The Most Dangerous of Parasites

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The Most Dangerous of Parasites

June 28th, 2008 | Guatemala - Tourist Trap, Guatemala - Travel Tips | 1 Comment »

When visiting any foreign you have to take precautions against parasites, and traveling to Guatemala is no different. However there are some parasites that no amount of medication can guard against; the human variety. They can be found at all the popular tourist attractions, speak English, as well as German, Italian and French, and are quite friendly. It is important to remember that no matter how harmless they seem their goal is to suck the money right out of your wallet.

These human parasites are easily identifiable; they wear an official looking laminated ID badge around their neck, and are always quick to ask if you need assistance or offer some helpful advice. Make sure you Read more

Marimba Madness

June 28th, 2008 | Guatemala - Culture | No Comments »

The marimba can be heard throughout Central America, but it is the official national instrument of Guatemala. In the major cities marimbas can be extremely large, with four to nine musicians playing on just one of these oversized xylophones. In the country, hand crafted marimbas use different shaped gourds as their sounding boxes.

Marimba bands usually employ a drum kit percussionist as well as a bassist. Some bands have even taken to adding a saxophone, trumpet, or trombone for some added flavor. Marimba bands play in every corner of the country, so make sure you ask around to locate one in the town you’re visiting. Guatemalans will tell you the sound of the marimba causes a sense Read more

Dirt Bike Heaven

June 13th, 2008 | Guatemala - Adventure, Guatemala - Must See or Do | No Comments »

Explore Guatemala, extreme style. CA Tours, based out of Antigua, is a professional Motorcycle company that offers guided tours on dirt bikes through the Guatemalan interior. They feature a wide variety of tours; ones for intermediate bikers last just a few days, while more advanced riders can tackle the 8 day tours. For those with a limited amount of time and a specific agenda, custom tours can be designed.

The guys at CA Tours are a couple of English blokes who are genuinely interested in helping you have the best dirt bike excursion possible. They provide you with protective clothing, including a helmet, and bikes that are safe and of high quality. Off road and Read more

4 Degrees North Equals One Fun Night

June 10th, 2008 | Guatemala - Adults Only, Guatemala - Must See or Do, Guatemala - Nightlife, Guatemala - Places to Eat | No Comments »

Looking for a variety of nightlife in Guatemala City? Check out Cuatro Grados Norte, located in Zona 4. This area basically serves as a hot place for the young and hip crowd to mingle with its open streets, outdoor seating, bars, restaurants and dance clubs. It is a pretty safe area which makes it ideal for wandering around in the late night hours and meeting lots of interesting people, tourists and locals alike.

Cuatro Grados Norte is growing in popularity as people look outside of the famous Zona 10, or Zona Viva for some variety in their nightlife. Anything goes, and the Gringo suggests that women dress a little sexy; no need to worry about Read more

Making Your Way to the Market

June 3rd, 2008 | Guatemala - Best Shopping, Guatemala - Family Friendly | No Comments »

Market Days in Guatemala are a large part of the livelihood in each village, so try to make your way to these locations on their Market Days. Not only will you have a better idea of who the Guatemalan people are, you will also have the opportunity to buy a number of gorgeous hand crafted items.

While being the largest and most famous market in Guatemala, Chichicastenango has its drawbacks. Since it receives more traffic than most markets, it is harder to barter prices, which is what market shopping is all about. Towns such as Antigua and Panajachel offer amazingly beautiful crafts, at the prices you are looking for. Always remember, you should be Read more

These Aren�t Your Everyday School Buses

June 2nd, 2008 | Guatemala - Adventure, Guatemala - Culture, Guatemala - Must See or Do | No Comments »

Traveling in Guatemala City and the country as a whole can be done in a number of ways. Often the best way to get around the city is by private taxi; they are safest and easiest. If you are heading out of town to another popular vacation destination you may choose to take a private shuttle. While those are all well and good, no trip to Guatemala is complete without experiencing the Chicken Bus!

These vibrantly decorated Bluebird school buses perfectly represent the Guatemalan way of things. Not only are they bright and colorful, they are work-horses who start their long treks on their own terms. (Translation: Schedules are hard to come by. Read more