ViolaineLabre

Anybody has any suggestions for a road trip in Guatemala. We want to rent a vehicle and tour but not sure which area would be best. Planning to go for 2 weeks.

hopefulist

Sounds like you need a guide book! My 2 favorites are the Rough Guide and the Moon Handbook; both provide good cultural context, specifics about lodging, tours, and meals, and suggested itineraries. I don't choose to rent cars in Guatemala but you might get some ideas from my photos, blogs, and travelogues. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

qwovadis

Travel.state.gov guatemala WAY to dodgy for me to rent down there

If u are lucky u will just get robbed.

Servicecarrental.com costa rica best country for that have done it a bunch

NoFlyZone

Just got back from 3 weeks in Guatemala and it is nowhere as dangerous as others are saying. Met many people with cumulative months in country and nobody was robbed.

As to an itinerary, first just skip Guatemala City. Nothing to see there and it's also the one major place where crime apparently abounds.

Places to visit are Tikal (a day or two), Flores (same), Rio Dulce/Livingston (1 - 3), Semuc Champey (1 - 3), Lake Atitlan (2 and more), Chichicastenango (Thursday or Sunday for the market, easy hour drive/shuttle from Atitlan), and Antigua (easily a week or more). If you have time, Copan in Honduras is worth a day and El Zonte Beach in El Salvador is a fun weekend of surfing.

judi_in_guatemala

My friends and I drive around Guatemala all the time. You just have to be prepared for the unexpected on the roads--accidents, dogs, pedestrians, broken-down vehicles. There are not many signs and the maps are old and not updated. Just use common sense and have good insurance...and don't drive after dark.

mblock2

When I was in Guatemala City, the locals could not believe that I had not been to Antigua. They kept telling me how beautiful it was and how I could see a lot of wonderful things there. Go to Antigua!!

ceciia

Wonderful Guatemala. Just finished a 1 week road trip with a minivan (we were 8 people) through Antigua, Chichicastenango, Panajachel and the Atitlan area.
Too bad we got robbed by 8 armed men on a big Tourist bus (from Pullmantur Company) on my way to El Salvador just 5 minutes before the Salvadorean border. Just when I thought that the dangerous part was over!
Seriously, we were lucky nobody got hurt though they stole practically everything including my passport. It was really frightening. The tourist bus (with about 40 people) got stopped by 2 pick up trucks and when it stopped 8 armed men got out of the bushes. They robbed the whole bus for like 5 minutes (though it seemed like 5 hours) and left. Worst part is that nobody form the Tourist Bus company (Pullmantur) had the courage to tell the police in Guatemala what had happened once we arrived at the border. They said they don't trust the police.
It´s not the first time that I´ve travelled through Guatemala but it´'s the first time that something so scary happens to me. One thing is for sure, won't be going to Guatemala anytime soon. Please be careful.

pattyroth

Seriously? That is pretty scary!

Vttraveler

Our family traveled by car in Guatemala for a week two years ago. Here is a link to my trip report
http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...fm#dest-header

We thought Tikal was amazing--but then our family is really interested in Mayan ruins.