Weather. Very comfortable around Atitlan and Antigua. Tikal actually got quite cool. We had light fleece on in the evening. Everyone was bundled up then. Days were perfect.

We loved our stay at Palopo. It was our favorite place on that trip. We liked it so much that we will be back in Feb. You look out across the lake at the three volcanos and the sunsets are awesome. We spent a lot of time visiting places away from the Santa Catarina area so we are looking forward to seeing more of it this time. Casa Palopo is quite colorful on the outside and they have some great artwork inside. They have a huge original Botero by the bar that they think is probably worth more than the whole hotel. The food is very good. There is a whole table full of trophies that the chef has won in competitions.

Minooka....which one did you read a report about bed bugs?

lisi....sorry I didn't see your post before you left. Hope you had a great time.

Peten Esplendido had 3 total reviews, 2 in english from a husband and wife team. They hated it and since I can't really find much on it we are looking (or hopefully the BF is looking) for someplace else. I gave him a few other options that looked ok between their sites and the reviews I could find. We'll see!

It's the bundling up at night that worries me!! I'll get over it and pack 1 warm sweater and a fleece and buy a wrap if I need more!

< 4 weeks to go!

We were pretty unimpressed with most of the hotels on Flores. We looked at 4 or 5. We were at Villa Maya and then spent a night in Flores thinking it would be closer to the airport and it really wasn't. The room we ended up with was so tiny that the bed covered half of the doorway into the bathroom! There was no room to even open up a suitcase unless it was on the bed. The people were very friendly but it wasn't worth it. Lots of shops to wander around in but you can take a taxi to Flores for the day from El Remate.

Suzie2, thanks. You are so helpful.

Actually La Casa de Don David is on the list.

Even though it's far from Tikal I'd sort of like to stay at Ni'Tun. We'll see though. At this point it's BF's bag of tricks and I'm along for the ride (the ride without bedbugs that is).

Good Luck! At least he is finally motivated LOL. That is victory enough. Ni Tun does look nice. It would take a little longer but the roads aren't real bad.

Have a good trip and be sure to come back and tell us how you made out.

We had a guide named Luis that spoke very good english and grew up in the park. His dad was one of the "rangers". He even attended elementary school in the park. His big claim to fame is that he had a walk on when Survivor was filmed in the area. My husband is in Costa Rica right now but when he gets back I can get the contact info for him if you are interested.

Since the bf is handling all the rest of the planning I'm trying to go along with it. I agree though. Ni'tun looks pretty amazing.

Not sure about the guide. I'll ask and see what he wants to do. I'll definitely check back.

But since we are here.... anything that I *must* take with me. I didn't take any bug repellant to CR but I'm seeing various things about packing some. Needed?

What about the food? I've read a few places to only drink bottled/filtered H20 and only eat cooked or peeled fruits/veggies? I am thinking that might be sage advice but I know I'll be craving a salad after 10 days!

I never had a problem with bugs in Guat, but I did not stay over at Tikal. Defintely only bottled/filtered water (watch out for ice) to drink, brush teeth with and only boiled or peeled veggies and fruits. You may find in some of the places you stay or eat that they will say they have filtered water and that all veggies, fruits are purified.

My CA packing list is #15 on the FAQ thread of the Thorntree forum, in case you're interested:

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/me...d=0&from=1

Have a great trip!

We stuck pretty much to bottled refreshments except for a few fresh lime drinks here and there. One of the people we were traveling with couldn't resist a salad at a little restaurant by Yaxha after looking around at the ruins there. We told her we didn't think it was a good idea but she did anyway. She was sick as a dog the next day. I had a problem after going to Santo Domingo de Atitlan for the day. I had a coke at one place from a bottle and we tried to eat at another place and had some ice in a drink while waiting to try to get seated. I know better than to drink anything with ice in most places but this was supposed to be a good restaurant and had a ton of tourists in it. Will be more careful this trip. Fortunately we had gone to the doctors before leaving and had some prescriptions for antinausea and Montezumas revenge.

The only place we had trouble with mosquitos was in Sayaxhe and some ruins we went to around there called Aguateca. The mosquitos were horrible there-don't think I have ever seen so many in one place.

Thanks to all who responded re: bugs and food (maybe not together!). My browser opened funny so I can't respond individually.

We'll definitely pack some imodium. Not sure what else is Rx'd for MontReve so I'll go look up and see if I can get an Rx. I'm going to pack some bug repellant as well. Better safe than sorry. We had zero problems with the food in CR but I know it's not the same place. I'm glad I asked because I'd probably push the envelope. Or llok at it as a "crash diet".

BTW, hopefulist, I envy your packing! I'm really going to try to cut down on things this trip. Honestly after the first day, who cares what you look like or what you left behind. I'm going to really try

*hi, i'm minooka and i'm an overpacker....

hi minooka....*

Packing light provides entertain way ahead of the trip - it becomes a game to see how you can whittle down your list. I must admit, though, that I do spend money on new gadgets or the perfect, light goretex jacket that I could do without if I wanted to haul 20 or 30 pounds around. Let me know if you're interested in pack light websites. Happy trails...

I was looking for Guanacaste area in costa Rica and must have misread quatemala and ended up here. After reading about Guatemala, now I am interested in visiting there. So Minooka thanks for your post.

Hey Jude.... :-)

I've been to Guanacaste and you probably tripped over to my other threads. Be happy to provide CR info on the CR boards if you want. Check out Punta Islita.

So here's the hotels we'll be at:

4 nights Posada del Angel in Antiqua, 3 nights Hotel Atitlan, 2 nights Camino Real Tikal, 1 night at the Intercontinental in GC to catch our flight home the next day.

Hopefully these are all good choices!

I suggested Posada del Angel in Antigua to my husband but he loved Panza Verde so much he wanted to go back. I hear it is beautiful at PdA. Maybe next time. Santo Domingo is supposed to be a beautiful place too. Guess we will have to go back at least two more times LOL. Tough life.

Would love to read a report on your other places. You will know you are at Camino Real when you get to some cobblestones on the dirt road.

Posada del Angel is really a lovely B&B. Never stayed there but have visited a couple times. Stayed at Hotel Atilan on our first trip to Guat. Beautiful grounds, great staff and nice rooms. It was pretty much the only hotel to be had 8 years or so ago. Have a wonderful time!

will definitely add a trip report when we get back.

I am horrible at journaling (never openend my journal in europe or CR last year). But... won a camcorder at an xmas party last night so It should be easier to keep track and remember things. And I will back a journal and try, try again.

Many thanks to all!

I know what you mean about the journal. My husband is a journal keeper so he keeps pretty good track. I bring a pad of paper and for the first couple of days I am pretty good, then it just goes out the window. I rely on my memory and my pictures for most things. It is still half way intact.

arrrrrrrrrrg.....

this packing thing isn't working for me!

I know I need hiking/outdoors clothes.

I figure I'll need casual skirts and/or pants, tees etc but also some sort of sweaters to wear at night and in a cooler region. I also need something to wear for Xmas dinner as well as at night if we go somewhere somewhat upscale (probably just antigua?).

Then there are shoe issues. I'll need hiking shoes, then flip flops to wear during day in city, then something to wear for xmas.

Let's not get into reading material which I always overpack in fear that I'll run out!