WhatÂ´s the coolest place to visit at Guatemala for vacation? excluding Antigua?

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Casual Traveler

Semuc Champey, near Coban is beautiful. There isn't much to do there but it is absolutely breathtaking. It takes several hours to get to it, but once you are there, you'll love it.

Find somewhere to stay on Lake Atitlan, I've stayed in San Lucas Toliman and Panajachel, both are beautiful.

Tikal: You can fly out of Guatemala City for about $130.00.

Lago Izabel, in the eastern part of the country is a beautiful lake. I stopped in a small town and rented an innertube for my kids from a local boy who charged $1.00 for the whole day.

rykkardo8

San Marcos La Laguna, on lake atitlÃ¡n

aatcheaptravel

Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan Explorer ex Panajachel Starting from USD $36.00 per person

Duration: 6 hours
Commences: Panajachel, Guatemala

Introduction:

A local woman making textiles to be sold at the markets
Â© Guatemala Tourism Board

The Chichicastenango and Atitlan Explorer combines a visit the famous Maya market and the beautiful Lake Atitlan. Our service will drive you to Chichicastenango where you will enjoy free time to enjoy the market. In Lake Atitlan you will enjoy a boat ride and visit to one of the towns surrounding the lake. Guide included only with the boat tour.
The small Mayan town of Chichicastenango lies on the crest of mountain tops two thousand meters high and is home to one of the most colorful native markets in all of the Americas where you can make some great bargain buys including textiles, ceramics, wood items, flowers, and more .

Commonly referred to as "the most beautiful lake in the world", Lake Atitlan was formed in an immense volcanic explosion 85,000 years ago. An immense hole was left in the earth's crust, leading to Atitlan being one of the world's deepest lakes. Large fissures were formed during the explosion, out of which the water flows, making Atitlan unique in that it is a fresh water lake with no river outlet.

Schedule Details

Lake Atitlan
Â© Guatemala Tourism Board

Dates:
Every Thursday and Sunday - through to 31 December, 2006

Location:
Tour commences with a courtesy hotel pick-up.

Time:
8:00am

Hotel Pickup:
Transportation is available from Panajachel area hotels. Please enter the name and address of your hotel at time of booking and call at least 72 hours prior to tour commencement to re-confirm your pick-up time and hotel.

Additional
Inclusions:

Expert guide and narration
Transportation to/from your hotel

Exclusions:

Gratuity (optional)

Additional Info:

This tour must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of your travel date
Confirmation for this product will be received at time of booking, unless you are booking within 8 days of tour date. In this case, confirmation will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability

Pricing Policy:

Infants under 2 years of age are free of charge
No further discounts for other age groups apply

sergio d

The Maya Ruins at Tikal are a world-class site! I would definitely recommend this as the number 1 spot. Not only the ruins are really beautiful and huge, but the rain-forest in which they are located amazing.

Another amazing spot is Lake Atitlan. It is with certainty one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. There are many native small towns surrounding it, so you can get a very nice piece of Guatemalan culture visiting these towns.

Rio Dulce/Lake Izabal/Livingston in the Eastern Part of the Guatemalan Caribbean (in the was to Tikal, so you could spend some time there and continue your trip to Tikal...) is a beautiful spot. Rio Dulce is a beautiful river with good hotels, a 16 Century Spanish Castle and a Manatee National Park. Livingston is a small Caribbean town with mostly black population and all-day reggae parties for the ones that love dancing and partying.

Chichicastenango, in the Western part of the country is a very colorful native town with many traditions of the native population of Guatemala. There is a Market where you can buy beautiful local fabrics and all kinds of stuff.

Guatemala is full with beautiful volcanoes. One of them, Pacaya Volcano is an active, easy to climb volcano (maybe 1 and a half hours) and the view is really nice. You could try to find a tour that takes you there, because it's like 45 minutes from Guatemala City.

Good luck and hope you enjoy your trip!

MattCan

Visit the Mayan ruins. Tikal is the most well know and most excavated. It is totally mystical rising out of the jungle. There are several lesser known sites that are more difficult to access, but if you are fit and adventurerous you would be rewarded with a unique experience.

I found the traditional market at Chichicastenengo fascinating as well, especially as I was able to witness a religous ceremony on the steps of the St. Thomas church. It involved burning maize, rhythmic drumming and chanting and fireworks at the end.

HijoDelSol

My list would be..
Tikal
Lake Atitlan
Chichicastenago
Rio Dulce
Guatemala City

annie

Livingston, Izabal... pretty beaches, nice people, a little too hot but pretty OK.

aybloc

On the beach of San Pedro del Atitlan. I stayed there for a year in the 70's. NOSTAAAALGIA!!!
The volcano San Francisco is cool too (if still active)

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