Wonders of Guatemala

It’s evident how much I’m in love with Mexico; its remarkable history, outstanding culture, vast biodiversity, wonderful weather and kind people make it a superb place in the world, a place that you can explore and explore for years and even so, never being able to uncover the total extent of its richness.

Few weeks ago, I lead a tour to Guatemala for the first time. I had the great fortune of spending time with Maynor, one of our most experienced Central America guides. Setting out from Antigua, I was thrilled to learn that he shares my enthusiasm not only for birds, but history, good food, and fine folk art too.

Enjoying the bustling indigenous market of Zunil.

Guatemala’s nature and culture floored me. So close to Mexico but so unique and so authentic at the same time. Undoubtedly, the place to stay for us was Antigua, a beautiful colonial city whose serene ambiance invites to explore it by foot. A paradise for shoppers and coffee lovers alike, reminded me of San Miguel de Allende in the old days, without the hustle and bustle, but abundant in galleries, restaurants, shops and rural-sophisticated atmosphere.

Having luch at one of the 5a Avenida restaurants in Antigua

Another striking village was Chichicastenango whose local market’s interior is a bustling and colorful place where people bring their goods and vegetables to buy and sell, and in the exterior countless stalls of traditional textiles, carved masks, incense, and a plethora of other things, goes for miles, filling the streets that surround the main market and making this one of the best destinations for shopping.

Birding in Guatemala was simply as good as in any of the Mexican birding hotspots, and one of my favorites was Fuentes Georginas, a site of easy access and many birds species, where one can see in a good day, a Horned Guan flying over one’s head.

Let the birding checklists speak for themselves and learn why Guatemala should be in the must-go list of places for the serious birder (and for the novice as well):

• Hotel Atitlan – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44630389
• Atitlan National Park – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44627174
• Los Tarrales – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44570815
• Fuentes Georginas – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44522835
• El Rincon Suizo – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44497419
• El Pilar – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44467726
• Antigua – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44465475
• Antigua (main square) – https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44458140

Atitlan Lake and it’s surrounding villages such as Santiago, San Juan La Laguna, and Panajachel where hands down, the icying on the cake of this adventure, from the Rey Petetul Reserve -where one of our most lucky travelers witnessed the breathtaking splendor of a flying Quetzal, to the finer textiles and huipiles available in their markets, along with the peculiar “ojo de aguila” (eagle’s eye) and “ojo de hormiga” (ant’s eye) naif paintings.

Santiago Atitlan, the quintessential Mayan village, is a paradise for the Folk Art collector.

At this moment our team is designing and planning our 2019 Guatemalan Easter Tour, we invite you to stay tuned for this culture-nature (and abundant shopping) tour, or to contact us in case you wish to be included in our Interested Travelers’ List.

We’ll include overnight stays in Guatemala City to visit the Textiles Museum, In Atitlan, and will visit among other sites, the breathtaking markets of Zunil.

Traditional Market in the village of Zunil, Guatemala.

No one offers a more intimate nature and culture immersion in Guatemala than we do. In addition to the insights you’ll gain from Travelian Guides like Maynor, you’ll enjoy personal visits with Guatemalan naturalists, historians, and artists.

The scenic beauty of Atitlan Lake.

Honestly, visiting Guatemala is like time travel — a journey of discovery into little-touched realms. Click here to access our Wonders of Guatemala photo gallery and remember that our highly personalized small-group adventures are available as private tours for you, your family or group of friends, feel free to call us at 888-505-7211 or +52 (415) 100 2798 to inquire.

Further recommended reading:
Visiting Guatemala After a Deadly Eruption The New York Times