An undiscovered gem: The pyramids of Tikal

by Jerry Guo on

I talked yesterday about a little known alternative to Machu Picchu. Today, I bring you the Mayan version: the ruins at Tikal in Guatemala. But here’s the zinger: they’re actually more impressive than the much better known pyramids at Chichen Itza in Mexico.

Here’s what one American had to say about the place. “I saw the Pyramids [in Egypt] … This is better, because you can go on top of them, and see what they saw.” The best part is that they’re in the middle of the jungle. Yes, that does make it harder to get to the place, but once you’re there, it feels like you’ve traveled back in time 3,000 years. There’s also authentic Mayan rituals performed every once in a while, since the government opened the national park to Mayans in 1996.

One for the Road: Moon Guatemala

by Kelly Amabile on

Has Grant’s alert about cheap fares to Guatemala got ya thinking about planning a spontaneous getaway? Or maybe you want to expand your travels beyond Guatemala City and the old capital of Antiqua and spend a week or more exploring the scenic wonders of this magical country?

Consider picking up a copy of Moon’s guide to Guatemala to throw in your pack. The second edition of this handy guide has just hit bookstores. The first two places covered in the book are the ones mentioned here already, but it then goes on to provide equal attention to El Oriente and Izabal, Las Verapaces, Peten, the Western Highlands and the Pacific Coast regions. Special sections include background about the Mayan culture and tips for those who love bird-watching or adventure hiking.

The 480-page book was written by Al Argueta, a Texas-based photographer of Guatemalan decent who lived there for two years and has explored much of the country. His passion for the joys of this nation can be sensed throughout the book. Be sure to check it out before making your own visit to discover Guatemala.

$200 from Los Angeles – Guatemala City. Got any Plans this Weekend?

by Grant Martin on

There appears to be some squabbling for the Los Angeles — Guatemala City (LAX-GUA) route today. Spirit, American Airlines, Taca and Mexicana all have been showing excellent fares between LA and the Latin capital, and I’m currently seeing a price of about 200$ on Taca starting this weekend through Q1 2008.

Usually, fares departing on such short notice are hard to come by. So if any of you left-coasters are free this weekend, surprise your significant other or mother with a trip down to Guatemala.

Don’t even think about telling me that you think Guatemala is dangerous. I was there in March and got there and back just fine, even with a white girl in tow.

If you want to be super safe, the trick is to leave Guatemala City as soon as you touch down and head straight for Antigua, the old capital of Guatemala. Here you’ll find an historic Central American village high in the mountains surrounded by volcanoes. Head out to see La Merced Church or stick around for a few weeks to attend spanish school.

There are a variety of activities in this safe, colonial town that will keep you busy for a long relaxing weekend without breaking the bank. And to put the safety issue in perspective, I ran into a guy from my home town, Ann Arbor as I was walking down the street one day; tourism is fairly common in Antigua.

If you get bored, you can pay a few pesos for a trip to Lake Atitlan or the top of one of the local volcanoes. I would recommend a tour in that case though, because things can get a little dicey outside of the Antigua bubble.

Use a flexible search engine such as Kayak to locate the best itineraries for your window. And as always, fare sales can disappear in the blink of an eye. If there’s any question, book now and ask questions later.

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Photo of the Day (10/4/07)

by Neil Woodburn on

Ah yes, the old hand painted political slogan on the side of a building. This particular one happens to be San Juan Cotzal, Guatemala. I just love the way the colorful slogan, so very amateur in nature, contrasts almost cheerily against what must surely be a very poor residence in some godforsaken town.

Congrats go out to Sir Isaac Lime for capturing an election in its most primitive form–something so very refreshing compared to what we are currently dealing with here in the United States.

Be sure to visit the Gadling Flickr Pool and upload your favorites for a possibility of Photo of the Day fame.

Spanish Immersion in Guatemala

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s a tip from a woman I met who is finishing up her master’s degree at the Ohio State University. If you want a cheap place to learn Spanish or brush up on the Spanish you know, try Guatemala. She was in Antigua for two weeks last summer and found it cheap, fun and an extensive Spanish language lesson.

From what she said, you can just basically show up in Antigua and find a school and a place to stay. Lodging with a family as a homestay is readily available and schools are everywhere. If flying-by-the- seat-of-your-pants travel isn’t your thing, here are a couple of links to websites for language schools so you can plan ahead. The first one, Casa de Lenguas has been around since 2001. The website includes information about the program, activities, lodging and who your fellow students might be. The average age is 30. People are as young as 18 and go up to age 65. I’m sure if you’re over 65, you won’t be kicked out.

One thing that caught my attention about the Casa de Lenguas program is there is a volunteering component. If you bring materials and supplies to donate to a charitable organization and donate your time to a cause, you can get a discount off tuition.

The Ixchel Spanish School, in business since 1999, emphasizes speaking and also includes homestay information and extracurricular opportunities. For even more options, check out Conexion. This is an internet café in Antigua that lists several Spanish schools and their contact information. “¡Buen viaje!” Have a good trip!