Location: Ciudad de Guatemala
Day 1 - 11 Nov 2019
La Aurora International Airport
Content: Hello adventurers! Get ready for another wild adventure, but this time in the heart of Guatemala! ✨Welcome to Antigua✨ Let’s get started! ☺️🙏🏼 Airport: ✈️ At first my friend and I flew into the nearest airport to Antigua which is La Aurora International Airport, in Guatemala City. Since Antigua is so close to Guatemala City, many tourists often book their first and last nights there! However, my friend and I did not! The drive to Antigua is just under 40 kilometers. We had a pickup service ready to get us when we arrived. Note:📝 On a good day it takes around 45 minutes and on a bad traffic day it could take several hours! Exploration: 🇬🇹 On our first day, we immediately dropped off our luggage and hit the town! We wanted to explore as much as possible since on day two, we hiked a volcano. 😂 Swipe to see some of the lovely cobblestone roads, vibrant pastel colors on the colonial buildings, and the Guatemalan architecture!
Location: Antigua Guatemala
Day 1 - 11 Nov 2019
Amanecer Juice Bar & Coffee
Content: After you’re tired of exploring, make sure you hit up Amanecer Juice bar and coffee! ☕️🧃 They have ✨divine✨ coffee and the best smoothie bowls, smoothies, juices, and healthy food options! I highly recommend them! Another top place to go to is the Santa Catalina Arch. It’s standing right in front of the Volcán de Agua, and it’s become the symbol of Antigua and central image on its post cards! 🇬🇹 📍 Santa Catalina Arch is located on 5th Avenue North 💰 Free! 🌄 Go early in the morning for good photos!
Location: La Antigua Guetamala
Day 1 - 11 Nov 2019
Iglesia de San Pedro (Obras Sociales)
Content: At night we stopped by the Iglesia de San Pedro (this ginormous yellow church) right before we had dinner. The Iglesia de San Pedro was originally built in 1654 next to the hospital of the same name. How cool is that?!🙈 The church had to be restored after numerous earthquakes, and in contrast to most other churches in Anigua it was not abandoned after the devastating earthquake of 1773. It’s something you definitely won’t miss while exploring this colonial town. Also to mention, Antigua is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site!
Location: La Soledad
Day 2 - 12 Nov 2019
Cumbre del Acatenango
Content: Hello lovelies, time for an exploration up a volcano! 🌋 Day two we got to exploring Guatemala real quick! How’d we do this? By doing a two day hiking trip up a volcano to watch a neighboring active volcano constantly explode lol. Let’s get started! ☺️🌋🤪 If you’re interested in doing this hike I highly suggest you prepare physically and mentally for it. This isn’t a light hike, you need to be in good physical shape in order to do it. Acatenango Volcano is an 8.6 mile hike, but don’t be fooled. It’s rated as difficult. Time: 6-8 hour hike up Rated: Difficult Price: $90+ (2 days) The guided tour provides everything. Sleeping bag, tent, water, food, hiking boots, pants, long sleeves, head light, ect. Literally everything. They even offer a donkey to take up your stuff during the hike if you can’t carry it yourself while hiking up hill.
Location: Volcán Acatenango
Day 2 - 12 Nov 2019
Volcán Acatenango
Content: This was still us hiking up the volcano. During the beginning of the hike, it’s very hot and you can expect to wear light clothes. Towards the middle you’re going to want to start layering as it’s colder when you hit the cloud cover section. And once you get to base camp it’s incredibly cold so you’ll want to be in full gear!
Location: Acatenango
Day 2 - 12 Nov 2019
Acatenango
Content: After what felt like forever, we finally made it to base camp! My friend and I tried staying warm in these ✨adorable✨ wind breakers. 😌💅😂 Theu we’re quite glamorous. 🤪 During this time we pitched the tent, laid out our sleeping bags, and waited by the fire for dinner. We all got to know each other better during this time and just casually talk. They even heated wine over the fire for us which was so delicious and heated our freezing bellies! 🌄 Sunset 🌄 The sunset was absolutely gorgeous. It created this pink smoke effect from the lava and smoke coming off the neighboring volcano, Volcán Fuego.
Acatenango
Content: Time to watch the stars & fall asleep 😴⭐️ After a long day, we all headed off to sleep very early since we needed to wake up at 4am to begin the summit to the top!! Stay tuned for day 3 to be apart of the incredible summit up Acatenango! ✨
Location: Volcán Acatenango
Day 3 - 13 Nov 2019
Volcán Acatenango
Content: Million dollar view 🤩 The gang woke up around 4am. We put on our gear and head lamps and started to summit. My friend had to stay back because she was having breathing problems with the quick incline and altitude pressure. So, we pressed on! This part was by far the most difficult. Since the incline was all done walking in ash and sand, it was one step forward and three steps back. At this time you were exhausted from hiking yesterday, still tired from barely sleeping in the cold tent, and your calves were in so much pain from the constant incline. At this part it wasn’t just physical, it was all mental! You had to keep telling yourself you could do it. You had to fight how your brain was telling you, just go back to camp and rest. You still had about two hours to go till you reached the top! But once I made it, I sat my butt down on one spot. And barely moved. I only got up for a photo and video lol! I was that dead exhausted. But I was so happy I did it. Saw the sunrise. (All while I didn’t know I was pregnant). Fun times. 😂
Location: Acatenango
Day 3 - 13 Nov 2019
Acatenango
Content: Isn’t She breathtaking?! If you’re wondering why the angle hasn’t really changed, it’s because I didn’t move. 😂 If you’re looking for something to overcome, make it this trip. This hike changed my whole life. And now when I’m facing adversities or scared from the uncertainties of life, I look back on this hike and remember how empowered it made me feel. ❤️🌋✨ (I didn’t get any content on the way down as I was just so beat. And I mean the wholeeeeeee way down the volcano lol).
Location: Antigua Guatemala
Day 3 - 13 Nov 2019
CastellCafé
Content: This place was so delicious! It had live music and the best smoothies ever! I was in love with the pasta and pizza omggg. 100% have to go here!!! 🍝 🍕
Location: San Agustín Lanquín
Day 4 - 14 Nov 2019
Natural Monument Semuc Champey
Content: Welcome to the Guatemalan jungle 🌳 🌲 🌴 I got to wake up on my 22nd birthday in this adorable Bungalow deep in the Guatemalan jungle. And they even made me a free breakfast parfait to celebrate!🤩 On the agenda 🌅 sunrise pictures 🍳 breakfast 🛻 pickup truck drive to Semuc Champey
Natural Monument Semuc Champey
Content: I mentioned we were in a pick up truck right?😂🛻 This was us on our way to Semuc Champey! The ride was definitely dangerous so make sure to hold on tight! The story of these kiddos is quite cute! They randomly hoped on in the back to sell beer. 😂 They got to practice their English with us and helped teach us some Spanish! This dynamic duo was Maria and Dennis, the cutest brother and sister you’ll ever meet! I loved Maria. I built such a genuine connection with her. I trusted her to hold my phone and take videos of the jungle. (Was I crazy? Probably). She was so sweet she even put a flower in my hair! 🌸
Natural Monument Semuc Champey
Content: ✨Semuc Champey✨ This place is virtually inaccessible to all but the heartiest and strongest four-wheel drive vehicles lol. The Semuc Champey national monument boasts of six turquoise pools, tiered upon one another! When we got there early in the morning, it was basically just my friend and I, plus a few others! Semuc Champey is tucked away deep in the mountains of Alta Verapez. This place was stunning. Waterfalls, caves, natural pools, and limestone cliffs to top it all off!
Location: Unknown
Day 5 - 15 Nov 2019
Hotel Santana
Content: Next stop: Flores!✨🌴 This stop was intentional. We came here for three days only right before our trip to Tikal. The closest and largest settlements before Tikal are Flores and Santa Elena. We decided to stay in Flores which is in the northern Petén region! It’s on an island, which makes this little place soooo incredible! I wanted to stay so much longer I just fell in love with it’s little small town charm!
Location: Flores
Day 5 - 15 Nov 2019
Maracuyá
Content: For lunch my friend and I went to a place called ✨Maracuyá.✨ I ordered an avocado with some stuffed meat snd cheese with rice and cous cous.
Location: Ciudad de Guatemala
Day 6 - 16 Nov 2019
Club Premier
Content: Welcome to Tikal! Tikal National Park 🏞 In the heart of the jungle, lives one of the major Mayan ruin cites that dates back from the 6th century BC to 10th century AD. The Maya forest is so large it even extends into Mexico and belize! So that’s why you can also visit the Mayan ruins in Mexico as well! The coolest part about the Maya forest is that it habitats such a diverse ecosystem from wetlands to tropical broadleaf and even to savannah! Animals that can be seen here are: howler monkeys, pumas, jaguars, 300 species of birds, and 200 tree species! Thank
Location: Tikal
Day 6 - 16 Nov 2019
Templo IV
Content: Overall I highly recommend you check out Guatemala for Tikal! There’s nothing like seeing ancient civilization, listening to howler monkeys, and taking best friend photos in front of the ruins! Our guide spoke fluent English and really knew his history! I had so much fun in Guatemala and I hope this makes you consider checking out this gem. 🥰
Parque Nacional Tikal
Content: If you’re wondering, “Janae, why did you hike around in a dress?” I definitely didn’t lol! I brought this dress as a throw on over my clothes so I could take cute pics. #doitforthegram The coolest thing I learned there is that the diversity and quality of the architecture and its functions are also shown in the works of The Lost World Complex, Twin Pyramid Complexes, and the Great Plaza. Not to mention, even it’s irrigation system! The trek around the park wasn’t too complicated, it was just extremely humid and hot! So make sure to pack loads of water, mosquito repellent, and sunscreen!