Horseback Riding and Pizza Cooked IN a Volcano

/ San Vicente Pacaya/
Horseback Riding and Pizza Cooked IN a Volcano

we rejigged our map to set a course for the horses & arrived in San Vincent’s Pacaya Park - after a road closure and some more wrong turns, 45 mins late of course—our romantic sunset ride for 2 was actually us + our guide… + we’re not sure if it was our guide or a girl who rides and wanted a free trip on our dime who brought her boyfriend? (Either way, VERY ANNOYING—translated 2 sentences for Simon & sang off-key campfire songs the rest of the way) + the guides kids to walk all the horses up AND down the mountain (in the dark, with supplies!

Once at the top it was a km foot hike on lava rock to get to the pizza which I was NOT prepared for. Thank god I brought extra jackets or I would’ve died from exposure. Also was not the romantic bachelor date of my dreams with 150 tourists literally sitting 25 feet from our pillowed setup and watching us …

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Exploring the Ruins of Tikal

/ Tikal Ruins/
Exploring the Ruins of Tikal

Tikal is the largest Mayan Ruin site in the world, yet only 8% is uncovered. We saw HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of structures today…and walking through the jungle from spot to spot, I noticed it was quite hilly. Well, Fernando informed me that the jungle is in fact flat, and those “hills” are all yet-to-be-uncovered ruins (but there’s some issues with both money and who’s in charge of those decisions). Mind. BLOWN.

We climbed on several temples (omg steep and zero safety barriers) which are sprouting out of the jungle, as the animals live harmoniously with this massive piece of human history.

There’s not much I can say other than to show you some photos and to tell you to absolutely get there if you can. One of my favourite places I’ve ever been in the entire world.

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How Did We Decide to Visit Guatemala?

/ Jungle Hotel/

We landed on Guatemala for a number of reasons, not least because of our various parameters (see above!) but in the end, it won because it has a bit of everything:

it has warm weather. It has beaches (if you really want them - not the nicest in the world but hey). (t’s got incredible outdoorsy activities (kayaking, SUP, horseback riding, hiking, camping atop an active volcano, anyone?) incredibly rich vibrant history and culture that’s well preserved to this day, see how coffee/chocolate is made, go to a market in a small local village and admire the handiwork or just the daily life; enjoy the jungles and rainforest and all the animals that come with it, the mountains, the desert, various lakes, tons of volcanoes, and of course the wealth of Mayan ruins, a tiny fraction of which have been uncovered.

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Travel in the Time of Covid.

/ Airport/
Travel in the Time of Covid.

“Did you still have to show negative COVID test? Or is just double vax certificate fine?” The answer is BOTH. AND they don’t accept the QR code vaxx certification either. Have to show both files or a printout of each one.

“Also, doesn’t the QR code vaxx certificate show both doses along with the dates they were administered? Why wouldn’t this be accepted? This is what is given to you when you go to www.Covid-19.Ontario.ca…”

A: You would think but American Air didn’t accept it today, just telling you our experience.

So be meticulous, be prepared, & travel safe everybody!

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