Guatemala – JohnnyRoams

Guatemala – quick travel guide

July 17, 2023May 29, 2022 by Johnny

A country of raw wild jungle and mountains, feels like a less-developed Mexico (sharing language and food similarities, as well as overlapping Mayan cultural history).

Guatemala is an uncommon travel destination for casual tourists, but common destination for off-the-beaten-path hardcore travelers. Hardly no Americans here since they’re scared by its danger reputation, but super popular destination for British (especially in the 18-22 age range). It’s cheap and nice partying.

Guatemala is a small easy country to visit. You can see everything in a month, and some people even fall in love (with its chill wildness) and stay 2-3 months. You can go here because you love it or because you need to do a visa run to renew your Mexico visa. I also notice many people who like Guatemala also like Nicaragua (beautiful wild landscapes and super nice local people).

I’d say British find Guatemala’s wild undevelopedness more enchanting whereas Americans and others may prefer countries with more infrastructure and common 1st world luxuries like hot water, electricity, working internet.

Get the scoop on where to go and how to get around. Find out why going off the beaten path to Guatemala is worth it.

Semuc Champey – quick travel guide

December 30, 2022June 10, 2022 by Johnny

Semuc Champey is a national park in Guatemala (deep in the mountains/jungles) between Antigua & Flores. Features beautiful turquoise pools, river rafting, caving, and other nature-based activities.

As beautiful as Semuc Champey is…there really isn’t much to do. And the whole logistics of getting here and planning where to stay can be a mess. For this reason, many people say it’s overrated and I totally agree. A lot of hassle to get there and there isn’t that much to do unless you absolutely want to do some nature things or party in a jungle hostel with your clothes off. Of course…they try to invent little activities to make you feel like it’s a theme park but there really isn’t much. Maybe a young college kid would see all this as adventure. As for myself…I’d prefer spending extra time in creature comforts in Antigua or even Lake Atitlan.

Still insist on going? Ok fine…let’s cover some tips for getting the most out of your visit here.

Acatenango & Fuego Volcano – hike tour guide

June 27, 2022May 31, 2022 by Johnny

Beautiful overnight hike up one volcano to get you incredible views of other surrounding volcanos and then back down safely to the real world.

Let’s cover some basic information you should know so you don’t gotta read a hundred sites to get all the info I share here.

What to expect
What volcano tour companies to choose
What gear you need
Logistics to plan (weather, travel)
Other helpful tips

Lake (Lago) Atitlan – quick travel guide

June 3, 2022May 31, 2022 by Johnny

A beautiful lake with many cute towns along the water, each with their different personalities.

Enjoy a relaxing waterfront with plenty of nature (hikes/tours), partying, bars, and restaurants to keep you occupied. This is a top-3 popular destination in Guatemala that’s easy enough to see within 3-4 days but keep you occupied if you want to be here for a month. Oh and it’s cheap!

Many people (usually Europeans) say it’s their most favorite place on earth, with all the wild nature and proximity to the water. I personally preferred the cuter city comforts of Antigua. To each their own.

Antigua – quick travel guide

April 24, 2023May 16, 2022 by Johnny

Cute colonial town in Guatemala, perfect for relaxing with food and nightlife, or more adventurous activities like volcano/nature hikes.

Antigua is definitely a common destination in Guatemala. Only 1-hour from the nearby Guatemala City (GUA) airport, handful of fun unique activities (like the Acatenango volcano hike), and other nearby-ish cities like Lago de Atitlan (3hrs) and Semuc Champey (9hrs).

While most people come here mainly for the volcano hike, I kept discovering more and more hidden gems in this place (with each passing day). Lots of great restaurants and shops, interesting architecture, and spots to sit around town and people watch. Also it’s super safe. Antigua is awesome and more than just a convenient volcano viewpoint. You can definitely live here!