The Land of Eternal Spring has me questioning my love for water. I’m a Scorpio (water sign), I go to the beach every chance I get, I’m from an island. I grew up surrounded by water. I LOVE water, but Guatemala, you planted some new thoughts in my mind when I hear the question, “If you had to choose: mountains or ocean?” I was initially answering the question from experience, not realizing I had never experienced the mountains. Guatemala has been a breath of fresh air, beautiful views, amazing weather, and a new chance to say yes. Keep reading for a few highlights from my trip.

5 Things To Do in Guatemala

1.Eat pepian

By now you know I love to indulge in culture, so trying local food is a must. Notice I said local food, not street food. Pepian is a Guatemalan dish that is a stew with chicken, rice, and vegetables. It is served with tamales (sometimes) and tortillas on the side. I think it is usually served with chicken, and I don’t eat beef/pork, so that worked out for me. I had this dish twice while in Guatemala. I enjoyed it more the first time I had it as Los Tres Tiempos, but overall it was good. I would rate the meal a 6.5 out of 10 because I love the rice and chicken, but the spices weren’t doing it for me. I like spicy, yet flavorful food and this was similar to the taste of soup broth you have when you’re sick. I’m glad I tried it because what’s a trip if you don’t eat some local food.

2. Jump into Lake Atitlán

Ahhhh, the lake was beautiful. I spent 3 nights on Lake Atitlán and the views were unmatched. There are many towns on the lake, some small, some very developed, and some that are very instagram worthy. Each town has a different vibe and you can take a boat (lancha) to another town for a few dollars. The views on the lake were breathtaking, but jumping into the lake gave me the perfect rush of adrenaline. I visited the Natural Reserve in San Marcos where you can get great views with volcanoes and mountains and you can jump into the lake from a platform of about 40 feet. I love the water, but I am very scared of heights, so it took me a while to jump off, but I don’t regret it at all. The water was so refreshing and for a minute there, it felt like I was flying. If jumping from very high heights into large bodies of water isn’t your thing, don’t worry, you can also kayak and paddleboard on Lake Atitlán for a more serene experience. My time on the lake was 1000/10 and it’s a must when in Guatemala. If I had more time I would’ve loved to spend it on Lake Atitlán.

3. Hike Cerro de la Cruz in Antigua

The colonizers. How could I forget them. Cerro de la Cruz is a historic viewpoint in Antigua where a cross was placed (by colonizers, I believe) to watch over the city. This is a popular site in the city for visitors and Guatemalans. I enjoyed the history and you can see the entire city of Antigua from this viewpoint. I visited with a guide who explained the history and the Mayan culture before the colonizers claimed the Mayan land. I visited this site while on an ATV tour, so I was not there for too long, but I recommend visiting for the views (and pictures, of course) and the history.

4. Visit Parque Central and Santa Catalina in Antigua

Antigua is a beautiful city in Guatemala rich in history. You’ve probably seen photos of the Santa Catalina arch and if you have time I highly recommend exploring Antigua. The Santa Catalina arch and the Parque Central are two places near the city center where you can find many local vendors and lots of great food options. The central park operates like a local market where you can find fresh fruit, handmade jewelry, handbags, clothes, and much more. I personally loved walking through the busy streets to see what vendors were selling and feel the energy of Antigua. I’m not sure what I expected from Guatemala, or Antigua, but she did not disappoint.

5. Hike an active volcano - Papaya or Acatenango

Chile, there’s a story behind this one. So there’s a few hours between Lake Atitlán and Antigua and I chose to travel by shuttle. I met a woman on the shuttle and we chatted the ENTIRE ride. I’m sure the other passengers were sick of us, but she had really cool vibes. She had already been to Antigua, so she recommended I do a few things and hiking Papaya was one of them. I followed this recommendation with slight hesitation because the walking in Guatemala, in general, was not for the faint. Now, I’m not a hiker, but I decided to say yes to a new adventure because when in life am I going to have a chance to hike an active volcano again? The answer is never because I’m never doing it again. This hike was the longest 3 miles I have ever walked. There were designated stopping points, but I modified the hike and added additional stopping points because walking uphill is not in my skill set. My calves were hurting, at some points it felt like there was no air, and it was hot. Now, the views were great and getting to see a volcano is a once in a lifetime experience, but I don’t hike enough for this kind of activity. When you get to the top, the guides roast marshmallows for you (and I heard that some tours make pizza) using the heat from the volcano which is pretty cool. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen yet again, I’m not sure what I was expecting. There was an option to hike up 15 more minutes and “ski” down. I opted out of that part, but I don’t feel like it took away from my experience. Overall, this was a cool experience, I’d give it a 7 out of 10 and I’d recommend it because who can say they’ve hiked an active volcano?

*If the hiking part interests you, I’d recommend getting a walking stick because it does get pretty slippery. If the walking uphill part is not attractive to you, you can rent a horse when you get to the volcano which may make it a more enjoyable experience vs an exercise.

**As for the woman who recommended this activity, we have to have a follow up.

Honorable Mention - Visit Hobbitenango

This is a themed park based on The Hobbit. There are many picture opportunities, activities, food, and games all throughout the park. I visited while on my ATV tour and spent about an hour at the park. The hour felt sufficient for me, but if you’re really into The Hobbit or themed parks, I’d recommend going early on a weekday, so you can really enjoy all the park has to offer.

5 Rookie Mistakes I made in Guatemala

Staying at a hostel for more than 2 nights. (More to come on this in a future post.)
Not converting my US dollars into local currency. It’s always important to check if the US dollar (or your currency) is widely accepted in the country you’re heading to.
Not planning ahead for activities/food.
Not checking Tik Tok for reviews and recommendations.
Not packing more walking shoes.

In Guatemala, I decided to say yes because why the hell not? I had no reason to say no and nothing but life to live. It’s just that simple.

Travel Tip #27: Say yes.

Things I said yes to in Guate:

Yes to learning Spanish.
Yes to facing fears.
Yes to doing things that are hard.
Yes to adventure.
Yes to mountains.
Yes to new experiences.

Yes.

I loved saying yes to me. I learned that saying yes is liberating.

When I’m saying no to hiking 15 more minutes, I’m saying yes to my body.

When I’m saying no I don’t feel like it today, I’m saying yes to rest.

When I’m saying no to anything else, I shouldn't feel guilty because I’m saying yes to me.

This week, take back your control. What will you say yes to this week?

Say yes,

Mai