What to do in Guatemala and Belize for 2 weeks

With its colorful towns and yet to be discovered ancient cities, Guatemala is full of charm and mystery. Volcanoes, jungles, and ruins all exude adventure yet the quiet villages and welcoming people invite you to slow down. You can spend the day relaxing on a black, volcanic sand beach or trek through the jungle following the steps of the ancient Mayan people. On the other hand, Belize is a tourist paradise. Full of beaches, bars, and water recreation, you can ask anyone, in English, and they will arrange for someone to take you out snorkeling on the reef. As soon as you step into Belize you leave all your stress behind and your only focus is to have fun.

Just as memorable, but less talked about, were the many bus rides. Getting around Guatemala is its own adventure. Halfway to Santiago de Atitlan our bus stopped because another bus further along the route was robbed. At that point, some people bailed, another lady cried that she just been robbed last week. I stuffed my cash into my Kanga pouch and hoped for the best. A few days later we found ourselves on an 8-hour bus ride from Guatemala City to Flores. With the jungle being our destination we were ready for the heat. Regrettably our flip flops and shorts did not prepare us for the icebox we would be traveling in. The man in front of me reclined his chair further back than should have been possible. It didn’t take him more than 5 min before he was fast asleep and snoring loudly, practically in my lap. Unlike myself the man slept and snored the entire night.

Special shout out to my friends and friends’ family that fed us and let us stay in their homes while traveling. They were more than generous and without them we would not have been able to see even half of what we saw.