A beautiful trip following the back roads 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 village after village are passed. 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 eventually will makes 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.

Coming on Highway 1 through the dry desert that Baja California is famous for, the little settlement of San Ignacio is surely an oasis. The lush green palms are a welcoming change to the else giant cactuses and desert scrubs. Beside dusting the sand off and enjoying a fish taco on the tiny town square the attractions are outside the town. There are cave paintings a long drive away inland, and in Laguna San Ignacio (an even longer drive to the Pacific side) whales are coming in during the winter months. If only travelling through, make sure to sleep here since the options is far better than further north or south.