Solo Travel Destination: Guatemala

May 8, 2012 by Guest 30 Comments

We are pleased to present a new Solo Travel Destination Post from Tanya, a member of the Solo Travel Society. Tanya is from Canada, and submitted the following report about Guatemala. Do you have a solo travel destination that you would like to recommend? Submit your description here, along with a few photos, and share it with fellow travelers!

Solo travel rating: 2.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult. Please see chart below)

Languages spoken: Spanish

Breakfast in Antigua

Reasons to go: Guatemala is not without its challenges. Poverty and crime do exist, and shuttle buses can be cramped and rarely on time. However, when you go, I think you will join those of us who love this country for its culture, diverse landscapes, beauty and cuisine. And hey, it’s also one of the least expensive places in the world to travel, with some amazing and unparalleled sites. You will see things you can’t see anywhere else, meet amazing people and pay a fraction of what you will pay in a developed country. It is absolutely worth the challenges.

Fantastic for single travelers, there is no shortage of great hostels. Looking for a private room with bathroom on a stunning black volcanic sand beach for under $8 a night? Visit Montericco. How about a unique jungle dorm with tons of great activities, the craziest shower you have ever seen and mountain valley views to die for for $4 a night? Try Lanquin. Did I mention it’s only a short drive away from the stunning Natural Monument, Semuc Champey?

Spend some time in the beautiful city of Antigua, where history meets the modern world. In this world famous Spanish school destination you will have no problem meeting people from all over the world. Try a family homestay and walk cobblestone streets to explore this colonial town of hidden gems. Here you will find fun bars, salsa dancing, great restaurants, spas… and don’t miss out on the rooftop patios!

While you won’t find regimented safety standards, you’ll appreciate the flexibility of adventures you can have, such as live volcano hikes, open cave exploration and swimming, jungle treks and climbing ancient ruins.

Did you know the Mayan calendar did not call for the end of the world in 2012, but the end of an era, and a new spiritual awakening for mankind?

Take a chance and visit this beautiful country, you will be glad you did.

Some local salespeople.

There are plenty of ruins to explore.

Solo Travel Destination Rating System

Safety – 3 (1 very safe, 2 safe in most areas, 3 be cautious at all times.)

Language – 2 (1 English is first language, 2 English speakers easy to find, 3 English speakers rare)

Navigation – 1 (1 easy to navigate by transit or car, 2 poor transit, car necessary, 3 not easy to get around)

Culture – 3 (1 Similar to North America or Western Europe, 2 Different from above but relaxed and easy, 3 Challenging)

Average Rating – 2.5 (1 is easiest, 4 is most difficult)

Last updated: 13th August, 2014

T H

Hey there 🙂 I’ve been in Guate going on 7 years, 6 of which I was a single female traveler not speaking much Spanish. I LOVE it here! It is NOT dangerous – not any more than anywhere else that is! Its friendly, warm, loads to see and do. Come to Antigua 1st, meet 100 other travelers and you’ll soon see, its a great place to visit (and live!).
Brittany | Travel Blogger

I am traveling to Guatemala in November for two and a half weeks and will be heading to Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Flores and Tikal.

I have traveled solo twice before in Mexico’s Yucatan, but this will be my first time in Guatemala. I have read a lot of articles about how dangerous Guatemala is (high crime rate) and about all of the safety precautions that one should take when traveling there. I have to be honest, it does make me nervous and worried.

Does anyone have any tips or advice to help reassure me and calm my fears? What were your experiences like traveling in Guatemala?
Maggie May

Hey April!
This is so crazy that I saw your post. I’ll be in Antigua for 2 weeks in March and I’m nervous about doing alone… I’m a 22 year old grad student from NYC. If you happen to feel like a weekend trip to Antigua, it might be nice to meet up. My email is maggie347may@gmail.com if you want to get in touch!
Eva van Loon

My novel *La Chiripa* is set in Todos Santos Cuchamatan (nearest city is Huehuetenango). I took two research trips to Guatemala and spent a lot of time in La Antigua, which remains one of my favorite cities anywhere. (Book is in English–no worries! Author name is Kaimana Wolff.) Guatemala is a heartbreaking place, given its history, but you cannot help but fall in love with the people, the art, the food, the music, the mountains…. Que Dios te bendiga, Guatemala!
Jasmine Nicole

Hi April!

I would love to meet up!! I’ll be landing 2/1. I plan to sync up with a couple locals when I land, or head to a hostel in Antigua to meet other travelers. Aside from getting down to Costa Rica by 2/21 or so, I’m totally open minded as to the whats, whens, and wheres of adventures!

Feel free to email me directly at jypsy.xo@gmail.com and we can coordinate 🙂

Talk to you soon!

Cheers!
April

I’m a 25 yo lil lady and will also be traveling solo in Guate this spring (Feb 2-April 19) I’ll be doing language school in Xela but looking to do weekend trips and perhaps even take some time off school for farther adventures. Hope our paths will cross!! I’d love a fellow female travel partner! 🙂
-April
Jasmine ॐ

Thank you for sharing this! I’m heading there for my first solo backpacking trip this February and I’m so excited 🙂 Do you recommend any hostels for a gal in her mid twenties? I’d love to meet new people to adventure with!
Jasmine

I loved Guatemala, and felt safe at all times. The people were so friendly, and it was so easy to arrange activities locally. $8 for a half day tour hiking up Volcan Pacaya, awesome!! Especially toasting marshmallows over the hot lava vents. Would love to go back.
Working Nomad

A great destination for me is somewhere you can stroll around and explore any time of the day and feel safe and probably with the exception of Costa Rica none of C.America offers this. Having to take taxis everywhere you go after dark defeats the object.
Shankar Banjara

Guatemala is probably one of the most interesting countries in Central America, I recommend people to travel in Guatemala.
Kévin Lemonnier

I recommend people to travel in Guatemala. It s a really beautiful country with a lot of ruins.
Nadya Robles

Guatemala is a wonderful country. On December 21st, 2012 Guatemala
will be celebrating the new era of the Maya. You should be there!
Janice Waugh

Hi there, Thanks for your question. I’m going to put it up on the Solo Travel Society page on Facebook and get the group to answer it. If you are not already a member, just click “like” on this page http://facebook.com/solotravelsociety/.
Mneha87

How safe is Antigua for a solo female traveler in her twenties? Besides Antigua, what are other cities that are safe and with a large backpacking culture?
Tanya

Hey Tim 🙂 Yes I am still enjoying it here! Didn’t know this was posted to the watercooler, thats nice. Hope you guys are doing well!
Tanya

yep. On the beach…I just went back a couple weeks ago and the rate are $10 for a private room now. Great deal non the less – I spent 6 nights, ate all my meals there and was out of pocket about $22 per day (including 2 – 3 drinks per day). Not bad!
Thughes9

Yes! Sorry for the delay, the jungle dorm place is Zephire Lodge. I really liked it, although it seems to get mixed reviews. El Retiro is also in the area, and I stayed there but it wasn’t nearly as good (I found the food and service very very poor, and they over charged me Q20 per night …over the price they told me when I arrived. When I asked them about the difference they became suddenly rude and stopped speaking English. I guess they dont know about online reviews.)
Annapurna Trek

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Annapurna Trek
KtownJules

Hi,
Would you be able to share the name of the place with unique jungle dorm with tons of great activities, the craziest shower you have ever seen and mountain valley views to die for ?
Mick

Thanks Tanya!
Velabas

Guatemala is probably one of the most interesting countries in Central America, but I have to say that I’d take Nicaragua over it any day. Nicaragua has a vibe that’s more authentic, and the Atlantic coast’s seclusion allows it to guard its roots closely. I actually wrote about traveling in Nicarauga, if anyone seeing this wants to read more about a great Central American country.
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Tanya

Great comments, thanks all 🙂 I am headed back to Guatemala next week and can’t wait.
I too have a little house on Lake Atitlan for $300 a month..just far enough out of town to be very peaceful. That $8 a night place is Hotel Delfin, its not fancy (obvious) but I have stayed there a couple times. You can’t go wrong for the price if you can take the basic accommodations.
Mary, I dont know much about Santa Cruz yet…but love the lake in general. Have fun in Thailand! I loved it there too, would love to spend some extended time there as well.
Kristina

Looking on photo of these nice girls I can say that people there are kind and hospitable 🙂
LifePart2

Hi Tanya,

Great article. I have considered Guatemala as my next stop in LifePart2 but personal circumstances make me want to shake things up a bit. Maybe Guatemala in 2013!
website evaluation

$8 a night, are you serious?
Irene

Tanya – great article. Kathy (my daughter) is looking into going to Guatemala to work with a charitable organization. Take care – look forward to hearing of more of your adventures.

Irene
Mary Bartnikowski

I have just come back from living in Guatemala for 10 months – and I loved it. I rented a house on Lake Atitlan for $300 a month including all utilities and a gorgeous lake view. Stunning. I teach photography and yoga and had my students come to their private sessions on my terrace overlooking the volcano rimmed Lake Atitlan. Santa Cruz is the town I grew to love, it is tiny and can only be reached by boat but is 15 minutes from Panajachel. The birds are out of this world exquisite and the lake is mystical with incredible beauty, it lifts you into another dimension and I’m talking without alcohol. Try it and see for yourself, I traveled all over Guatemala solo and highly recommend it. Next stop Thailand!
http://www.bartnikowski.com/blog/
Tim

Hope you’re enjoying Guantemala!

I signed up for this blog a few weeks back and I saw Becky’s mention of your article on the watercooler.

Tim from NWM
AnitaMac

I didn’t find safety to be too much of an issue when travelling in Guatemala. At first I was a little nervous, as I had heard so much about being so careful, but I think that is true of any place you visit. I must admit, I didn’t spend a lot of time in Antigua so perhaps that had something to do with it! I was a little hyper vigilant at first – after having the comfort of travelling with a friend through South America, I was alone in Guatemala. Backpacker scene was pretty good and I was able to meet a few other solo people for dinner. Would love to go back with more time to really explore – loved visiting Tikal and the markets but there is so much more to see and do!

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