Guatemala is worth at least one month of time to see it correctly. You
could enter in from mexico. Fly to Mexico City -DF and then on to
Puebla, Puebla to Oaxaca, Oaxaca then on to Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca on
to San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas. Then travel on into
Guatemala. The Lake Atitlan area and Chichi area are a must see.
Antigua, Guatemala is nice and very similar to Oaxaca, Oaxaca, but
smaller. The beach areas south of Esquintla are nice near Monterrico,
great black sand beaches and canal area---nice, laid back. Then up
through Guatemal City. Get in and out of the city-just catch the buses
on to Flores, but take the "back way" , by way of Route 5 through Baja
Verapaz and Alta Verapaz. Stop in at the Quetzal bird reserve. I've
never seen many birds, but is a great and easy hike up in the
rainforest. Stop in Tactic and then on to Coban. Spend a few days
exploring around Coban. Then travel on to Flores the back route. Most
people don't follow this route. It is quite hilly north of Coban,
until you drop down to the Peten. Take the ferry at Sayaxche on to
Santa Elena/ Flores. Use the Santa Elena area as a "base" and go to
Tikal national park and Yaxha park. You can then take a plane or the
express bus 10 hours back to Guatemala City and travel on to your next
area. I would travel onto Costa Rica and then on to Peru.
|