Guatemala travel guide

A deep cave with fairly impressive stalactites. The first section is lighted and deeper exploration is possible but the cave isn't really the attraction here, it is the bats. At dusk thousands of fruit bats (though we didn't counted) leave the cave to go hunt for food. They all exit at the mouth of the cave where it is possible to stand and experience the bat exodus from the inside of the cave. In the dark you can feel the animals navigating centimetres from your head but amazingly never collide with you (or each other). A flash from your camera will reveal how dense the air is with bats.

Just a charming little trading town. Mercado, cowboys and a parque central. Nothing more, nothing less.

Often celebrated as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Guatemala's Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlán) lives up to the billing. Surrounded by 3 conical volcanoes, the lake's magnificent setting is the thing of legends. The best part is there is no "must see" view. Instead, exploration of the lake and its villages (if for nothing more than different views) is part of the charm. Any number of traditional villages surround the lake. Here, locals speak their indigenous languages and dress in traditional clothes. A visit to one of the local markets will most certain cause your camera to overheat as amazing photo opportunities lie around every corner. Atitlán is special!

A beautiful trip following the back road that wind its way through the heart of Guatemala. It is not a trip for the faint-hearted, but will reward the brave one with charming small Mayan villages and stunning scenery. When you first leave the sealed road at San Luis, the trail turns to crap. The road zigzags through bubble hills covered in jungle and tall corn fields, while you pass village after village. Gravel, cobblestones and pot holes will be on the menu until Fray, from where the new highway is under construction. After Fray, the road twists its way into the mountains and gets even nastier (which the highway project will eventually put an end to), but will spoil you with jaw-dropping views over the valleys. The journey can of course be done reverse or extended as far west as Huehuetenango. A road trip that is rough, adventurous, and damn amazing.

Turquoise pools on top of a natural limestone bridge makes this place quite special. You can swim in the calm water at the pools or have a look over the wobbly fence where the river plunge into the cave beneath the limestone bridge. Considering how damn hard it is to get here, there are surprising many travellers kicking back in the pools. Maybe it is because it has been hyped as one of prettiest spots in Guatemala - and that says something.

Peeking over the canopy of the jungle are these outstanding Maya temples. Their constructions are steeper and taller than any other Maya sites making them a truly impressive sight. As if that was not enough, their location deep in the jungle offers surprisingly good chances to see some fairly exotic wildlife, like toucans, monkeys or just curious Coatis. Temples are still being excavated while more lie hidden under the jungle carpet as small hills just waiting to tell another story from the lost Mayan world. Without the towering temples (up to 61 meters) as landmarks it would be easy to get seriously lost in the maze of jungle trails, but a trip to the top will give a little perspective. These Maya ruins are more than a been-there-done-that sight, they will for sure knock your flip-flops of.