Table of Contents
1 Introduction 9
2 Overview 11
3 Guatemala City 25
Guatemala City in a Day 27
A Weekend in Guatemala City 31
Best Sleeps & Eats 35
Best Shopping 39
Best Nightlife & Entertainment 40
Best Sports & Recreation 41
4 Antigua 43
Antigua in a Day 44
A Weekend in Antigua 49
A Week in & Around Antigua 54
Macadamia Nut Farm 57
Volcán Pacaya 57
Chichicastenango 58
Best Sleeps & Eats 60
Best Shopping 67
Best-Nightlife & Entertainment 69
Best Spanish Language Schools 72
Best Sports & Recreation 75
5 Lake Atitlán 77
Lake Atitlán in a Day 78
A Weekend in Lake Atitlán 82
A Week in & Around Lake Atitlán 86
Panajachel 88
Santa Catarina Palopó 88
San Lucas Tolimán 89
Santiago Atitlán 89
San Pedro La Laguna 92
San Marcos La Laguna 92
El Jaibalito 93
Santa Cruz La Laguna 93
Best Sleeps & Eats 92
Panajachel 94
El Jaibalito 101
Santa Catarina Palopó 103
Santiago Atitlán 107
San Marcos 108
San Lucas Tolimán 108
San Marcos La Laguna 109
Best Shopping 109
Best Nightlife & Entertainment 111
Best Sports & Recreation 113
6 Chichicastenango 117
One Great Day in Chichicastenango 118
7 Tikal 122
A Weekend in Tikal 123
Best Sleeps & Eats 131
Best Shopping 133
8 Copán Excursion 134
A Day in Copán (Honduras) 135
A Weekend in Copán 138
Best Sleeps & Eats 146
9 The Pacific Coast 153
A Pacific Coast Weekend 154
A Week on the Pacific Coast 157
Monterico 157
Ixtapa 158
Isleta Gaia 159
Best Sleeps & Eats 160
Best Sports & Recreation 164
10 The Caribbean Coast 168
A Río Dulce Weekend 169
A Weekend in Livingston 173
Punta de Manabique 175
Best Sleeps & Eats 177
Livingston 177
Río Dulce 180
11 Practical Matters 181
Arrivals & Depatures 181
Flying to Guatemala 181
Cruises 181
Getting Around Guatemala 182
By Air 182
By Boat 182
By Car 183
By Car Rental or Private Driver 183
By Taxi 185
By Tuk-Tuk 185
By Bus 185
By Tourist Shuttle 186
By Pickup Truck Collective 187
Basic information 188
Banking & Changing Money 188
Plan Ahead for Credit Card Trouble 189
Business Hours 189
Climate & Weather 189
Consulates & Embassies 190
Electricity 190
Emergencies & Safety 191
Crime 191
Food 192
Health 194
Hospitals 195
Etiquette 195
Further Reading 196
Internet Access 196
Language 196
Newspapers & Magazines 197
Maps 197
Passport & Visa Regulations 197
Postal Service 197
Telephones 198
US Phones in Guatemala 198
Tipping 199
Tourist Information 199
Water 199
Weights & Measures 199
What to Bring 199
Essential Spanish 200
Pleasantries 200
Everyday Phrases 200
Travel Terms 201
Eating & Drinking 201
Slang 202
Pronunciation 203
Maps
Guatemala 13
Guatemala City 28
Antigua 45
Lake Atitlán 79
Panajachel 82
Tikal 125
Copán 136
Pacific Coast 156
Caribbean Coast 170