Trip of a lifetime
Guatemala
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Jan 9 - Jan 31, 2024
Guatemala: The guides were knowledgeable and shared much that I didn’t know about the Mayan culture. I especially enjoyed going to the mountain indigenous villages and interacting with the people. The home stays and visits were insightful to seeing the integrity of family life, which seems to be very strong. The artistic cratsmanship of the weavers, was colorful and impressive. I would have like to learn more specifically about the different weavings and traditional dress from each of the villages that we visited. I bought a few weavings which I don’t know their origin. The Guatemalan people are very friendly, and sometimes wanted to take pictures with and of us. The extreme cold at night in the mountains was unexpected. I had to buy an extra layer at the Mipaca thrift store in Toto. This part of the trip overall was jam-packed, sometimes we had to skip lunch to make it through each day’s activities.
Tikal was spectacular and Flores Island was pleasantly relaxing and had good restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.
Belize: was a new and delightful experience for me. The nature we visited was awesome, from cave canoeing, the hike and waterfall massage at the Jaguar preserve, and the snorkeling in the reefs near Hopkins. It was great to relax after the busy first part of the tour.
Hotel Reviews
There was -a miscommunication on where to meet the taxi driver from the hotel, so that was a bit stressful. Hotel was Adequate. No hot water after midnight. The staff was attentive and helpful. The young man helped me with a problem I had with my suitcase.
Beds comfortable. Shower amazing! Very cold at night.
Family was wonderful, kind, and very attentive. Very cold at night, I didn’t take a shower because it was too cold to get undressed.
Everything comfortable. Less cold at nights. I enjoyed sitting in the outdoor living room.
Beds were comfortable. Showers were a bit hot and cold the first night, but they arranged alternate shower the next night.
Great to spend time with Miguel , Juana, Patricia and Sandra and their children. Food was homemade and very delicious. We saw how difficult it is to make tortillas, when we tried to make them. Miguel is a leader in his community and has a lot to share with visitors. Their store had wonderful weavings and masks for purchase at decent prices. If you intend to buy weavings, don’t buy elsewhere. I had already bought a lot before Chichicastenango, so I couldn’t buy much there though I was tempted.
Comfortable, but small rooms. Our room was facing the street where a bar had loud reggaton music. It made it hard to sleep.
Room was large, but mattresses were too soft. Loved the pool. Great for swimming laps. Breakfast was great!
Wonderful rooms, great restaurant, good breakfast. Beachfront very comfortable. Dock where they picked us up for the snorkeling. Great to have a pool as well as the beach.
Adequate.
Activity Reviews
Hot water after midnight.
We walked around the town. Happened to coincide with a funeral. Nice walk around the town. We did not go to the textile collective.
Saw a tradtional market. Few tourists.
We got there late so we didn’t have much time to enjoy the hot springs. Met interesting people there. Hot springs temperature could have been hotter.
I wasn’t feeling well so I didn’t attend weaving demo.
Private relifgios school was very accommodating, giving us a tour of the school, classrooms, and a brief opportunity to speak with the teachers.
Interesting meeting the backstrap weaver family
Long drive to get there. Not sure it was worth the time.
The family and market were the highlights of this experience.
Guide was excellent. Impressive temples. Interesting to know about 25% has been excavate so far. Good lunch.
Not as incredible as Tikal. The excavation was at time reconstructed, with facsimiles, rather than real ruins. Tremendous vistas.
Loved it!
Seeing a cacao plantation that is struggling due to not having the right conditions shows the difficulty of producing a healthy crop of cacao beans. Chocolate making workshop w,as interesting.; Nice to meet Hob’s father.
Rest, eating well.
Hiking was great. We learned a lot about flora and fauna, waterfall swimming was great!
Safety was primary in postponing the day we went. Water was so clear. Great to see fish, corals.
It was short since we arrived late.
