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Guatemala Custom Tour

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by: Philip Flood
Our second trip to Guatemala, featuring visits to Mixco Viejo, Semuc Champey, Chilasco Falls, Lake Atitlan, Antigua and more.

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Adventures in Guatemala

Want to go? Guatemala Classico

I went to: Guatemala, Guatemala City, Antigua, Santiago de Atitlan
Sheree at Mixco ViejoMixco Viejo is located 40 miles from Guatemala City40 miles is close in TX but it took 2 hours to get there Mixco is a beautiful site and well worth the tripMost of the site has been reconstructedMixco was one of the last Mayan cities to fall The brick work reminded us of Comalcalco in MexicoSheree on the pyramid.Phil at one of the ballcourtsMixco's mountaintop location aided in its defenseThere's a model of the site under the palapaOur road from Mixco varied from a newly paved roadTo a nicely graded dirt roadTo a rutted pathOur room at Ram Tzul in the cloud forestThe bamboo forestErnesto our guide for the hikeThe first waterfallThe area was so verdantThe big water fall from the miradorSheree at miradorChicoj Coffee Cooperative near CobanPhil gets hooked up for the ziplineThe first zipline goes over coffee plantsTwo of the ziplines went over water. Crocodiles??Gloria explains the coffee making process in perfect SpanishThe orchid nursery and Sergio, our driverHotel El Recreo - it looks a bit rusticOur very rustic roomThe best way to escape the heat?The road to Semuc ChampeySemuc Champey en espanolFirst view of the poolsBeautiful tropical plantsView of lower poolsOther side of lower poolMiddle poolsAnother view of middle poolsFarm next to Chilasco Falls trailChilasco Falls trailAnother part of the trail with Phil and WendyRed mushroomsSign for Chilasco Falls lookoutTrail to miradorView of Chilasco Falls - the photo doesn't show its beauty Sign to saltito- another waterfallWendy at saltitoSaltitoSheree's hand and butterfly at saltitoA great place to rest & cool offWendy at saltitoView of area around saltitoRural transportation on dirt road to ChilascoHotel Aurora- patioHotel AuroraAntigua main squarePhil's first shoeshine - off main plazaAntigua arch with volcano in backgroungAntigua street sceneVolcanoes are visible everywhere - it seemsRuins of a churchClose up of the churchIndian market in Antigua Wow, look at that pinata!Antigua marketPeople going to the marketSheree outside of Restaurant 7 & 7Ummagumma- a Pink Floyd albumAmerican clothes by the pound Sheree and Lake Atitlan lookoutHotel Dos Mundos in PanaThe rooms are set off the main streetLa Lanterna Restaurant - yum!Dos Mundos poolOur room - it had a safe in it- Sheree liked that!We delivered our books and art supplies hereSolola Falls - pretty spectacular due to the rain!Solola Falls- no hike needed to see these fallsSolola plaza on market daySolola plaza and view of church on leftSheree bought a beautiful blue apron from her.Solola churchThe only photo of Phil and ShereeInside the churchStone baptismal font from colonial daysSolola market and Railroad building seen from churchRailroad building and Solola marketWoven bag vendorTraditional and modern clothesDo you want to buy a CD?Embroidery thread used American clothes- sweaters & sweatshirtsLots of shoes!Jaime, our driver and Sheree at Dos MundosView from boat traveling to San JuanOur pilotThe boat, pilot, and HugoSheree on the boat in dock at PanaSan Pedro volcanoReeds near San Juan dockSan Juan- Artist's coop on leftThe picture we purchased with instruments.Picture in the cooperative.The mayor of San Juan beautified the townMurals beautify San Juan.Most houses were newly painted and trash cleaned upHerb cooperativeOne of many murals in San JuanFancy tuk tuk with real doorsFirst weaving co-op we visited Using the big loom - natural color threadsMural on the side of a house.Pounding the cotton to make it thinnerMaking threadUsing hand loomAnother hand loomMore murals in San Juan.Video arcade in San Juan Santigo de Atitlan- MaximonMaximon has candles, flowers, food, and incensePhil asked to have Maximon make his back feel betterMaximon needed more candles to help PhilGivinng Maximon a drink to help PhilLake Atitlan from PanajachelWomen washing clothes in lake - SantiagoSantiago - scene at lake's edgePlaying soccer in SantiagoPhil & Hugo rode in the back of a truck like this one.Jewelry maker in SantiagoWeaving a bracelet in SantiagoWalking to Pana's dockView on road to San Francisco el AltoUsed American clothes at San FranciscoSheree and Hugo walk down hill in SFVegetable vendors in SFSan Francisco marketLots of fruitsCrowd at San Francisco marketDo you want to buy a cow?Piglets for sale!Baskets held ducks, turkeys, puppies, and kittensSheep I love my two puppies!SF is the only market selling large animals all of the timeBeautiful cloth for huipils. Available in 5 yard piecesBlouses and fruitClothing made in nearby factoriesPublic wash area near SFPublic washing area in valley outside of SFSan Andres Xecul churchThe church was repainted in 1999A guitar player!Inside San Andres Xecul churchWe were late for the Almolonga marketAlmolonga Market is known for its vegetables"Take our pictures. We want sweets."Almolonga market- a few vendors were still thereAlmolonga marketCantel Clothes factory- a huge factory!!Zunil valley vegetable farms.Church in Zunil valleyHotel Bonifaz in Xela- we had a delicious lunch hereChurch in Xela's main squareView from Xela's main squareRey Gitano traveling CircusThe tigers provided sound effects.Chicken bus in Xela. Gas was priced by the gallon.Sheree outside of the Pana Rock. They have good food!Sunset Bar in Pana with the best margaritas we found.Japanese tourists have trouble communicating.View of Lake Atitlan from Panajachel.Model of Ximche ruins.The Spanish allied themselves with the Kaqchiquel at first.Founded in 1463. It was the Kaqchiquel capital.Iximche ball court- it was small compared to othersHugo and Sheree outside Hotel Aurora in Antigua.

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