Semana Santa itinerary
 

Just want to check this out with you experts since I am planning a last minute trip to Guatemala for Semana Santa and won't therefore get the best accommodations. (Last time when I queried about G, we ended up going to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia instead.) A major purpose of the trip is photography. So now here is the plan:
I made reservations for Antigua at La Casona de Antigua for the Wed., Thursday, Friday before Easter.
Then we would travel that Saturday to either Panajachel or Chichi for Saturday night and Sunday market day and then stay around the lake and visit villages for a couple of days.
Then back to Antigua, where I made reservations at Hotel la Cathedral (which my son recommended). Both hotels allow late cancellations and I did query Casa Cristina as H suggested.
Any recommendations for a hotel in either Chichi or around the lake? Any other thoughts? I haven't made my airline reservations yet (perhaps tonight) so have some flexibility. Other thoughts. I did print out hopefulists reports. Thanks.

Just made airline reservations!

Here are my favorite hotels on the lake and in Chichi. I think the San Pedro ones are likely to be full.

Panajachel: Mario's Rooms:
http://www.mariosroomsatitlan.com
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San Pedro La Laguna (my favorite town on the lake):
http://www.mikasohotel.com/
http://hotel-sakcari.com/
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Chichicastenango: Hospedaje Girón: http://www.sailing-diving-guatemala....tels/giron.htm (this is a middle man site; much cheaper to call the hotel and reserve directly, don’t expect English - 502 7756 1156).

Thanks hopefulist! I will check these out. I had been wondering how many nights to spend around the lake, but everyone says it is pretty beautiful and the villages are interesting.

That would be a matter of personal taste. I have sort of put down roots there so spend most of my time in Guatemala there every year. Last year I visited for 2+ weeks over Semana Santa - fantastic!

Thanks hopefulist! I did make reservations for three nights at Panajachel last night just to secure something. They can be cancelled up until April. I'll probably keep them--Hotel Regis, but I will continue to look around. And I did book the Hotel Giron for Chichi--but just one night before the market. Now on to look at ground transportation. My husband decided this trip would be to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary since it is just around the corner.

Good work - keep us posted!

Yay! I have hotels booked for the whole trip. Which is pretty endouraging since I am so late doing this for Semana Santa. I revised a few choices since I wanted a better location.
Posada Dona Luisa for Antigua 3 days
Mayan Inn for Chichi 1 day
Regis Hotel for Pana 3 days
La Cathedral for Antigua 3 days.
Now I'll read up on ground transportation with the recommended agencies.

Here are 2 transportation providers I’ve been pleased with in Guatemala for share shuttles, private transfers, and flight arrangements:
Adrenalina Tours: http://www.adrenalinatours.com
Rainbow Travel: http://www.rainbowtravelcenter.com

Thanks hopefulist! I'm going to contact them.

Would it be better to mix up our time at Pana and maybe spend a night or two in a village like San Pedro La Laguna?

That's a matter of personal choice. It sounds like you have 10 nights; if you add a stop that's 5 places to sleep, an average of just 2 nights per stop. That means half your days you'll be packing up and transitioning from place to place. That wouldn't be fun for me. Some people might find it worth it, though, if it means they get to see more places.

We will definitely visit San Pedro La Laguna, whether we sleep there or not, but it might be more relaxing to have the same place all the nights.

And what's with Elizabeth Bell? I see radically different reviews on her on trip advisor?

Just made a deposit with Adrenalinatours for ground transportation! Yay! Getting more finalized.

Can't wait to hear about your trip, Patty!

So I am trying to make some decisions. LIke when we are in Pana, how to allocate our time. I want to visit Santiago, San Pedro, and Solola. I am wondering how to allocate the time. We have 3 nights which basically means two full days. I would like to schedule a tour with Delores Ratzun, but how much time will we need each place? Should I plan on only going to one village on each day? And include Solola on one of those days?

I just noticed this. If you are in Antigua on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday go out into the streets at about 1-2 AM and watch them make alfombras in the path of Sunday's procession. These are elaborate rugs made from colorful sawdust. They place them knowing full well they will be trampled on.

Here are some image from google.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sema...urce=univ&sa=X

Oh my gosh! IMDonehere, I love those photos!!! We actually leave Antigua Saturday afternoon for Chichi, but I hope to see the alfombras on Thursday and Friday. They are gorgeous.

There might be some on Friday night ask at the hotel.