The mountainous roads make it one of the most exciting countries to explore by motorbike. Guatemala’s striking features from stunning lakes, active volcanoes and ancient mayan pyramids coupled with its strong indigenous culture make it a number one destination if you like culture and natural beauty!

In this blogpost we are excited to share our most precious travel memories and places you simply can’t miss when visiting Guatemala. Oh and if you are still undecided if Guatemala is a place you want to visit, then we hope we can inspire you to make up your mind and go! Below is our YouTube video of Guatemala if you prefer a visual journey of our recommended highlights!

1. Discover Guatemala’s Mayan treasures in
TIKAL NATIONAL PARK

You cannot come to Guatemala without visiting Tikal. It is an ancient mayan city surrounded by lush jungle and inhabited by howler monkeys. Some temples and pyramids rise as much as 44 meters into the air, providing stunning views of the surrounding dense rainforest.

How do I get here?

Most people base themselves in Flores or El Remate and visit on day trips. We chose to stay in El Remate and absolutely loved this quiet little town right by the lake. Most restaurants face the lake and the sunset views are absolutely gorgeous!

If you can afford to splash out, then consider staying in one of the hotels inside Tikal. This will allow you to catch the sunrise and enjoy Tikal at quieter times! The hotels are basic but nice 3 star hotels but definitely on the pricey side. A stay here will set you back 100 USD per room in peak season but you can snap it up cheaper if you book in advance!

When to go?

Sunrise and late afternoon are usually the quietest times as most people arrive late morning from day trips. The entrance fee for sunrise is more expensive and only really makes sense if the weather is in your favour!

When we visited it was quite cloudy and a little rainy in the morning so we skipped sunrise. Our friend Tracy tried her luck on that same day though as she was staying at the Jungle Lodge Hotel. She loved her stay but didn’t manage to see the sunrise so it wasn’t quite worth the extra money. Nonetheless she appreciated that there were fewer people first thing in the morning!

2. SEMUC CHAMPEY:
Guatemala’s most beautiful natural site

The road to Semuc Champey is a pretty rough one. You’ll want some good off-road tyres and suspension for this long, bumpy and slow road. The 11km from Lanquín to Semuc Champey are particularly rough.

But once you make it, you’ll be awarded with so much natural beauty, that you won’t question for a second if the journey was worth it. In fact, you’ll be grateful that many tourists on a tight schedule tend to skip it. Because you’ll want to share this magnificent place with as few people as possible!

The most striking feature of Semuc Champey is the 300 meter long natural limestone bridge with a stepped series of pools. The flowing river running through it provides a perfect opportunity to cool off in the emerald-green waters and take in the stunning setting.

But my personal highlight was the short 30 min. hike through the jungle that will provide you with stunning panoramic views of the area. You are almost certain to encounter howler monkeys on this hike, adding to the ultimate jungle feel! The dense rainforest provides plenty of shade. But of course the best time to visit is early morning when temperatures tend to be lower!

How do I get here?

After visiting Tikal we wanted to ride from El Remate to San Agustín Lanquín, which is the perfect base to explore Semuc Champey. However, the journey is long and some parts of it are pretty rough, so it’s best to break up the 7 hour journey by spending a night in Cobán.

From Coban it’s an easy 1.5 hours ride on Highway 5 and then you turn off onto a pretty rough gravel road with a lot of turns. You should be able to cover the distance to Lanquín in about half an hour if you power through. But if you get stuck in traffic and want to take it slow, then it can easily take an hour.

The 11km from Lanquín to Semuc Champey are much harder and challenging. So if you aren’t a confident off-road rider it may make sense to stay in Lanquín and hop onto local transport. If you want to go all the way though, I would still recommend staying in Lanquín and visiting Semuc Champey as a day trip. Trust me, it will be much nicer if your motorbike isn’t fully loaded for the last part!

When to visit?

The best time is to visit Semuc Champey is from mid December to mid April outside of rain season when the Cahabon River is at its clearest!

The gates to Semuc Champey open from 8am to 4pm daily and the best way to avoid the crowds is to visit first thing in the morning!

Where to stay?

Lanquín is a pretty small town and the main street has a good choice of hotels. If you are on a budget, then check out El Hostal Lanquin. If you can stretch a little further though, we strongly recommended El Muro Pub & Hostel next door for its breathtaking views of the mountains from the main terrace.

We checked in for just one night but the view from the hammock was so breathtaking that we extended our stay for 3 nights just to relax here for a bit! We paid about 20 USD/night for our room here.

3. ANTIGUA: The former spanish colonial capital of Central America

Antigua will charm you with its beautifully restored colonial buildings and pastel facades. The backdrop of the surrounding volcanoes is simply stunning and on a clear day you might even be able to see spewing lava from one of the rooftops.

You are bound to fall in love with Antigua as you wander its cobbled streets, passing its many churches, plazas, markets and take in its vibrant atmosphere. If you want to explore life outside of the city, you will be greeted by Mayan communities, coffee plantations and volcanoes.

Do we need to say any more, or have you already marked Antigua on your list of places to go? You certainly won’t regret it! And what’s more, it’s the perfect base for one of the ultimate things anyone coming to Guatemala should explore: hiking volcano Acatenango!

How do I get here?

There are many direct flights straight into Guatemala’s largest airport ‘La Aurora International Airport‘ which is only 25 miles from Antigua.

If you are overlanding and coming from Tikal / Semuc Champey then Cobán usually makes for a good stop to break up the journey. From Cobán it’s a solid 5 hours ride into Antigua.

When to visit?

Antigua tends to have pleasant weather all year round. If you want to avoid the chance of rain, aim for Guatemala’s dry season which runs from November to April. But bear in mind that this is also the busiest time of the year. So if you want to avoid crowds you may prefer visiting in May for example.

There is no shortage of accommodation to suit any budget from boutique hotels right in the centre, to significantly cheaper AirBnB options within walking distance to it. We opted to stay in an AirBnB and walk into town. In the evenings it was always easy and cheap to pay for transport back home as well if we didn’t want to walk.

4. Hiking Acatenango Volcano: Guatemala’s most spectacular volcano experience

When meeting other travelers in Guatemala, there would always be the same questions that would come up. “Are you hiking Acatenango” or “Have you hiked Acatenango volcano yet”? I’ll be honest with you, Fiona and I aren’t the most passionate hikers out there and the five hours steep climb up was more than unappealing to us. But there was something magical about how everyone who did it spoke about it. Every single person would tell us that we couldn’t miss out on it and how it’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing. And it really was!

Hiking Acatenango was not just a huge highlight of our travels through Guatemala but it’s probably up there with one of my all time travel highlights. The sweat and hard work is really worth it. The views are nothing short of amazing! And how often can you look straight onto an active volcano that erupts every 5-10 min. spitting lava? Experiencing the noise of the eruption, seeing the stones thrown up in the air followed by gushing lava was honestly unreal! It was one of those unforgettable moments that I will forever cherish.

How do I get here?

You have to book a guided tour to hike up Acatenango and all of them tend to leave from Antigua. Pick up is usually arranged from your hotel or close to your AirBnB and leaves around 7am.

When to go?

It can get pretty cloudy and foggy when you hike up Acatenango and the visibility you get will probably impact your experience. We were super lucky and the weather couldn’t have been clearer. Hiking during Guatemala’s dry season (Nov – April) will improve your chances of good visibility!

5. Town-hopping around Guatemala’s LAKE ATITLAN

Lake Atilán was formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic eruption. Today it is the deepest lake in Central America with a depth of 340 meters. The surrounding dormant volcanoes provide a stunning backdrop, making it one of the most beautiful lakes to visit in Central America. There are several towns dotted along the 18km long and 8km wide lake, each with their own unique vibe!

Looking for a yoga retreat? Head to the hippie town of San Marco. Want to party? San Pedro is your best bet. If you are after a more cultural experience, then you’ll enjoy exploring Santiago Atitlán with its strong indigenous vibe. Looking for something quieter? Then try Santa Cruz La Laguna, San Juan or Jaibalito.

No matter if you are looking for some quiet downtime, a homestay to learn Spanish or joining a yoga & meditation retreat, Lake Atitlán is a magical place to do it! And you can easily town hop with frequent shuttles between the towns. In fact, it’s one of the best things to do on the lake! We loved exploring all the little villages.

How do I get here?

From Antigua it took us about 2.5 hours by motorbike to reach Panajachel. It was a pretty easy ride. At some point the road ended though and we had to take a dirt road instead with a river crossing. It was actually quite fun and after about 5 miles the dirt road joined the main tarmac road again. I believe there is a way to avoid the river crossing but it would have meant taking a big detour and missing the fun river crossing!

Our friend Tracy based herself at the quiet and super cute town of San Juan La Laguna instead. Her experience of getting there by motorbike was very different with a long ride through the mountains and many hairpin turns along the way!

If you are relying on public transport, don’t worry. Lake Atitlán is a popular tourist destination and there are shuttles from Antigua and other main cities!

Getting around

There are frequent and cheap connections by boat from morning to early evening.

We actually rented a boat with a couple of travellers we met in Panajachel for the day to get around. This worked out more expensive of course but we only started late morning and this option allowed us to get around quicker!

Where to stay?

We chose to ride to Panajachel as it’s an easy base from where you can explore all the other towns. This worked very well for us! We liked the town of San Marco but also felt that accommodation could be quite pricey over there. As for San Pedro, it wasn’t our cup of tea and very busy compared to the other towns! It’s good if you want to meet other people in hostels and party, but for a more relaxing time try San Juan, San Marco or even Panajachel.

Are you ready to explore Guatemala?

I hope we have been able to give you a glimpse of just how amazing and rewarding travelling through Guatemala can be! It certainly has left a big impression on us and is one of my favourite countries I had the pleasure of exploring. And as far as safety is concerned, we felt very safe throughout our travels and have experienced so much kindness from the locals we met!

Questions? Feedback? Or simply want to share your thoughts? We are always happy to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below

The post GUATEMALA: Top 5 Highlights You Have to See appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

But to our surprise there was only a single one. It has been set up by an American couple from Virginia in 2000 who fell in love with Guatemala. They quit their corporate jobs back home and purchased a piece of land in the area of Santa Maria de Jesus. They then transformed the former coffee plantation into a vineyard and even built a real chateau there!

But with no experience it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride. For the first 10 years of its existence it was very much an experimental vineyard. Many grape varieties were imported from abroad but didn’t grow well in the volcanic soil. Since 2007 the vineyard has been selling wine. The result? CHÂTEAU DEFAY offers 13 different wines, 6 whites, 5 reds and 2 roses.

What to expect?

The road to CHÂTEAU DEFAY leads you through the local village. You then follow a gravel road to the entrance but from there it gets pretty rough (but not for long). It definitely felt like proper off-road with our fully loaded motorbike! I’ve never done any off-road to visit a vineyard before and it was super fun. As we turned the corner at the bottom of the dirt road we saw the chateau and surrounding vineyards. The views were pretty amazing!

Once we parked our motorbike we made our way inside for the wine tasting. Next we took advantage of the beautiful terrace and enjoyed lunch from the restaurant with pretty awesome views! The restaurant aims to offer a European / Italien type of cuisine. It was a little pricey and average at best BUT this is to be expected when ordering European food in Central America. CHÂTEAU DEFAY definitely doesn’t offer fine cuisine, but that’s not why we came and that was totally fine by us!

How was the wine tasting experience?

Okay first of all I have to say that there was a lot of guesswork going on as we were relying on my spanish translation skills. So I probably missed a few bits. But we were surprised to learn that CHÂTEAU DEFAY hasn’t produced a single bottle of wine for roughly 10 years.

I was curious as to why and we were told that they had simply produced more bottles than they could sell so production was stopped. I know, pretty bizzare right? We also learned that as the quantity of wine was decreasing the price of it was rising. Nothing to do with grape variety or the year of the harvest!

A few years ago they wanted to start producing wine again but found that a lot of the vines were damaged. They have since been trying to recover them with a view of continuing to producing wine.

To summarise, it was the most bizzare wine tasting experience EVER !

Does CHÂTEAU DEFAY produce quality wine?

Honestly I didn’t rate it very highly. The better tasting wine was average at best! But that was okay for us. We didn’t come here to taste award-winning wine. We thought it was incredible that someone decided to start a vineyard in conditions most people would consider unsuitable.

Fiona doesn’t drink alcohol and I had to ride the motorcycle so only had small sips of all the varieties. We did actually end up buying a bottle of wine, because we thought it was a thoughtful gift for someone who was going to host us. But it wasn’t cheap (about 12 USD) and given that I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t have bought any for myself after visiting the vineyard!

Is CHÂTEAU DEFAY worth visiting?

Yes, I think it’s a great little day trip from Antigua. It’s pretty unique. It’s also very beautiful. I liked the location which leads you through remote local villages if you make your way here independently. So if you like wine and want to visit CHÂTEAU DEFAY as a daytrip or when passing through I think it’s well worth it.

Just don’t be disappointed if you won’t see grapes on the vines or taste the best wine of your life. You can probably pick up a better bottle in the supermarket. But it’s a fun experience in my opinion nonetheless.

How to get here?

The vineyard is roughly 1 hour drive from Guatemala city or 30 min. from Antigua. We rode here on a fully loaded motorcycle from Antigua. The dirt road from the entrance to CHÂTEAU DEFAY was pretty rough. It was certainly my first off-road experience to access a vineyard and super fun.

Upon leaving we saw a bus dropping tourists off. So I’m pretty sure that tours (in Spanish at least) can be organised from Antigua. The bus stops nearer the entrance and you’ll need to walk down to CHÂTEAU DEFAY as the road is too rough and narrow for a bus to pass through. But the walk is short and very pretty!

Are you up for tasting wine in Central America’s only vineyard? It probably won’t compare to any wine tastings in South America but hope this blog post helped you decide if it’s worth a day trip

The post CHÂTEAU Defay: The ONLY Vineyard in Central America appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

This blogpost will hopefully put your mind at ease that anyone, regardless of your fitness level, can handle the hike. What the 2 day excursion entails and how best to prepare and which tour operator to choose.

Hiking volcano Acatenango is not only one of the most spectacular hikes you can do in Guatemala but is probably one of the ultimate travel highlights of Central America!

Why is a hike up Acatenango so special?

Hiking to the basecamp of Volcano Acatenango gives you a direct view over ‘Volcano de Fuego’ which is the most active volcano in Central America. It produces frequent tall ash plumes and you can see intense lava fountaining at night.

The hike will take you through four distinct ecosystems. First you’ll be passing farmland where local farmers harvest corn, flowers and snow peas. Next you’ll be ascending into an old-growth tropical cloud forest where you’ll experience a diversity of flora and fauna. The cloud forest also provides you with shade, which no doubt you’ll be appreciating at this point of the hike. Next you’ll enter sparse high-alpine forests from where you’ll be able to overlook six volcanoes in total and take in stunning panoramic views! The last stretch will take you through the mystical grey and black volcanic terrain.

Can you get Altitude sickness when hiking Acatenango?

Yes. At 3,976 metres (13,044 ft), it is not uncommon to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. So it’s advisable to spend a couple of days in Antigua, which sits at 1,533 metres (5,029 ft) to help you acclimatise. It also helps to keep hydrated throughout the hike!

In our group nobody was having any symptoms. Most people just experienced headaches. However, we did pass one person from another group who was suffering quite badly from altitude sickness.

Best time of the year to hike Acatenango

The best time is generally during dry season which runs from November to April. The views tend to be best in January and February, but the nights are usually also the coldest during this time.

We hiked in December and had blue sky, very sunny weather and gorgeous clear views! But it was also freezing cold at night with temperatures close to -5 degrees Celsius!

During rainy season the mornings are usually dry, midday it’s cloudy and it generally rains for a couple of hours in the afternoon and clears up again in the evening.

How fit do I need to be to hike Acatenango?

Initially Fiona and I decided that we would probably give this experience a pass. The reason? Our general health is pretty good but our fitness level isn’t great. We are also not keen hikers. So whereas we’ll happily walk for an hour or so to catch a nice panoramic view somewhere, you certainly won’t see us on multi-day hikes. When we hike it’s almost always in return for a rewarding view, not just for the love of hiking!

In Guatemala we met Tracy, an inspirational woman in her 50s who was on a solo motorcycle trip from Canada to Patagonia, like ourselves. Again, Tracy would describe her general health as good but wasn’t doing much to keep fit. In addition she likes to smoke and knock back a few beers every night. Why am I telling you all that?

Because between the three of us, none of us felt like we could do it. If three people as unfit as us could do it, then so you can you! Sure, it’s less painful if you have a decent fitness level. But please don’t skip this awesome experience if you can’t describe yourself as fit. If your general health is okay, you’ll probably make it up there, even if you’ll be towards the slower end of the group!

Is it possible to hire a porter to carry my luggage up?

Out of everyone in our group, I was particularly concerned if I would be able to make it to the basecamp. The reason being that I fractured my pelvis in four places during a motorcycle crash only a couple of years before. And although I recovered very well, I struggled with steep inclines about a year after the injury.

I hired a porter because I wasn’t sure if my injury would allow me to make it and I wanted the option of being able to turn back if my pelvis was going to give me any problems. I was very happy that not only did I make it up to the top without my pelvis giving me any issues, but it was the ultimate test that I had fully recovered from my injury.

The porter cost 10 USD and once we reached the top he handed me my bag and made his way back down, so I only had to carry my backpack down the next day!

Can anybody hire a porter?

As for Fiona and Tracy they decided to get a porter also. For no other reason then to make their hike easier. We were the only three people in our group who had porters. And yes I found it a little embarrassing, but ultimately it helped us get up there! So if you are unsure if you can make it, remember you have this option too. In our case, the porter received the full amount of money we paid the tour company for this service!

Can I hike Acatenango volcano by myself?

Yes, there are people who do this hike independently BUT unless you are a VERY EXPERIENCED hiker I wouldn’t recommend it and here is why:

1) Guided tours are very affordable, only around 20 USD
2) Hikers have died from hyperthermia before as temperatures can reach -7 degrees Celsius
3) It is possible to suffer from altitude sickness

I fully appreciate there is something very rewarding about undertaking this hike without a guide. But please don’t do it unless you are very experienced, are properly prepared and have the right equipment to withstand the freezing cold weather!

How can I book a tour to hike Acatenango Volcano?

Booking a tour to hike Volcano Acatenango is very easy, as there are many tour operators based in Antigua. You don’t really have to book far ahead either. We booked ours one day in advance!

The cost can vary a little depending on a few things:

1) Will the meals provided fill you up, or are there more of a snack?
2) Will you get a good view of Volcano de Fuego?
3) Depending on where your tour operators’ base camp is, you may need to walk further
4) How big is the group you will be hiking in?
5) Can you borrow hiking shoes / extra jackets for free or for a charge if needed?

My recommendation is to book directly with a tour operator from Antigua as it’s often MUCH CHEAPER than booking ahead online!

The best tour operator to hike Acatenango volcano

When we did our research, one company stood out from all the others. Not only does Soy Tours have 5 star reviews but they are also the ONLY tour operator that gives directly back to the local community. Of course we decided to book with them!

With Soy Tours you can expect:

– Experienced Guides
– Decent sized Meals
– Great basecamp with fantastic views
– Borrow hiking shoes / backpacks / extra coats free of charge

We paid about 20 USD for the entire two days excursion and additional 10 USD to hire a porter and carry up our backpack. So in total it worked out at 30 USD per person!

Rough schedule for hiking Acatenango Volcano

Day 1

7:30 am Pick up from your hotel / AirBnB
9:00 am Safety briefing + borrow what you need before leaving
10:00 am The hike starts

You’ll be hiking for about 5 hours which includes regular breaks. The group usually splits up so the faster hikers are at the front and the slower ones at the back. If you hike faster you tend to get longer breaks as this is usually where the group catches up

Acatenango Base Camp has an altitude of 2600 meters. Once you reach it you’ll be allocated a tent. Remember it’s warmer to share so we happily took a tent together with Tracy. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy the view and there will be an option to do a small 20-30 minutes hike to catch sunset from. By the time you get back, dinner is usually ready.

Day 2

4:00 am Hike to the summit of Volcano Acatenango for sunrise (optional)
4:45 am Arrival at the summit
5:00 am Sunrise
5:30 am Hike back down to the basecamp

After sunset you will be able to see the bright red lava spewing out of the volcano. We caught it on a superb day as ‘Volcan de Fuego’ erupted every 5-15 minutes. The only thing that made us go inside the tent eventually was the freezing cold!

Best preparation you can do to hike Acatenango

1. Bring a decent pair of hiking shoes

During the hike you’ll experience pretty lose ground. You’ll encounter everything from soft sand to small little stones. It’s nice to have proper boots that cover your ankles as your trainers would fill up with sand and stones. It’s also pretty chilly at basecamp and especially on top of the summit. A thick pair of sock and decent hiking shoes are highly recommended!

I didn’t have any, so borrowed a pair from Soy Tours. I reached the base camp fine but during the hike to the summit I got a couple of blisters. They were comfy, worn in shoes but the part that is supposed to support your heel was torn and the piece of plastic really irritated me after some time. The hike back down was so painful in these shoes that my group had to wait an entire hour for me to catch up with them. Ouch!

Top Tip: If you need to borrow shoes, ask to try them on a day in advance. You don’t want to be fighting for a pair of shoes with other people in the group on the day!

2. Layer Up

It gets pretty cold up there so I recommend you to layer up! We were very grateful that we had functional base layers for cold weather. We were able to borrow jackets (we took a couple each) but they are not the best quality ones. So we were very grateful for our warm merino wool mid layers underneath.

In short, chances are you’ll be cold so it’s better to bring a couple of layers too many if in doubt. And don’t forget to bring a nice pair of thick socks – you’ll be grateful for them later, trust me!

3. Carry enough Water with you

Your guide will recommend about 3 liters per person. This amount was perfect for us. In fact we had an additional hydrapak with 2 liters to share between Fiona and I so we had some water left over. This was lucky for Tracy who decided to quench the thirst of some dogs at basecamp and found herself thirsty on the hike back down. As we had more than enough we could donate some to her. From our experience the recommended 3 liters per person is a good amount!

4. Bring a proper camera, ideally with a good zoom

Yes, iPhone cameras are amazing these days but you can’t capture the erupting volcano and lava properly with it. Having a tripod to keep your camera steady and a zoom will help you get that perfect shot you are after!

5. Don’t turn down that walking stick

I don’t usually like hiking with a walking stick. But it was highly recommended to take one, so we didn’t turn them down. We could borrow them for 50 cents roughly and they sure came in handy. We found it particularly useful when hiking in deep gravel and while hiking down!

6. If you don’t have a good backpack with proper support, borrow one!

You’ll need to carry your own water, lunch and extra clothing that you’ll need at the summit. You’ll probably also want to carry your camera equipment. Having a good fitting backpack with good back support and ideally one with a hip belt to distribute the weight properly is essential. If you don’t have one, ask to borrow one!

7. Bring some snacks or sweets

As previously said the food quantities provided by Soy Tours were perfect. But when you are super exhausted there is nothing better than a good snack or chocolate bar to provide you with an energy boost and pick you up. So it’s worth bringing a couple of your favourite snacks along!

8. If you have a super light and warm sleeping bag, consider bringing it along

Once we arrived at base camp the tents, matts and sleeping bags were laid out for us already. But even with all our layers, the night was freezing cold. Temperatures were -5 degrees Celsius. I can’t tell you if the isomatts were insulated. And I doubt the sleeping bags were the best quality on the market. We didn’t carry camping gear at the time but we now have super light goose down sleeping bags and a very well insulated isomatt that I know keep us warm in -2 degrees Celsius. If I had to hike up again tomorrow, I’d take them with me.

It’s one more thing to carry of course and ONLY makes sense if you have a super light and very warm sleeping bag. If you don’t, just make do with whatever you are given. It’s only one night after all!

9. Pack a hat and gloves

Yes, you’ll need them as soon as you reach base camp. But especially on top of the summit where it’s even colder. I removed my gloves like most people to take photos and I couldn’t feel them after about 20 minutes. They were so cold they started hurting and took ages to warm up again!

As for the hat, you’ll need one too and we even slept in ours as we were so cold at night!

10. Pack as lightly as possible

You already have to carry a bunch of essential items like water, food and more layers. Any extra items should be carefully considered. A headlamp is definitely a useful thing to bring along. But we relied on our mobile torch and that was okay also.

Every ounce matters so the lighter you can pack, the better!

You won’t get much of a break back at basecamp, as you’ll be expected to start the descent back down almost immediately. This usually takes 2-3 hours. Sadly, my group had to wait an additional hour for my arrival. Although I was one of the first people to reach basecamp, hiking back down was a different story. My feet had a couple of blisters and were hurting real bad. Luckily, there was a sense of team spirit and nobody was upset having to wait for me!

You are usually expected to be back at your hotel around 1pm!

What if the weather isn’t great?

First of all you should know that it’s often very foggy as you climb Acatenango. It usually clears up, but as you probably noticed Fiona and I had exceptionally good weather with clear views all around us. Yep, we got pretty lucky! Just a few months before we hiked Acatenango our friends Andreas & Sabrina did the same hike with less favourable weather conditions. They created a beautiful dedicated video of their hike up Acatenango where you will be able to see what it’s like in foggier conditions and why the hike up is still absolutely worth it. Click here and scroll down to check out their YouTube video!

The Aftermath of Hiking Acatenango Volcano

After a long, hot shower we decided to go into town to celebrate with a glass of wine and good food. We had also pre-booked a massage, knowing what a treat it would be! We didn’t stay out long and collapsed exhausted into bed that night.

There was no way I could see myself jumping back onto the motorbike the next morning to continue towards Lake Atitlan. I was aching seriously bad and felt generally unwell. I can’t tell you how happy we felt when we were able to extend our stay for an additional two nights!

But it wasn’t until we reached Lake Atitlan and put our feet up for a few days that I can say we had truly recovered!

Are you ready to hike Acatenango Volcano?

We hope you found this guide useful. And if we can inspire at least one unfit person to give this hike a go, we will be very happy If you have any questions about hiking Acatenango or if you want to share your experience with us then please leave a comment below. As always, we would love to hear from you!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Acatenango VOLCANO appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

In fact some of our top highlights of our travels through central America were in Belize. It just kept getting better and better the more we went on to explore! The main attractions in Belize include wildlife, Mayan ruins and one of the longest barrier reefs in the world!

From scuba diving the Blue Hole to crawling through ancient cave systems, zip lining through the jungle, hiking to waterfalls or exploring wildlife, Belize is packed with ADVENTURE!

1. Sail to the Blue Hole in Belize

Ever since I saw a picture of the Blue Hole I knew I had to see it! But it was a little more complicated and expensive than we had anticipated. With a little bit of luck though, we managed to not only see it, but actually sailed to it. And this also meant visiting all the stunning islands along the way! In fact this experience was so spectacular that sailing to the Blue Hole alone is a huge adventure.

Apart from how beautiful the Blue Hole is, especially from above, it is also a pretty special place to dive and snorkel! If you keep close to the reef, the turquoise blue water is pretty shallow and it’s easy to spot many colourful and tropical fish. But to the other side, there is a sudden 125 meters drop where the water has a deep blue colour. This is generally where you spot bigger fish like sharks. The Blue Hole measures 300 meters across and it takes about 30-45 min. to complete the loop if you want to circle it.

What about diving the Blue Hole?

Diving is a completely different experience! Divers descent along a wall and once they reach a depth of about 36 meters, they can see stalactites which were formed by dripping water when the cave was above sea level. However, due to the lack of light the main attraction isn’t actually to spot sea life! The dive is more of a bucket-list achievement suitable for EXPERIENCED divers. So don’t be disappointed if you “just” get to snorkel! My personal highlight? Seeing the Blue Hole from above!

2. Lamanai Mayan ruins of Belize

The Lamanai temples are not just the oldest and best excavated mayan ruins in Belize. They are actually also my favourite Mayan ruins that we got to explore across Central America. Yep, including famous Mayan sites like Tikal and Chichén Itzá. Why?

Avoid cruise ship days and you will almost certainly have the temples to yourself if you make your way here independently!

The temples are most frequently visited by tours from Belize City by water taxi. Due to their location and you requiring to get there by water taxi, the tours cost upwards of 100 USD. The cost certainly puts many visitors off and if in addition to that you choose to make your way here independently and avoid cruise ship days, then you are almost certain to have the temples all to yourself! You will also save yourself a lot of money as the entrance fee is only 5 USD!

Shipyard was founded in 1958 by Old Colony Mennonites from Chihuahua and Durango states in Mexico. Most of the population of Shipyard are Plautdietsch-speaking ethnic Mennonites and very conservative. Horse and buggies are still the main transportation. We got a few friendly waves passing through but it’s definitely not a tourist destination, so ride through respectfully!

The Howler monkeys add to the ultimate jungle feel

I also loved how many howler monkeys live in the surrounding rainforests. You can hear them pretty much anywhere you go. As neither of us had previously heard them they initially really scared us. Then I figured out that all this noise couldn’t possibly be coming from an animal and I briefly suspected that the noises were being played by some hidden speakers in the trees to give you that jungle feel. How tacky I thought … until I saw an entire family of howler monkeys within seconds of forming that thought.

The face carvings of the Mask temple are very unique

We made our way from one temple to another with pretty much nobody else around. I loved the high temple for its stunning views of the endless surrounding rainforest. But the most special one was probably the mask temple which features mayan face carvings. We have previously seen smaller Mayan carvings, but never of facial features. So it was very unique, beautiful and different from all the other Mayan temples we visited throughout Mexico and Central America.

3. Visit the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave in Belize

Visiting the ATM cave was one of THE MOST UNFORGETTABLE and adventurous experiences of our travels through Central America! There is a limit of 120 people who are allowed to enter the cave per day and you’ll only be allowed to do so with a qualified guide! The drive from San Ignacio takes just under one hour. Then you’ll have to hike about 2 miles and cross three rivers before you make it to the entrance of the cave. Back in the days just getting to this point was a mission by itself but these days it’ll take you less than half an hour to get there from the parking lot!

What to expect?

The guided tour will take you deep into the underworld, which the ancient mayans used to refer to as Xibalba, meaning “Place of Freight”. Rightly so, as they were not only used for mayan ceremonies, but often to sacrifice humans!

Making your way through the 3 miles long cave will require you to mostly walk, swim for a short period of time, and towards the end climb a little. So expect to get soaking wet! As you make your way across the cave you’ll notice loads of pottery around you. At the end of mayan ceremonies pots were often thrown onto the ground to break them, so the majority of them are broken. But many are still mostly intact with smaller pieces missing.

But the most astonishing part is not only discovering the pre-Columbian pottery, but rather the many BONES, SKULLS and SKELETONS scattered across the cave. There is currently nothing (not even tape) to separate you from them. So the cave is very much left in the same way archeologists found it in 1989!

The entire experience of getting to the cave and exploring it was very exciting and surreal. It can be a little pricey around 85 USD so many people skip it. But trust me it’s 100% worth it to spend the money!!

How to get there?

Your best base is the town of San Ignacio. It’s a nice little town which caters well for travellers. As soon as you walk through the main street in town there’ll be one tour operator after another. So who do you go with?

Which tour operator is best?

Well, you’ll go with the cheapest one and let me tell you why! When the cave first opened to the public in 1998, the archeologists trained a number of local guides who applied to carry out tours of the cave. It doesn’t matter which tour operator you go with, as they ALL use one of the 120 qualified guides. So there is no reason to assume one tour is better than another! They all include transport to the nearest parking place and a basic lunch before you drive back into town. So on this occasion I feel confident that spending more money will not result in an enhanced experience!

Are YOU ready to explore Belize?

Unlike its neighbouring country Belize is certainly on the more expensive side. Especially if you are relying on booking one tour after another and don’t have your own transport. We weren’t quite prepared for it and definitely blew our budget BUT we are very happy that we did. Because Belize was totally worth it!

When it comes to value for money then yes, neighbouring Mexico or Guatemala offer a lot more bang for your buck. But if money is not a concern, then you definitely shouldn’t rush through Belize and explore all it has to offer!

Questions? Feedback? We are always happy to hear from you so please leave a comment below to share your thoughts

The post Belize: Do NOT Miss these 3 Amazing EXPERIENCES! appeared first on ADV Travelbug.

The Blue Hole has a near perfect circular shape and due to the depth of the cave, the water has a deep blue colour. However, the water of the surrounding reefs is very shallow and its turquoise blue colours create a stark contrast. This makes the Blue Hole such a unique place to visit and seeing it from above is simply unreal!

Divers can swim along the walls 124 meters to the ground and explore the stalagmites. But beware! Apart from needing a lot of diving experience, it is also very dark down there. So you’ll probably be able to spot more sealife around the corrals surrounding the Blue Hole.

In the shallow water you can spot many colourful tropical fish, whereas eagle rays, turtles and sharks are usually easier to spot closer to the deeper water. I enjoyed swimming right in the middle so I’d have the turquoise blue water to my left and the drastic deep blue colours to the right. Snorkelling around the Blue Hole was simply magical!

Option 1: Flying above The Blue Hole

Experiencing the Blue Hole is pretty awesome! But if you truly want to see the coral reefs wrap around the dark blue circle surrounded by turquoise coloured water, then you need to fly over it. Or send your drone up, which will save you a ton of money But watch out as it can get pretty windy out here. The wind was around 17 knotts and when our Mavic Pro took off I knew that there was a high chance that I might not see my drone again. Luckily it made it all the way up to take some unforgettable pictures! The fact that it came back down and even landed back on our catamaran was a huge bonus (and relief)!

Pros

– The best way to see it and take photographs

Cons

– You’ll miss out on the snorkelling and diving

The biggest issue with this option you need to be aware of

Hiring a plane for 6 people to fly above the blue hole costs roughly 1,500 USD. So that works out about 250 USD per person. Sure, that’s pretty expensive but for some still affordable. The issue however is that unless you can find 6 people to go with, you’ll have to make up for the whole amount. We haven’t come across a single tour operator that took a booking per person!

Our friend Tracy who was travelling alone in Belize didn’t have anyone else to buddy up. But it was her childhood dream to see The Blue Hole so she ended up having to pay 1,500 USD to fly by herself. Ouch!!

Due to the cost involved we relied on our drone to ‘see’ the Blue Hole from above. However, if you are looking for a reputable tour operator to fly over it, Tropic Air has stellar reviews!

Option 2: Book a ‘Blue Hole Dive’

There are many tour operators based in Belize City and around the islands, like Caye Caulker and San Pedro. Most will offer a day return trip to the Blue Hole by speed boat for around 350 USD. Diving equipment is usually included together with water and lunch for the day.

Remember that diving down the Blue Hole is only recommended for EXPERIENCED divers as you need to descent 124 meters. The water around the surrounding corrals however is very shallow and makes for an easy dive. In fact, it’s perfect for snorkeling as well!

Fiona and I don’t dive and were looking for snorkeling tours to the Blue Hole. The only option we found was to tag along with a diving tour, but the price remains the same, even if you don’t dive. We opted for the sailing and snorkelling option instead!

Pros

– Diving the Blue Hole is a huge highlight and one to tick of your bucket list

Cons

– The Blue Hole is really far out and if you only book a day trip you’ll miss many other equally amazing diving spots like Glover’s Reef Atoll, Turneffe Islands Atoll, Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye for example.

Option 3: Sailing to the Blue Hole

By far the best way to experience diving and snorkeling in Belize is NOT TO RUSH. Sailing will allow you to explore many different tiny islands and get plenty of snorkeling in.

Unfortunately this is also the most expensive way to explore the islands BUT by far, the most rewarding. Not everyone will have the necessary qualifications to rent their own sailing boat of course. But if you find a large enough group of friends to go, you can also rent a sailing boat with a skipper and share the costs. Click here to check out prices from a reputable company!

Fiona and I were just sailing around Bacalar a couple of days before arriving in Belize where we met a lovely retired couple from Germany who told us about ‘Hand Gegen Koje‘. It roughly translates into ‘hand for bunk’. We had never heard about this website, let alone the concept behind it before, but were immediately interested. It basically allows private boat owners to rent out their cabins, quite similar to the way you’d rent out an AirBnB, in return for you helping out on the boat. This means you can book sailing trips at a fraction of the usual cost!

Although we strongly believe that sailing to the Blue Hole is the most rewarding option, we didn’t have the best experience with the boat we joined. We have shared the link below to help you find a boat for free. We actually paid 700 Euros/week each for our sailing experience as we weren’t expecting to work on board. It didn’t quite go to plan though, so if you want an honest review of how that worked out for us check the following link. Crewseekers: Best or Worst Sailing Experience Ever?

Pros

– The best way to experience The Blue Hole WITHOUT missing out on all the other equally amazing world-class diving and snorkelling experiences around it

– Travelling slower will allow you to stop at many beautiful islands along the way

Cons

– Unless you charter the boat with your friends you don’t know who you’ll end up on the boat with

– If you are sailing you’ll need to work with the wind and be flexible enough to change your route

How would YOU like to experience the Blue Hole best?

I hope you found this blogpost useful and informative! Questions? Feedback? Thoughts? Let us know what your preferred option is and leave us a comment below

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