santamonica

Thanks Foderites for your wonderful postings. This is our first trip to Guatemala. How's this schedule for our two week trip seem?

Aug1. Arrive GUA and stay 1 night in Antigua at Meson Panza Verde.
Aug2. Arrive Chichicastenango and stay 2 nights at Mayan Inn.
Aug 4. Arrive Atitlan and stay 2 nights at Lomas de Tezuna.
Aug6. Return to Antigua and stay at Quninta de las Flores for 5 nights while taking spanish lessons somewhere.
Aug11. Fly to Flores, drive to San Ignaco and stay at Blancaneux for 2 nights.
Aug 13. Drive to LaLancha near Tikal and stay there for 2 nights.
Aug15. Fly back to GUA and home.

Our kids are 15 and 18. We all speak some spanish, although my wife and most spanish speaking people don't think my spanish is as good as I do. We'd like to take 2 to 4 hrs of spanish in the mornings. Any recommendations? I'm delaying reservations at LaLancha and Blancaneux because I'm worried there's not enough time to enjoy them and also see caves and Tikal. Too much Francis Ford Coppola? I'd like to rent a car in Flores, but not around Antigua. Does that make sense? I've already reserved the GUA FRS GUA tickets. So, whatchathink?

SusanInToronto

If it were me, I'd spend only 1 night in Chichi. We got there in the late afternoon before the market, looked around, spent the night, saw the market the next day, then caught a 2 PM shuttle to Panajachel. We also stayed at Lomas de Tzununa - it was fabulous and we loved it. We had 4 nights there which was great.

We had only 1 night in Tikal. That was actually enough for me, although a second night would have been good as well. Four nights in the area would be too much for me.

But overall, your trip sounds wonderful.

santamonica

Thanks. Two nights in a row changing hotels when we first arrive seemed unrestful. Maybe with the two nights in Chichi we can prepare for climbing the stairs at Lomas de Tzununa. Thanks for your suggestions on Flores and San Ignacio. I guess four nights will be enough to enjoy both. Thanks again.

hopefulist

Seems like a lot of moving around to me, especially the bit about riding from Flores to Blancaneaux and back with just a day of rest in between, Blancaneaux isn't really close to San Ignacio. I agree about the 2 nights in Chichi, too. I've done it as a day trip and as an overnighter - much preferred because I was able to enjoy the place for hours and hours without being there at all when the day-trippers were. Don't miss the produce market in the commercial building, a highlight of our trip last summer. Here's a link to my photos and travelogues if you're interested:

http://flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Happy trails!

santamonica

I was thinking there might be some places in or around Chichi to explore the second day after we visit the market in the morning. The street scenes, produce market and the steps of San Tomas look fascinating (Thanks for the great photos. Beautiful color in walls, produce and fabrics. Where is Nebaj?). LaLancha and Blancaneux are supposed to be two hours from each other, but that might presume a faster driver than I am. We'll have to decide about that part of the trip soon. Maybe visiting LaLancha and Blancaneux are impractical splurges (but the websites sure are cool and tripadvisor likes them). We're leaning towards CSA for spanish classes in Antigua but are open to suggestions. Maybe that's a decision we can postpone until we're in Antigua. Anyway, thanks for your suggestions!

santamonica

Well, we're off tommorrow morning for Guatemala. We changed the schedule to stay one night in Antigua at Meson Panza Verde, one night in Chichi at Mayan Inn, three nights in Lake Atitlan at Lomas de Tzununa, five nights at Quinta de las Flores in Antigua, four nights near Tikal at LaLancha, and then home. We'll rent a car from the airport in Flores. We signed up for an Elizabeth Bell tour in Antigua, and hope to take spanish lessons while in Tznunua and Antigua. I'll ask Elizabeth if she can suggest reasonably close and safe places we can drive to or other things to do while at LaLancha besides visiting Tikal. And I look forward to posting a nifty trip report on our return. Thanks for suggestions!