Piedraluna Hotel

Pacaya!

by acemj

We visited Volcan Pacaya as a side trip from Antigua, but it can just as easily be visited from Guatemala City. The giant cone-shaped and very active volcano is only 18 miles from the country's capital and if you're in decent shape, it's worth climbing to the top. If you decide to visit, arrange it with a local tour company. If you try to hike it by yourself, you're taking a chance, since bandits have been known to rob and even kill tourists. Tours are fairly cheap and will include transportation and the safety of hiking in a group.

It takes about 3 hours to get to the top and will test you cardiovascularly. We had a group of about 11 people and 2 didn't make it to the top. However, if you can stick it out, the lava shooting out of the top of the cone at 8000 feet is well worth the effort! Wear a light jacket since the weather can get cold and windy at the top and bring a scarf or something to protect your face from the sulphuric fumes that you'll experience at the top.

Coming down on the lunar-like landscape is amazing!!

Downtown street.

by euzkadi

The old part of Guatemala city used to be the economical, political and cultural center of the city, now most of the governement offices and banks are located in the new part of the city, leaving the downtown abandoned and decadent. But yet is the most interesting part of the city, with it´s churches and colonial buildings.

Guatemala City

by Pieter11

Guatemala City was the start of my trip through Central America. It is one of the biggest cities in Central America and it doesn't have a good name in the area. "Guate" is told to be a dangerous, criminal city that you'd better skip when you want to visit the area.

At night I made a short citytour through the old centre. Here you do see some of the remote area's of the city and it is wise to make a tour like this by car and not on foot. If you do all that, Guatemala City can actually be a nice short stop on a tour through the area.

I did the same, and I only stayed in the city for two nights and a couple of hours by daylight. The rest of the time I spent in Antigua. The moment I did spent in the capital however, were not negative at all. In the modern city centre you don't see anything of the poverty and the criminality that the city is famous for, at least by daylight.

... more Semana Santa

by la_beba

Holy week celebrations were brought to Guatemala by the Spaniards, who had conquered the region in 1524. The Spaniards converted the native Maya to Christianity and introduced the Catholic religion.

Semana Santa (Holy Week - the week before Easter) is Guatemala's biggest festival, featuring processions and celebrations throughout the country - Antigua's fiesta is said to be the best.

Make sure to check out my travelogue about Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala, the most solemn celebration of lent in the whole wide world!

"My favorite "imágen": El Señor de "La Merced""