Around the World in Reality: Guatemala

Guatemala had been on my travel list for quite some time. I’d had several friends visit over the years, and every single one came back with positive reviews. So, when I started searching for our annual Valentine’s Day getaway, I was excited to find an amazing points deal and booked it immediately.

Day 1 – Saturday, February 7

HIGHLIGHTS: 27 Adentro

We had an early morning flight and half-slept our way to Atlanta. Once we made it to the Sky Club, I officially broke Dry January with a poinsettia.

We were upgraded to Comfort Plus, and the flight felt even more fun when we realized one of the flight attendants was a fellow Vol.

After landing in Guatemala City, we breezed through immigration and quickly found our driver for the ride to Antigua. A couple of hours later, we arrived at Casa Bella, a charming boutique hotel tucked away in Antigua. I really enjoyed our stay there. The hotel had a quaint, cozy feel, and the rooms were surprisingly spacious.

By the time we arrived, we were pretty hungry, and thankfully 27 Adentro was able to seat us a little early. They were only accepting reservations that evening, so making one ahead of time definitely worked in our favor.

The space felt peaceful and serene, tucked away from the buzz of the streets and offering a quiet escape from Antigua.

Donnell ordered a ginger hibiscus juice, and I went with the Indita Rosa de Jamaica cocktail, which featured a hibiscus ice cube, a hibiscus shot, and Quetzalteca sugarcane liquor. As a hibiscus lover, I really enjoyed it.

We started dinner with shrimp ceviche, which easily ranked among the top five ceviches I’ve ever had.

For our meal, Donnell ordered the roasted dorado with shrimp in a traditional Guatemalan tapado sauce, served with green and sweet plantain tostones, while I went with the shrimp in Caribbean-style creole sauce with fried mofongo medallions. Both plates looked incredible, so of course we ended up swapping bites to try each other’s.

Everything was absolutely delicious, and it was one of those meals where every dish at the table felt like the right choice.

On the walk back, we were treated to an incredible backdrop as the sun began to set. Fuego, an active volcano, put on a show for us in the distance, and we stopped to take it all in.

Day 2 – Sunday, February 8

HIGHLIGHTS: La Tortilla Cooking School, Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala and Little Spoon

The day started with basically breakfast in bed, delivered right to our door after we ordered it the night before. I even tried to go grab a coffee myself at one point, and they politely shooed me back to my room. The customer service was top tier, and the breakfast itself was solid and a great way to start the day.

After breakfast at the hotel, we headed to a tortilla cooking class, one of our favorite kinds of experiences, and this one did not disappoint. We shared the class with two young women from California as well as a group from Europe, which made it even more fun and lively.

We made vegetarian pepián, fresh tortillas, radish salad, atol, and rellenitos. Along the way, we sipped white wine and hibiscus juice. It was hands-on and intimate, and it deepened our appreciation for Guatemala’s culinary roots.

After lunch, we stopped by the iconic Santa Catalina Arch before wandering through an outdoor artisan market. I ended up finding the perfect handknitted headband for my next trip (back) to Iceland that I was pretty excited about.

We had some time on our hands, so we visited the Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala. The museum offered a thoughtful look at how Guatemalan art has evolved across different eras. There was a lot to see and appreciate.

Then came the 2.5-hour drive to Panajachel. It was quite the ride, but we made it safely.

We checked into Porta Del Lago, and our first impression of the hotel was a good one. It was beautifully decorated, and I especially loved the wall art and floral displays, which gave it a warm and inviting feel.

I splurged on this room because I’m a sucker for a good view, and I knew I wanted something special here. Our suite came with a panoramic view of Lake Atitlán, and it was absolutely gorgeous.

We headed to dinner nearby at Little Spoon, which is typically known for breakfast, but we were in the mood for something simple after a filling lunch. I had the nachos supremos with shrimp, and Donnell ordered the shrimp tacos. It was exactly what we needed to round off the evening.

We made it back in time to catch the Super Bowl and, of course, Bad Bunny. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Day 3 – Monday, February 9

HIGHLIGHTS: 80’s Coffee, Te Quiero, ATV Tour and Bar Xocomil

Before the day got started, I took a moment to practice my photography and savor a beautiful sunrise.

As Donnell slept, I made my way to a nearby coffee shop. It was super cute and 80s themed, which made it even more fun to step into as an 80s baby. I took my time and enjoyed an americano con leche.

I then made my way to Te Quiero, a spot a bit closer to the hotel, to pick up a cappuccino for Donnell.

Once we were both ready to start the day, we headed to Crossroads Café for breakfast. I had the chapín, a traditional Guatemalan breakfast that was just enough to keep me satisfied without being too heavy. Donnell started with the avena con frutas, but the consistency was a bit too runny for his taste, so he switched to a waffle instead, which was much more his speed.

We spent the morning strolling through an artisan market before heading out on an ATV tour.

Our first stop was in the town of Santa Catarina Palopó, where we learned a bit about Café Tuk. I picked up some coffee and chocolate, both absolute must-buys in Guatemala.

We then rode over to San Antonio Palopó. Our first stop was to see a weaving and dying demonstration. This was incredible, as I had never seen this process done by hand before.

We made our way to the next stop and tasted some rum and chocolate. I ended up picking up even more chocolate and coffee while we were there.

Finally, we toured a ceramic cooperative where we saw artisans at work.

We also came across two funeral processions and paused to pay our respects. The last one, in particular, reminded me of a second line in New Orleans, with its sense of community and movement through the streets.

Our tour wore us out, so we decided to stay in for dinner at the hotel. We grabbed seats at the downstairs bar, Bar Xocomil, where I ordered the colossal shrimp and Donnell had the Lake Basin tilapia. Everything was delicious and honestly exceeded expectations.

We finished the night with a slice of chocolate cake, the perfect sweet ending to a long and full day.

Day 4 – Tuesday, February 10

HIGHLIGHTS: Chali Coffee Shop, Xunah Kaab Bee Cooperative and 7 Caldos

After my morning routine of watching the sunrise, I set out for Chali Coffee Shop, which was almost directly across from the café I had visited the day before. I enjoyed avocado toast and a cinnamon latte while taking in another slow, easy morning.

I also brought Donnell back a croissant with cream cheese, tomato, and avocado, along with a cappuccino, which he really enjoyed.

We took a lancha across Lake Atitlán to San Juan La Laguna, one of the most vibrant and culturally rich towns around the lake.

We got our steps in as we made our way to the Xunah Kaab’ Bee Cooperative. At first, we weren’t sure it was open, and just as we were about to leave, a kind woman welcomed us in. We ended up learning so much about stingless Mayan bees and traditional honey production, which made the visit feel even more special.

I tried hibiscus honey wine right there at the coop and loved it. We left with honey from both stingless and regular bees, along with chapstick as well.

We stopped for lunch at Las Ola Cevichera. I had Guatemalan ceviche and a mojito, while Donnell enjoyed shrimp tacos. Both were tasty.

I wanted to see more of Guatemala’s textiles, so we made my way over to Batz’ Textiles. There were so many beautiful pieces, but I eventually settled on two unique luggage tag holders.

We caught a lancha back to Panajachel and rested before dinner at 7 Caldos. Dinner there felt like a culinary tour of Guatemala, with each caldo representing a different region of the country.

I chose the Tapado Caldo, influenced by the Garifuna people and rich with coconut and seafood flavors, while Donnell enjoyed the grilled fish fillet. We also shared a pitcher of white sangria to round out the meal.

We were seated next to a young woman who had been making tortillas, and it was amazing to watch how quickly she worked. We struck up a conversation using my broken Spanish, which turned into a really beautiful moment of connection. She even handed me a few fresh tortillas straight off the grill.

It was one of those meals that felt both comforting and cultural.

Travel Day – Wednesday, February 11

HIGHLIGHTS: American Express Lounge

We decided to move our departure up to 7 AM, which turned out to be a smart call since traffic into Guatemala City was heavier than expected.

At the airport, we moved through quickly. We hadn’t planned for it, but I spotted a large American Express sign and discovered a lounge we were able to access.

We both ordered ravioli alfredo, which was surprisingly good and exactly what we needed before heading home after an excellent taste of Guatemala.

Final Thoughts

This trip was built around food, culture, and views, and Guatemala delivered on every front. From the stunning landscapes of volcanoes and lakes to the rich culinary traditions and artisanal craftsmanship, we truly enjoyed every moment of it.

What stood out just as much were the people. Guatemala had some of the kindest individuals I’ve connected with abroad. Everyone was warm, patient, and genuinely willing to help. It’s a place that stays with you, and without a doubt, we’ll be back.