Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Every Thursday and Sunday there are markets in Chichicastenango.  Word’s gotten out that it’s a cool place to check out, so there were other tourists and plenty of vendors selling wares with the Westerner in mind.  Even still, it was a great place to visit and hone your haggling skills.

Be sure to eat with the locals in the stalls located in the heart of the marketplace near the church.  Yum!

Volcan de Pacaya, Guatemala

After being in Antigua for the afternoon, we decided to brave the depths of the early morning for a 6am tour of Volcan de Pacaya the next day.  6am comes early in turns out, but the tour was totally worth it.

The volcano is one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala.  Another is Volcan de Fuego, which is the one shown smoking in the distance in the photos below.

Like Cerro Negro, Volcan de Pacaya felt as if you are another planet.  Steam rose from the black surface enshrouding certain spots in an eerie fog.   I’ll shut up so you can just check out the photos.  Very cool.

Panajachel, Guatemala

 From Antigua, we took a beautiful bus ride to Lake Atitlan, one of the prettiest lakes I’ve ever seen.  The scale of the mountain ranges and valleys along the way make the trip worth it for the ride alone.

Once we arrived, I was instantly reminded of my time in Geneva.  Minus the snow and snobby Swiss bankers, Lake Atitlan is a lot like Lake Geneva with the mountains rising abruptly from the pristine lake below.

Where We Stayed:  Hotel Sueno Real.  Awesome place.  We ate breakfasts in the owner’s dining room.  There’s a rooftop deck with great views of the lake.  Internet.  The owner’s family is great and everything was very reasonable.

Where We Ate: Taqueria Los Chileros.  Great tacos.  There’s also a ton of street vendors selling tacos, fried chicken, and pie. 

What We Did:  Stared at a beautiful lake, day trip to markets in Chichicastenango

Antigua, Guatemala

 The original Antigua was one of the older colonial cities, but was destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th century.  What’s left is a awesome city full of history and cobblestone streets.  At the base of an inactive volcano and mountains in the distance, it makes for a beautiful setting.

Where We Stayed:  Hotel Posada Refugio II.  Cheap.  Basic.  Stayed here after getting in late in the night. La Terraza.  Nice terrace with volcano view.  Internet.  Includes breakfast.

Where We Ate:  There’s a ton of restaurants from Indian to typical Guatemalan fare.  It’s all a little pricey.  There’s a few places to get cheap street food near the artisan market.

What We Did: Day trip to Pacaya, Cerro de La Cruz, aimless wandering of cobblestone streets, haggling in the markets