A return to Guatemala

Five years ago, I traveled to Guatemala for the first time for a week-long vacation with two random strangers I met on a Facebook travel group. Luckily, none of us murdered one another, and we had an amazing time wandering the streets of Antigua, trekking up the Acatenango volcano, cliff-jumping into Lake Atitlan, and exploring the charming towns around the lake. I went home from that trip with many amazing memories of Guatemala and two new friends.

Five years later, I am living the nomadic life with my partner, whom I met solo while traveling a year prior. After spending my 30th birthday in Nicaragua, he suggested heading up north to spend a month in Guatemala next. Even though I practically never return to destinations I’ve already been to, I had such fond memories of Guatemala that I wanted him to experience it, too.

We ended up renting a place in Antigua for the entire month of June. On weekdays, we worked in different coffee shops, and on weekends, we explored the city and surrounding areas. Despite being there during the peak of the rainy season, we still had a great time. As we sipped our final Gallo beer on our last night in Antigua, my partner said, “I’ve traveled to a lot of places that I don’t see myself living in, but I can see myself living in Antigua.”

So, if you’re unsure about visiting Guatemala, take this as a sign to do it! It’s a beautiful country with so much nature, history, and charm. There are still several places in Guatemala I would love to explore.

If you’re already planning a trip down to this Central American country, here are some of my recommendations for your Guatemalan adventure.

Antigua, Guatemala Recommendations

Accommodations

I recommend staying in one of the many hostels if you’re visiting for a short trip. The first time I came to Antigua, I stayed in Barbara’s Boutique Hostel and Maya Papaya. Both hostels are clean, comfortable, and within walking distance of the main attractions.

This time around, my partner and I rented an Airbnb a bit outside of Antigua. However, we discovered some hostels with great working/lounging spaces. While we’re unsure how the accommodations are, we enjoyed hanging out at and working in Selina Hostel, Flore Boutique Hostel, and Adra Restaurante/Rooftop Bar.

Laptop-Friendly Cafes

My favorite laptop-friendly cafe in Antigua is Artista de Café. This cafe has a beautiful interior design, plenty of seating, and several outlets. The drinks and food are also good. Unfortunately, the internet is not the strongest of all the cafes, but it’s decent enough to do most computer work.

Another cafe we enjoyed working from was Fat Cat Coffee House. The Wi-Fi here is stronger than that of Artista de Café. However, there’s less seating and food options. The coffee here is great, though. Fat Cat Coffee House is also next to a nice courtyard with several good food options. My partner often frequented Skål, a Danish restaurant/bar, in the afternoons to grab some drinks and get more work done.

Two other notable laptop-friendly cafes that we worked at a few times were Cafe Boheme and La Vid Coffee Roasters. Both of these cafes have large tables to work at, good wifi, and outlets.

For the full list of laptop-friendly cafes (with internet upload/download speed), check out my Antigua, Guatemala — Digital Nomad Travel Guide.

Restaurants

Our most visited restaurant during our monthlong stay in Antigua was Empanadas de Paco. This small restaurant is a bit outside of town but close to where we were staying. The empanadas here were amazing. My partner, who typically does not like empanadas, had empanadas from here at least three or four times. I’ve had empanadas many times on my travels through Central and South America, and these were also some of my favorites. Paco, the owner, is a very welcoming person and a great cook. He made us Ramen one night as well, which isn’t on his typical menu.

Another restaurant that I’ve visited a few times in Antigua is Rincón Antigüeño. This restaurant is popular for its delicious rotisserie chicken. However, they have many other traditional Guatemalan dishes available as well. You can get a full meal here for 40 quetzals, which is about $5 USD.

Some other restaurants we enjoyed and recommend for Guatemalan food are La Fonda de la Calle Real (where we discovered our love for escabeche), La Casa de las Mixtas, and La Cuevita de Los Urquizú.

For a cheap meal, I recommend trying some Guatemalan fried chicken. Pollo Campero is a famous Guatemalan fried chicken fast-food chain that has made its way internationally. Another option is Pollo Granero.