Back
GUA_Antigua_BZR

Marketing and Press Executive Barbara shares her first experience of travelling to Central America.

Where have you been?

Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Have you been before?

No, it was my first time in Central America.

How did you get there?

I flew with American Airlines via Dallas on the way to Guatemala and then via Miami on the way back from Costa Rica to London. The transit in Miami was much smoother than I expected. I was ready for some Duty Free shopping within 40 minutes of getting off the plane.

Where did you go?

Flew into Guatemala City but out the next morning to Tikal followed by Antigua and Lake Atitlán then off to Costa Rica visiting San José and Monteverde.

Which was your favourite...

GUATikalBZR 2

Place: Tikal was incredible! It was the part of the trip that I was most looking forward to and it didn't disappoint. The history behind the ancient city is captivating and it's incredible to see the pyramids which the Mayas managed to build as early as 600bc.

GUA_Antigua_HotelPensativo_BZR

Hotel: Hotel Pensativo in Antigua is a boutique hotel in a colonial building with gorgeous floral courtyards and amazing views of Agua Volcano from the roof and terraces. The rooms are wonderfully decorated with dark wood furniture and mine had one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept on.

COS_ZipLining_BZRCOS_ZipLining_BZR

Excursions: Zip lining in Monteverde, Costa Rica wouldn't normally be on my list of things to do but once the fear faded away I was able to admire the lush beauty of the cloud forest from above the canopy.

Most memorable moment?

GUA_LakeAtitlan_BZR

My most memorable moment was opening the balcony curtains at my hotel in Panajachel to find clear blue skies giving way to a perfect view of Lake Atitlán and all three volcanoes; Volcán Toliman, Volcán Atitlán and Volcán San Pedro. Having arrived late at night, I wasn't expecting such a stunning view directly in front of my room.

Appeals to which type of traveller?

Guatemala is a small country, but it has much to offer. It's possible to have a holiday filled with culture and nature as well as adventure or wildlife.

What tips do you have for travellers wanting to visit the same destination?

GUA_Tikal_BZR(1)

Don't miss out on the opportunity to take a silent moment to appreciate nature and the sheer size of Tikal. Climb to the top of Temple IV for a breathtaking view of the jungle and pyramids 1 and 2.

Is there anything indispensible to pack or prepare for?

Sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent and a portable phone charger are essential items!

Summarise your trip in a sentence?

A wonderful combination of culture, ruins and adrenaline! A great introduction to Central America, I will definitely be going back.

Follow in Barbara's footsteps in Guatemala on our Signature Guatemala: Mountain, markets and Mayan ruins holiday or make the most of your travels on our Tropicbird: Highlights of Central America group tour.

Tailor-made holidays

Flexible, custom-made holidays to Latin America created to match your exact requirements: our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as the clients for whom they are designed.

Design my trip

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

0 1 2 3 4 5