Chris Gwinner

This was an incredible trip. Definitely something off the beaten path. Our guide, Jossue aka Pepien, was fantastic and spared no effort or expense making the trip run smoothly, even if it meant finding a guy in the middle of the mountains to drive us to another part of the mountains on short notice. The mountain biking was challenging but not impossible for someone with not a lot of experience. Staying with the local Mam hosts was a very unique experience and something that you will likely... read more

This was an incredible trip. Definitely something off the beaten path. Our guide, Jossue aka Pepien, was fantastic and spared no effort or expense making the trip run smoothly, even if it meant finding a guy in the middle of the mountains to drive us to another part of the mountains on short notice. The mountain biking was challenging but not impossible for someone with not a lot of experience. Staying with the local Mam hosts was a very unique experience and something that you will likely not find on other trips. If you are planning on going on this trip be prepared to deal with cold nights, occasional rain, high altitude, and unfamiliar food.

Wonderful trip. Guide was outstanding. It was a real adventure. Extremely physically challenging, culturally fascinating, and gorgeous scenery. A few constructive comments: the list of needed supplies should remind folks that it can get very cold in the mountains. People think central America is hot. Not true at altitude after sunset. List should include a warm jacket. A long sleeve cycling shirt also essential to avoid excessive sun exposure. A real dry bag also necessary.

The E bike... read more

Wonderful trip. Guide was outstanding. It was a real adventure. Extremely physically challenging, culturally fascinating, and gorgeous scenery. A few constructive comments: the list of needed supplies should remind folks that it can get very cold in the mountains. People think central America is hot. Not true at altitude after sunset. List should include a warm jacket. A long sleeve cycling shirt also essential to avoid excessive sun exposure. A real dry bag also necessary.

The E bike experiment was successful. As a fit 70 year old, I could not have done this trip without it. However, the heavier bike is hard on the brakes on the steep downhill, and my rear brake cable broke. Fortunately, this was near the end of the trip. If it had been mid trip, it would’ve been a disaster and dangerous. the repair kit needs to include a replacement brake cable.

Overall a wonderful experience and high praise to KimKim, old town, Chris, and particularly Papiano. He could not have been more attentive.

Chris was incredibly attentive and insightful when it came to planning the perfect trip for us! He listened to what we wanted, made as many modifications as we asked for (there were many), and he didn't stop until everything was exactly how we wanted it. He also made a last-minute change for us on the timing of one of our hikes and it made a huge difference once we had arrived in Guatemala. We had a minor issue at the airport when we arrived, but eventually found our driver and the rest of... read more

Chris was incredibly attentive and insightful when it came to planning the perfect trip for us! He listened to what we wanted, made as many modifications as we asked for (there were many), and he didn't stop until everything was exactly how we wanted it. He also made a last-minute change for us on the timing of one of our hikes and it made a huge difference once we had arrived in Guatemala. We had a minor issue at the airport when we arrived, but eventually found our driver and the rest of the trip was absolutely seamless. The boat ride to San Juan and hike with Pablo was incredible. The views were breathtaking, and he and his sidekick were so much fun; we really enjoyed getting to know them. Our guide for the rest of the trip Diana, was just amazing. We feel like she's family now. Highlights in Antigua included a walking tour of the city and hiking the active volcano Pacaya where we roasted marshmallows on the steam coming from the vents on the side of the volcano. Overall, it was a five-star trip with five-star guides, and I would highly recommend Chris and his team to anyone looking to travel to Guatemala. Thank you for the most amazing trip to your beautiful country, we will never forget it!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Casa Palopo

Panajachel

The views from this hotel were absolutely incredible, although a little rough getting there. The roads are very bumpy and you have to take an additional ATV to get from the lobby up to where the suites are, and then additional walking and stairs to get to the room. It is not wheelchair accessible. The service and food were amazing and the room was extremely clean. There is no AC so it did get a little warm at night, but they did provide us with a fan. Note that if you want access to the infinity pool, you have to book a specific suite, which we did and it was SO worth it. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a five-star experience with access to the infinity pool with the most incredible views of the lake and volcanos.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views from the top

Staff

They were so accommodating and service was impeccable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and bed was comfortable

Hotel Casa Santo Domingo

Antigua

This hotel is enormous and just WOW!! It is built into the ruins of a convent that was destroyed in the 1700s. The amount of history and art throughout the hotel is absolutely incredible. There is no AC, but there was a minisplit in our room that provided some circulation of cooler air. The rooms were clean and the bed was very comfortable. There are museums and a church and there is just so much to see in the hotel itself. The food and service was five-star! I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a unique, historical, and five-star hotel experience.

Authenticity & Character

We've never stayed anywhere with this amount of history and art.

Location

Walking distance to many things in town, lots of restaurants and stores

Staff

Service and staff was impeccable

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Rostro Maya / Indian nose Hike

Guatemala

This was so much more than just a hike!! We got to enjoy the incredible views on the boat across the lake, had an enjoyable hike, then a walking tour of San Juan and got to do some shopping before departing on the boat ride back to our hotel. Our guides were wonderful and we really enjoyed our time learning more about them, their culture and Guatemala. They also did a great job helping us take pictures along the way. I'd highly recommend this hike (especially with Pablo)!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pablo, the other guide, the drivers, everyone was wonderful!

Transport

Antigua Historic Walking Tour

Antigua

Our guide took us up and down the streets of Antigua for an incredible tour of the highlights of the city. She grew up in Antigua and had lots of interesting facts and history to share. We really enjoyed learning about the city and the sites.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Iximché Ruins & Transfer to Antigua

Guatemala

Our guide was of Mayan descent and it was very interesting to learn about their culture and what they do to keep the Mayan culture alive. He was very knowledgeable about the site and spoke very good English. We learned so much about the Mayan people, their history and their traditions. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who enjoys learning about the history and culture of places that they travel to, not just touristy things.

Quality of Experience

The guide was really great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hobbitenango/Altamira Visits

Antigua

Altamira was really beautiful and easily accessible with a steep walk. The benches and viewing platform is relatively new so it is really nice. We unfortunately went on a foggy day and couldn't see the volcano much in the background, but would still recommend doing it. Hobbitenango is not what we expected. It was very difficult to get to and even once we parked, it required a lot of incline walking on our already tired knees/legs. There also wasn't much to do there except to take a picture on the floating hand. It's ok for a short trip to walk around and take pictures, but if we had it to do over again, we'd probably have skipped it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano Hike & Spa Day

Antigua

The Pacaya volcano hike was such an incredible experience. The hike is moderate and was a bit challenging with a knee issue but we made it! Roasting marshmallows on the side of the volcano where you can feel the heat coming out of the vents is an experience we won't soon forget. Our guide was wonderful and patient with my slow pace. Diana our main guide who stayed with us the whole trip prepared an amazing lunch near the top. Overall, it was a must-do experience for us and it did not disappoint. The spa day was not exactly what we expected and honestly would probably have skipped it had we known. The sauna was very small and extremely hot; after hiking all day, we did not need to be any hotter than we already were. The hot and cold pools was the most enjoyable part and was very relaxing. The massages were not that great and the rooms were very hot, which made it uncomfortable.

Quality of Experience

The hike was 5 stars, the spa is probably 3 stars.

Food

Diana prepared such a delicious lunch on the side of the volcano!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our... read more

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing! Our scuba trips in Belize organized by Ramon's Village Resort were incredible including swimming with sharks, rays, and sea turtles as well as diving for conch for our lunch. Our visit to Tikal in Guatemala will provide life long memories. Esmerelda, our guide, did a fantastic job leading us around Lake Atitlan and Antigua providing outstanding insight and history of the regions and Guatemala as whole, not too mention assisting us when our Spanish wasn't quite up to the task particulary with the lunch and dinner menus. We can't say enough about our experience and would highly recommend this itinerary as a family trip with teenagers.

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemala! Chris was very responsive, flexible, and patient during the planning phases of the trip. In addition, he was able to tweak our plans slightly while we were traveling so that everything was perfectly tailored to our needs. I greatly appreciated his knowledge and expertise. Our local guide, Esmerelda, was also a tremendous asset to our trip.
Thank you for a very memorable and smooth trip! read more

My sons and I had a fabulous time in Guatemala! Chris was very responsive, flexible, and patient during the planning phases of the trip. In addition, he was able to tweak our plans slightly while we were traveling so that everything was perfectly tailored to our needs. I greatly appreciated his knowledge and expertise. Our local guide, Esmerelda, was also a tremendous asset to our trip.
Thank you for a very memorable and smooth trip!

Tremendous trip, great planning from Chris. Also, included some last minute itinerary changes that Chris kept us well appraised of and was extremely helpful in planning.

Antigua for 48+ hours (Casa Encantada) and Lake Atitlan (La Casa del Mundo) for 3.5 days were beautiful places to stay, staff was always helpful.

Our local guide, Josias, was incredible.

Would highly recommend travel plans with kimkim read more

Tremendous trip, great planning from Chris. Also, included some last minute itinerary changes that Chris kept us well appraised of and was extremely helpful in planning.

Antigua for 48+ hours (Casa Encantada) and Lake Atitlan (La Casa del Mundo) for 3.5 days were beautiful places to stay, staff was always helpful.

Our local guide, Josias, was incredible.

Would highly recommend travel plans with kimkim

Hotel Reviews

Casa Encatada

Antiigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lake Atitlán Village Tour

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had exactly the vacation we wanted - a great mix of new experiences and natural beauty. We were always just far enough outside our comfort zone to keep us fully present and engaged. Chris did a fantastic job of understanding what we were after. Starting with a stay at the Camino Real was perfect: international luxury, poolside dining and opulence. Then, a hotel that doubles as a working horseracing track and some time in Chiquimula, a town that feels like one huge, endlessly bustling... read more

We had exactly the vacation we wanted - a great mix of new experiences and natural beauty. We were always just far enough outside our comfort zone to keep us fully present and engaged. Chris did a fantastic job of understanding what we were after. Starting with a stay at the Camino Real was perfect: international luxury, poolside dining and opulence. Then, a hotel that doubles as a working horseracing track and some time in Chiquimula, a town that feels like one huge, endlessly bustling market. Next, a boutique garden hotel in the heart of Antigua, so we could soak up the architecture and history of the old capital. Finally, a couple of days in a cliffside hotel dangling over Lake Atitlan, maybe the most beautiful location in Central America. Our drivers and guides were warm, helpful and fun, and great with our kids. We are so, so happy that we booked this trip through KimKim.

Our entire trip that was planned through Old Town was incredible. Chris was helpful with the logistics and ensuring our trip was easy to navigate. Our driver, Ivan, and our guide, Jossua, were both incredible and engaging. We already miss them !We loved the hot springs we spent the night at, and the lagoon hike outside of Zunil. Thank you to entire team who made our trip memorable and easy. read more

Our entire trip that was planned through Old Town was incredible. Chris was helpful with the logistics and ensuring our trip was easy to navigate. Our driver, Ivan, and our guide, Jossua, were both incredible and engaging. We already miss them !We loved the hot springs we spent the night at, and the lagoon hike outside of Zunil. Thank you to entire team who made our trip memorable and easy.

I had the pleasure of having Chris as local specialist and Willy as my guide fr=m the company Old Town Outfitters throughout the week from 10/01/2021-17/01/2021. I did the 8 days multi-sport trip for Guatemala and it was everything I could ask for in a trip! Most of the trip consisted of hiking and biking around Antigua as well as volcanoes around the area as well and we visited a chocolate/wine factory as well as a macadamia farm which were nice additions to the tours. I also spent... read more

I had the pleasure of having Chris as local specialist and Willy as my guide fr=m the company Old Town Outfitters throughout the week from 10/01/2021-17/01/2021. I did the 8 days multi-sport trip for Guatemala and it was everything I could ask for in a trip! Most of the trip consisted of hiking and biking around Antigua as well as volcanoes around the area as well and we visited a chocolate/wine factory as well as a macadamia farm which were nice additions to the tours. I also spent overnight in Lake Atitlan as well as camp at Volcano Acatanegro which was a heck of a way to end the tour. Along with Willy being an amazing guide for the entire week, Chris did an amazing job not only accommodating great hotels in Antigua as well as Lake Atitlan, my country required negative Covid 19 tests the week I was in Guatemala and Chris was able to get a doctor to come to my hotel and get the test done so I can return to my country. I highly recommend that if you visit Guatemala to have Old Town Outfitters plan your trip for you, you won't regret it! My recommendation for anyone doing this trip is to learn a little spanish as it would make the trip easier and to have a big backpack if you choose to do the camping trip!

My team of 5 avid hikers hiked 7 volcanoes in 11 days with guides Carlos and Lucas, who went out of their way to make our trip fun, safe, exciting and full of wonderful surprises. Their passion for adventure, love for the outdoors of their country, dedication and commitment to meeting our needs and cheerful disposition made it an epic experience for us.

I am also extremely grateful to Chris Gwinner, of Old Town Outfitters (OTO), who tailored this adventure for my group. His professionalism,... read more

My team of 5 avid hikers hiked 7 volcanoes in 11 days with guides Carlos and Lucas, who went out of their way to make our trip fun, safe, exciting and full of wonderful surprises. Their passion for adventure, love for the outdoors of their country, dedication and commitment to meeting our needs and cheerful disposition made it an epic experience for us.

I am also extremely grateful to Chris Gwinner, of Old Town Outfitters (OTO), who tailored this adventure for my group. His professionalism, prompt and accurate communication and patience in answering questions left little to unknown which helped everything run smoothly.

Getting up close to volcanoes is unique and humbling. The breath-taking scenery from the summits were awe-inspiring. The hikes were challenging but the experience was worth the sweat and dust on our boots, hair and skin, and OTO played a vital and commendable role in making it all possible.

My experience at KimKim began with Chris Gewinner's support and advice, he was always super attentive and helped us create the best plan according to our wishes and expectations. The trip was amazing. Everyone at Oldtown Oldfitters was super available to help and give us details on the itinerary. The highlight for us was Diego, who was our guide in Pacaya and Altitlan, he was an amazing guide, super into what he was doing, willing to help and explain every detail, always with a smile on his... read more

My experience at KimKim began with Chris Gewinner's support and advice, he was always super attentive and helped us create the best plan according to our wishes and expectations. The trip was amazing. Everyone at Oldtown Oldfitters was super available to help and give us details on the itinerary. The highlight for us was Diego, who was our guide in Pacaya and Altitlan, he was an amazing guide, super into what he was doing, willing to help and explain every detail, always with a smile on his face. He really made the difference on our trip, we are happy to say we made a friend! The tours were also great, every place we went was breathtaking. Guatemala is indeed an unforgettable country with beautiful landscapes and a rich and beautiful culture.

The only downside for us was the lack of details we were given regarding our two day trip to Semuc Champey, we knew it was going to be a long drive but no one told us we would need to stay 22hours in a bus. Plus, the agency that drove us back from Semuc to Antigua was super disorganized. The bus driver stop in the middle of the road to change buses and that took us 40 minutes, everyone (aprox 30 people) had to hop down the bus, in a heat of 30C degrees, wait for the bus drivers to change the luggage from a bus to the other. That took us 40 minutes and no one explained the reason why that was happening. Plus, when we got to Antigua, the bus driver dropped us off in a random place at 9PM, we had no battery on our phones after the 13h drive, we had to carry our luggage and walk in circles until after 30 minutes when we finally found our hotel.

I told Oldtown about my disappointment with the trip and also told them this was the only bad thing that happened. Despite that, I super reccommend KimKim and Oldtown but I think more details should be given in the plan.

We scheduled a 9 day action packed trip with our two boys (9 and 12) and we could not have asked for a better experience! Chris was amazing in communicating and scheduling our itinerary. I gave him a list of things we wanted to do and he put together a trip plan that hit all of it and more. All of our hotel accommodations were great and food was wonderful.

Our guide Lucas and driver Benecio were so genuine, friendly and took such good care of us. Some of the highlights of our trip were our... read more

We scheduled a 9 day action packed trip with our two boys (9 and 12) and we could not have asked for a better experience! Chris was amazing in communicating and scheduling our itinerary. I gave him a list of things we wanted to do and he put together a trip plan that hit all of it and more. All of our hotel accommodations were great and food was wonderful.

Our guide Lucas and driver Benecio were so genuine, friendly and took such good care of us. Some of the highlights of our trip were our trip to Antigua, overnight camp on Pacaya (we roasted marshmallows over lava flows), visit to Lake Atitlan, and climbing the temples and pyramids of Tikal. We realized that having a local tour operator and guide pays off because we seemed to get some great perks (best hotel rooms, quick service, etc.) They also took care of all of the logistics of moving our luggage, transportation, etc. They were always on time and reliable. It was nice to have someone take care of this and we could just show up and enjoy our selves.

Thank you for showing us your beautiful country, taking such good care of us, and making this such an amazing experience that we will remember for a lifetime! We could never have planned a trip like this on our own and we hope to be back again!

The perfect trip!

Setting everything up was amazingly easy and exactly what we wanted. We lucked out by getting David as our guide- he took care of everything which let us focus on enjoying the experiences. Guatemala was beautiful, but there is no way we would have had the same great experience without Chris and David's help. We are already planning to go back because there was more to see and we ran out of time!

Great trip! Antigua was wonderful! The hikes up Picaya and Earth Lodge in El Hato provided amazing views. Both of our guides were knowledgeable and friendly. Carlos was a walking history book and Louis was very patient with our lack of hiking experience. My only suggestion would be maybe get a better feel for the fitness of the travelers. One of the hikes was too much for one family member. Casa Antigua was a lovely hotel. The cooking class was really fun. Thanks for working with us. We felt safe throughout the trip. I highly recommend KimKim as a travel resource for Guatemala.

All of it was great. Each aspect was wonderful. The hike up Pacaya, the tour of Antigua, Atitlan and the lake was beautiful. The cooking class was exceptional. Thanks for a memorable trip.

Ken Farnham

My wife and I found Chris from Old Towne through KimKim. he responded before any other companies I contacted. We put a wish list of places to go/things to do, and Chris put it together. And when we had to make some choices, we followed his advice. We ended up stretching the 8 day package into 11 days. It was well worth it!

We visited Antigua, and stayed at Hotel Meson de Maria. The hotel was really beautiful, and the service was outstanding. Very clean. It had a great rooftop sitting area,... read more

My wife and I found Chris from Old Towne through KimKim. he responded before any other companies I contacted. We put a wish list of places to go/things to do, and Chris put it together. And when we had to make some choices, we followed his advice. We ended up stretching the 8 day package into 11 days. It was well worth it!

We visited Antigua, and stayed at Hotel Meson de Maria. The hotel was really beautiful, and the service was outstanding. Very clean. It had a great rooftop sitting area, and it was only a block or so from the main plaza. Lots of great food, wonderful old architecture, and many churches (including ruins) to see. I actually got a great photo of Fuego erupting, from the roof!

Our guide during this part of the trip was Pepian, and he was amazing. We hiked the volcano Pacaya, which was a blast. The coffee plantation bike ride and tour was more than we expected. Tomateo and his wife were was a gracious hosts. We took a boat ride across Lake Attitlan, with Isaisus (sp?) as our local, and proud, guide. We saw local art and textiles being produced. What wonderful hosts the locals were. Casa del Mundo was gorgeous, though it was a good hike to our room...but it gave us such great views! Pepian guided us on our kayak trip, and the hike back around the lake. Thanks Pepian, you were wonderful to us, and such a great diplomat for Guatemala. Danelo and Alejandro were our drivers...and we had fun being around both of them!

Next was a 3am wake up call to make a 6:30 flight to Tikal. Alejandro had our plane and park tickets ready to go, and by 9am, we were with Andres touring the amazing ruins. There is so much to see, it is almost overwhelming. We saw toucans, parrots, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys.
The facilities at Tikal are nice, but the restricted electricity (2 hours in the morning, 2 hours at night) made fans and hot water scarce. But it was fine. The howler monkey yelling at his friends right outside our window all night let us know we were in a jungle!

Fernando took us next to Las Conchas. This was a recommendation from Chris, and it was a great stop on the way to Rio Dulce. This was a bit out of our comfort zone, but Felipe, Miho, and their darling daughter, Hannah, made us right at home! Felipe's enthusiasm for the area, and his place, is catchy, and we swam in the falls. Miho cooked some of the best meals we had during visit, with a rather romantic setting. And Hannah is a special young lady, who never meets a stranger.

Fernando then took us to Rio Dulce. We stayed at Tortugal Hotel & Marina, which requires a short boat ride there. Our room was beautiful. We visited Finca el Paraiso, which was nice, but the fun we had with some extremely friendly locals was a blast. Daniel was our guide here, and Anna was our translator. The second day there we took a boat trip on Rio Dulce from Lake Izabel to Livinston. The river was calm, and the scenery was fantastic, with gorges, mangroves, and wildlife (manatees!). This was one of our favorite days of the trip.

After a long , yet scenic, drive back to Guatemala City, Carla took us on a perfect tour of Guatemala City. We visited a stunning small church named Iglesai Yurrito, which happened to be open for another event...Carla said it is only the 3rd or 4th time she has ever been in it. We loved it!
So, it is easy to see we had a great time. What a special, wonderful and beautiful country that Guatemala is. At no time did we feel unsafe, and the coordination of the trip, the quality of the guides, and the accommodations, were perfect for us. Thanks, Chris, Pepian, and the entire Old Towne team!

Great experience! Chris was helpful in every aspect of making the arrangements. The hotel I was staying at was tucked away and very hard to find but to my surprise, my driver showed up early and was waiting for me within a few feet of my doorstep. The price was a little more than I wanted to pay but for the service I received it was well worth it. Thanks again and would recommend using this company.

I was very impressed with how easy it was to book my itinerary and learn about my options. Liaising with Chris was simple, quick and the information I received was concise and very accurate - I've not been so impressed with how easy and exciting it was to book a trip!
The staff at Old Town Outfitters were so easy and comfortable to be with and they ran the day and overnight tours very capably. Saes, Lucas and Marco, in particular made my experience memorable and I had much fun mountain... read more

I was very impressed with how easy it was to book my itinerary and learn about my options. Liaising with Chris was simple, quick and the information I received was concise and very accurate - I've not been so impressed with how easy and exciting it was to book a trip!
The staff at Old Town Outfitters were so easy and comfortable to be with and they ran the day and overnight tours very capably. Saes, Lucas and Marco, in particular made my experience memorable and I had much fun mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, camping and driving with them.
The equipment I used was of top quality - mountain bikes, tent, sleeping bag and mattress, and the food for picnic lunches and dinner and breakfast was fresh, local and delicious. The tours I joined included the mountain bike around Antigua, day hike up Pacaya Volcano, overnight hike of Acatenango Volcano and multisport overnight trip to Lake Atitlan. These tours covered amazing scenery, gave an opportunity to see local life, traditions, culture and nature (especially the eruptions at night on Fuego Volcano) as well as have so much fun doing physical activities. It was an ideal way to see these areas of Guatemala. Antigua is a gem for Guatemala and Central America.
I could not endorse Old Town Outfitters and their staff more highly and I would most definitely book with them again.

My family really enjoyed the hike up volcano Pacaya. Our guide was thoughtful and friendly and well prepared.

Chris did a good job with planning everything. Casa del Mundo in Atitlan was a very nice hotel with amazing views, and I enjoyed visiting the different villages along the lake. Antigua was also a nice place with colorful colonial architecture, along with lots of shops and restaurants. I would definitely visit these places again.

My recommendation for anyone looking to visit the Atitlan region: pack lightly. You have to take a lancha (water taxi) to visit the villages, and your luggage gets... read more

Chris did a good job with planning everything. Casa del Mundo in Atitlan was a very nice hotel with amazing views, and I enjoyed visiting the different villages along the lake. Antigua was also a nice place with colorful colonial architecture, along with lots of shops and restaurants. I would definitely visit these places again.

My recommendation for anyone looking to visit the Atitlan region: pack lightly. You have to take a lancha (water taxi) to visit the villages, and your luggage gets placed on top of the boat. These are not big boats, and they can be packed with people depending on where you're leaving or heading to. Panajachel and San Pedro, for example, are very busy areas. The boat rides can also be a little scary and bumpy depending on how windy it is. I was definitely scared riding a lancha for the first time.