Guatemala
By Sebastian Latorre
Santa Catalina Arch Antigua, Guatemala
Guatemala: Volcano Sunrises, Lakeside Magic, and the People Who Made It
Guatemala has a way of surprising you long before you realize it. I went with my cousin Sebastian on a ten day adventure, expecting beautiful landscapes, good food and a bit of hiking. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the country would pull us in. From the colonial streets of Antigua to the volcanic peaks towering over Lake Atitlán, Guatemala is the kind of place that feels both ancient and alive, peaceful yet full of movement. It is vibrant, colorful, kind and perfect for anyone with a sense of adventure.
Antigua: A City of Color, Culture, and That First Bowl of Street Soup
We landed in Antigua under a light rain, which made the cobblestone streets and crumbling colonial arches feel even more cinematic. The city is alive with energy, buzzing markets, perfumed bakeries, and families walking beneath volcano silhouettes. Antigua was the first place that made me realize how special Guatemala is.
The street food surprised us in the best way. Sebastian tried a white corn soup in the old town, something so simple yet so deeply comforting, especially in the cool evening air. We wandered through the historic center, dipping into small bars and hearing live music spill out onto the streets. It instantly felt like a place we could stay for weeks.
Lake Atitlán: Villages, Volcanoes, Coffee, and a Lakeside Hacky Sack Circle
Lake Atitlán might be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The mountains rise straight out of the water like emerald towers, and each village around the lake feels like its own world.
We based ourselves in San Pedro but walked to San Juan La Laguna to experience its colorful murals, umbrella streets and artisan markets. On the way back, we met a warmhearted man who ran a small shop called iCoffee. He showed us the entire process of hand making Guatemalan coffee, and we drank it fresh on his rooftop with the lake glowing below us.
One of my favorite moments happened in San Marcos while waiting for a boat taxi. We were playing hacky sack with a few other travelers when a group of local kids joined in. Their laughter filled the air and the game grew until a young boy in a wheelchair approached with his mother. She gently lifted his leg so he could kick the hacky sack, and the joy on his face was unforgettable. It was such a simple moment, but it captured everything I love about travel: connection, curiosity and shared joy between strangers.
Adventure Days and a Flip Flop Sacrifice to the Lake
Lake Atitlán is full of movement — boat taxis, cliff jumps, kayaks and tiny pathways that twist between villages. Not everything went smoothly, and that’s part of the charm. One afternoon a monsoon level rainstorm hit San Pedro. Streets turned into rivers flowing straight toward the lake. Sebastian tried to steady himself while crossing but slipped, lost a flip flop to the rushing water and watched it get swept directly into Lake Atitlán. He was soaked and laughing, and so was everyone around him.
It was one of those travel moments that becomes funnier every time you retell it. You can see, he’s missing a flip flip…
Volcán Acatenango & Fuego: The Hardest, Most Beautiful Experience of the Trip
Nothing prepared us for Acatenango. The hike is steep, long and demanding, but the changing landscapes keep pulling you upward: cloud forests, volcanic gravel, open ridgelines and a horizon full of fire.
We climbed for hours with our group, including an older man from Brazil and two women from Spain. By the time we reached base camp, we were exhausted, drenched and ready to collapse. But the guides encouraged us to continue toward Volcán Fuego, the volcano famous for spewing lava into the night sky.
Fuego overlook is covered by clouds in the extreme cold.
The extra push was brutal. We were cold, tired and walking through clouds so thick we couldn’t see the eruptions. At one point, Sebastian and I huddled together on the mountain for warmth, eating Oreos in silence and watching the sky flicker red through the mist. It was oddly perfect.
Back at camp, we bundled into a wooden cabin with six other hikers. Only Pollo, our guide, and I planned to summit at sunrise. We woke at 3 AM and sprinted up the loose volcanic gravel, climbing to the summit in under an hour. At the top, the sky opened into a blazing red sunrise over the valley, and Fuego erupted in the distance. The entire world felt alive. It was my first summit in Central America, and one of the most meaningful moments of my life.
Monterrico: Black Sand, Cold Beers, and A Much-Needed Break
After days of hiking, we took a chicken bus to Monterrico, a small beach town on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. The black sand beaches were calm and warm, and it felt like a completely different country. We spent two days swimming, resting, and enjoying cold beers by the ocean. When we missed the bus back to the city, we took a taxi and watched the sun set from the car windows — a peaceful ending to an unforgettable trip.
Is Guatemala Safe? Absolutely.
People often ask about safety, and after this trip I can honestly say Guatemala felt incredibly welcoming. The people are kind, the atmosphere is relaxed and traveling between Antigua and Atitlán is easy and safe. For anyone planning a first trip to Central America, Guatemala is a perfect choice. It has everything you hope for — adventure, culture, food, nature and a community of travelers from around the world.
Final Thoughts: Guatemala, ill be back
Guatemala surprised us at every turn. Antigua’s colorful streets, Lake Atitlán’s dramatic landscapes and Volcán Fuego’s raw power all left a mark on us. But what made the trip unforgettable were the people — travelers from around the world, kind locals, kids laughing by the lake and guides who push you to see the world in new ways.
If you are dreaming of a destination filled with adventure, culture and nature at its most spectacular, Guatemala is waiting.
And if you want to see this trip through my lens, you can explore the full Guatemala Photography Collection on my site.