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Have you ever thought of visiting Guatemala? I spent a number of months touring on this underrated Central American nation, and these have been my favourite locations.
Although Guatemala has been rising in reputation as a vacationer vacation spot, it nonetheless doesn’t obtain as many guests as neighboring Mexico, which noticed over 18 million tourists in 2022.
Meanwhile, Guatemala peaked at 2.5 million guests in 2019.
One of the preferred locations to go to in Guatemala is Antigua, the nation’s colourful colonial capital. Antigua is quaint, lovely, and surrounded by volcanoes, two of which (Pacaya and Acatenango) are in style for climbing.
But these are some extra off path locations in Guatemala that shouldn’t be missed:
(*6*)1. Guatemala City
Many guests skip proper over Guatemala City and head instantly from the airport to Antigua, about one hour away.
Although Guatemala’s capital metropolis will get a nasty popularity for being harmful, there are protected areas which are price visiting. It’s gritty, vibrant, and concrete, and jogs my memory of Mexico City.
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2. Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan, situated about two hours away from Antigua, is without doubt one of the most magical locations in Guatemala.
It surprisingly jogged my memory of Lake Como in Italy, with its dramatic surroundings and clear blue water. The cities round Lake Atitlan every have their very own distinct character, and you will get round to all of them by way of lancha — small native boats that solely value a few {dollars} for a experience.
San Marcos is a hippie paradise, San Pedro is an reasonably priced haven for backpackers, Santiago is house to conventional Mayan tradition, and Panajachel is a bustling hub on the lake.
3. El Paredon
Guatemala will not be identified for its seashores in the way in which that neighboring international locations are, however this nation has a number of nice seashores.
I visited El Paredon on the Pacific Coast, about two hours from Antigua. This sleepy fishing village has been remodeled right into a laidback surf city in the previous couple of years.
In addition to browsing, you may go to a sea turtle hatchery or take a ship tour of the close by mangroves, which empty out into the ocean.
4. Semuc Champey
Although it’s not straightforward to achieve, Semuc Champey is without doubt one of the most breathtaking locations in Guatemala.
Located about 9 hours away from Antigua down bumpy, winding roads, Semuc Champey is a pure formation deep within the jungle identified for its pure tiered limestone swimming pools with clear turquoise water.
Swimming within the swimming pools and waterfalls, tubing on the river, and caving are simply among the adventurous actions that await you at Semuc Champey.
5. Xela
I spent two weeks in Quetzaltenango, higher generally known as Xela, and completely fell in love with this metropolis.
It’s Guatemala’s second-largest metropolis after Guatemala City, nevertheless it has a totally totally different vibe. It’s protected and delightful, with distinctive structure and a local weather that is still cool and delicate year-round.
Xela is a good place to take Spanish courses for a particularly reasonably priced value. (So is Antigua, however since Xela is much less touristy, you may observe extra!) There are additionally volcanoes and sizzling springs close by.
6. Tikal
Tikal National Park is a must-visit vacation spot in Guatemala. Located within the jungles of the northern a part of the nation, Tikal is house to among the best Mayan ruins on the earth.
This historic metropolis is a sight to behold, and I discovered it to be a lot much less crowded than comparable ruins in Mexico. This is partially as a result of its measurement (Tikal is huge) and the truth that it doesn’t obtain almost as many guests.
If you’re actually up for an journey, go to El Mirador. These distant Mayan ruins are solely accessible by way of a two-day hike or an costly non-public helicopter. (I didn’t make it to those ruins, however I’d love to return to Guatemala in the future to see them!)
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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