1lovemylif3

Please help create an itinerary - first time visiting both countries.

​Bought a one way ticket into SAP Honduras, arriving August at 11pm, and another one way ticket out of GUA Guatemala at 5pm 12 days later.

I'm 32, love nature, hiking, and history.

I'd prefer to stay in hostels if possible and with recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

hopefulist

Jeff_Costa_Rica

While 12 days sounds like a long time, as hopefulist says, it won't be for two countries when you factor in overland travel time.

Honduras

The Mayan ruins at Copan and the adjoining town of Copan Ruinas are about three hours from San Pedro Sula. The town has a good hotel selection, a lot of great restaurants, and several non-ruins things to do.

I like the colonial towns of Gracias and Santa Rosa de Copan (nothing to do with the ruins and not near the ruins). They're also about three hours from San Pedro Sula.

The city of San Pedro Sula itself has become quite dangerous. Get out as fast as you can. If your flight arrives late, spend the night in one of the larger hotels on the outskirts of town.and leave the next morning.

Guatemala

As hopefulist says, Antigua and Lake Atitlan are always crowd-pleasers. Neither would take you too far afield from Guatemala City to require a lot of long hours on the road. You will several hours to get there from Honduras, though.

Thursday and Sunday and market days in the mountain town of Chichicastenango. You can sign on with a tour that will take you there and bring you back but leave you on your own to wander the market. Chichi is two hours from Antigua and one hour from Panajachel, the largest town on Lake Atitlan. It's totally tourist, but it's a lot of fun. I would plan to make this a Thursday or Sunday trip.

You could stay in Antigua your last night before flying out. It's easy to arrange transport to the airport without having to stay in Guatemala City.

catspajamas

All good information, BUT if you have a morning departure from GUA, it is much better to spend your last night close to the airport. There are many inexpensive hotels and hostels close by and most offer shuttle service to the airport. Spending the last night in Antigua leaves you at the mercy of morning traffic into the city which can be a nightmare! I lived in Guatemala for 31 years so know what I am talking about.

Daniel_Williams