I almost overlooked Guatemala’s sweetest little river while backpacking across the country. Stretching between Lake Izabal and the Caribbean coast, the Río Dulce—literally “Sweet River”—cuts through a lush pocket of eastern Guatemala that feels entirely different from the rest of the country. The river reminded me a little of the Florida Everglades from my childhood: …
Antigua is a directly on the tourist path; in fact, it’s a veritable hub of tourist activity in Guatemala. It’s also pretty swell. It’s an adorably livable city for a traveler in need of a break; these kiddos are in simply rapt attention of a street mime. I just loved the their five figures sitting …
As I contorted into a series of awkward positions to pull my wetsuit over damp skin, my instructor Ethan and I reviewed our diving plan for the day. He filled me in on the array of marine life I could expect to encounter—trumpet fish, crabs, eels, barracudas, and even a toad fish, all residents of …
Honduras, a land of contrasts and vibrant traditions, often feels like the American South of Central America—a place where the pulse of life slows down under the relentless heat and wide-brimmed cowboy hats are the norm. Imagine stepping off a bus in a Honduran border town as you head to an ancient Maya site, the …
Paging through my guidebook in the quiet cool of the Bagel Barn in Antigua, Guatemala (one of my favorite places for a western breakfast in the city), I was seeking inspiration in Honduras. Copán Ruinas was the obvious stop between Guatemala and the Honduran coast. The problem? I had already seen a lot of ruins …
Can you picture it: The early morning mist hasn’t yet lifted from the cobblestone streets of Chichicastenango, but already the town is alive. Labyrinthine alleys lead me through the town as bright red colors pop from a woman shuffling to the market, sunshine saffrons glint from the bundle over her shoulder, and deep blues add …
Nestled into the cozy, cushioned table beds in Café D’Noz on Lago de Atitlán I was taken off guard when my server climbed up onto the cushions to whisper in my ear. At first all I heard was a bit of hushed syllables inaudible over the blaring movie showing in the café. With a questioning …
One full hour after starting our project we finally had the first layer of concrete blocks nestled next to each other, absolutely perfectly level and arranged in a large rectangular shape. Mitul and Grace, also volunteers from the Pop Wuj language school in Guatemala, carefully scrapped at the wet red clay while I was nearby …