from Guatemala City to Tikal

You can rent a car in Guatemala City and drive the 477 km via Route 5 to Tikal. The drive time is about 6 ½ h but do take into account that it might take longer.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
Guatemala

The Santa Maria Volcano

Volcanoes are among the most interesting and feared natural wonders in the world. While their lava shows and raw power are what makes them so beautiful and intriguing, they are also what make volcanoes so dangerous. Lava flows can destroy entire towns and ash eruptions can kill people and livestock, damage homes, and affect an area’s climate for year’s to come…not mention grounding planes.  Still, when given the chance to get up close to an erupting volcano, most of us take it.

In Guatemala, the Santa Maria volcano stands at 3,772 meters. Eruptions have been happening here for 30,000 years. In 1902 a strong eruption formed a crater on the side of the volcano and caused extensive damage in the region.  Today it’s one of the world’s most active volcanoes; the nearby town of  El Palmar, has been destroyed twice by lahars, volcanic mudflows that slide down the mountain and harden to a concrete solid when they stop. Despite the danger the volcano presents, intrepid travelers can hike around the area as part of a guided tour.

Interested in getting up close to Santa Maria? Buy an air ticket to Guatemala, look for budget accommodation in Guatemala, and then pray the volcano stays quite for your visit.

Photo by DaveWilsonPhotography

Categories
Guatemala

Study Spanish in Guatemala

I’ve always loved to learn new languages. And over the years I’ve realized that speaking the language with the natives is an excellent way to learn more. But even better is to start studying a language in the country where it’s spoken. Traveling for this purpose can be quite expensive but language study on a budget is possible.

Want to learn Spanish? Sure, Spain and Mexico will pop in your head but cost-wise, Guatemala is cheaper than Mexico. Plus, the language spoken here is pure (by the book).

The country has a long and distinctive history of mixing Spanish and Mayan elements. It offers superb landscapes, a lot of historical sites and a laid-back culture.

Before you rush to look for airfare to Guatemala and book a room in one of the cheap hotels in Guatemala City , do take into account the cost of the language courses. It costs about $4 per hour (outside of Guatemala City and Antigua), while accommodation starts at about $20 per week.

So if you plan to take 20 hours per week in an intense, immersion program, and spend 12 weeks in Guatemala, you’ll have to pay $960. Also, you need to rack up about $240 for accommodation (excluding food). Therefore, with just $1200 you can stay in Guatemala for 3 months, learn Spanish and enjoy the country. Of course you need to add the cost of food, flights and extra expenses.

Hint: it’s sometimes cheaper to fly into Mexico City and then take a connection flight into Guatemala City.

Photo credit

Categories
Guatemala travel guide

Exchanging Money in Guatemala

bank250Unfortunately, changing money isn’t as easy as it is in many other Central American countries. In fact, it is border line troublesome. Trying to exchange any type of currency other than the US dollar is a hard thing to do outside of the international airports. Even trying to exchange currency from nearby countries can prove to be harder than expected.

Categories
Featured Articles Guatemala

Buses in Guatemala

If you are a budget traveler or just a tourist looking for the quint essential Guatemalan experience, the “chicken buses” are what you are looking for. I wouldn’t even go so far as to say you have to look for them, they are quite hard to miss. These lavishly painted and often decorated buses can be found whizzing by in any of the major Guatemala cities or highways. The chicken bus may not provide the comforts of a tourist van or taxi, but they are much cheaper, and much more colorful!

Categories
Guatemala travel guide

Staying Safe in Guatemala

safety.jpgWhile Guatemala has a higher crime rate than some of the other countries in Central America, many tourists travel here every year without any problems. Staying safe in Guatemala is an easy thing to do if you follow a few simple rules and keep your wits about you. If you have traveled safely in other third world destination, you should have no problem staying safe in Guatemala.

Categories
Guatemala

Chiminos Island Lodge

chiminos350One of the most popular eco lodges in all of Guatemala, has to be the Chiminos Island Lodge. The Chiminos Island Lodge is located about six and a half hours from Guatemala City, but most people come here from the nearby city of Flores. From Flores, is only about a one hour drive to Chiminos Island Lodge. Once here, be prepared to experience the nature of Guatemala in a very unforgettable way.