The Truth About Guatemala City

October 08, 2024

The Truth About Guatemala City

Guatemala City. To visit or not to visit?

The question on every traveller's mind when planning their Guatemalan itinerary. I spent 2.5 days in the city and have the answer.

First, some context to make sure we're on the same page and can even relate in the slightest. I am a 22-year-old female traveller at the beginning of my solo backpacking adventure around the globe. I am mostly volunteering in places in exchange for housing and some meals to help cut costs. In between volunteer placements, I am making sure to take breaks and be a tourist. One thing about me is that I will always book the cheapest flights even if I end up in the country sooner than needed. That being said, before starting my most recent placement in Lanquin, I had 2 and a half days to explore the city.

I landed in Guatemala City around noon with time to spare before I was able to check into my accommodation. Just me and my backpack with nothing but time and an appetite. The airport was empty and full of long hallways that seemed to have no end. All was calm until I stepped outside and was greeted by 3 things. Heat, locals selling everything under the sun and the one most in my face: TAXIS. EVERYWHERE.

The taxis were expected, however, I had done some research that advised me that an Uber was my best option. I agree with the idea of taking Uber for small distances rather than the local taxis for a couple of reasons. The first is safety. With Uber, you're able to share your ride with friends/family so they can follow along and ensure you make it to your destination and stay on the proper route. The second reason is pricing. With Uber, you know exactly what to expect in terms of cost and can dispute accidental charges if needed. Seeing as I had just arrived, I had no clue what a fair price was from the airport to my hostel and was doing everything in my power to not blow all my money within the first 5 minutes of being in the country. With my lack of knowledge of prices and low Spanish skills, I was not prepared to figure out the taxi system at that moment.

Matcha from Mano's Coffee

Within 20 minutes I was dropped off in Zone 4, right near my home for the next few days. I went with Zone 4 because of its reputation online being that of cafes, restaurants and hipsters. I am no hipster, but can appreciate their cafe expertise. The first thing on my mind when I hit the sidewalk was an ice-cold matcha and right next to my hostel was Mano's Coffee.

If I'm being honest, it wasn't my favourite but did the job and gave me the perfect place to sit down, hide from the rain and people watch until 2.

The hostel I went with is a widely known company in the backpacking community and I can understand why. Tequila Sunrise had kind staff, clean dorms and facilities and some of the best damn pancakes I have ever had.

I had a capsule type of bed with space for my things, a fan, lamp, outlet and access to lockers. Those pancakes I mentioned were free btw. Breakfast was included every day of my stay and had tea/coffee, a variety of fruits, pancakes, cereal, bread and milk. There was also a fully equipped kitchen for guests to make their own meals with plenty of fridge space.

Breakfast at Tequila Sunrise

After my long travel day, I checked in, showered and happily hopped into bed to catch some zzz's. (way more than expected actually) and to my surprise, I didn't wake up until around 7 (right in time for breakfast!!)

During breakfast, I decided to book a half-day city tour. I went with Kej Tours because a portion of their tour was spent in the car and it was a very rainy day. Gustavo picked me up directly in front of my hostel and the tour began. It ended up being a private tour because I had booked on the country's Independence Day. The downside to this was that a good amount of places included on the tour were closed due to the holiday. On the bright side, Gustavo and I were able to drive on nearly empty roads and take our time walking downtown and enjoying the festivities.

Fragments of the Berlin Wall

We headed out in the car and drove by Avenida De Las Americas, where Gustavo made sure to specifically show me the Canadian monument. We then stopped at Plaza Berlin where we got to see real pieces of the Berlin Wall. We passed by many more statues and monuments including the Torre del Reformador, on our way downtown. After a couple of hours of walking in and around churches, cathedrals and plazas, I was driven back to Zone 4 with a great sense of knowledge and the step ring closed on my Apple Watch.

Torre del Reformador

When it comes to the tour, you can definitely find cheaper options. I booked mine extremely last minute so was (somewhat) okay with paying what I did. If I remember correctly it was around $60 USD including the pickup and drop off. Gustavo was extremely knowledgeable and customized the tour to make up for the holiday closures and my interests.

If I wasn't travelling alone, I might've skipped the guided tour and just gone from zone to zone where I knew I'd be in "safe zones". Since I was alone, I didn't regret booking the tour and walked away from it feeling as though I had learned a lot of interesting history and other fun facts.

After the day, I was ready to eat and grateful for the options in Zone 4. I decided to pay a visit to the cafeteria-style restaurant that was steps away from my hostel, El Mercado Dealado. For my first meal, I enjoyed a tortibaleado with flour tortilla, beans, cheese, and cream from Tortiharinas El Ray. The meal was 45Q and included plantains and a drink. (I obviously needed a coke). On my second visit to the cafeteria, I went for a tres quesos arepa. The total was 60Q for the most delicious arepa I've ever had and a white iced tea. The portions were big enough to be lunch and reheated at my hostel for dinner.

My time in the city wasn't as packed as I had originally hoped mainly due to the rain. I still enjoyed walking around Zone 4 and revisiting spots I was shown on my tour. I also stopped into more cafes and little shops to grab snacks and drinks for my upcoming shuttle to Lanquin.

After 2.5 days of hiding from the rain, eating, drinking, walking around and taking a tour, I felt as though my time in the city was well spent. I booked an early shuttle out of the city on my third day.

In classic Abby fashion, I was able to take a short story and make it stretch this far. Now to answer the question: To visit or not to visit Guatemala City? I say, VISIT! If you have the time or a free day before heading off to one of the many wonderful places in Guatemala, I would definitely recommend spending a day in the city.

The people were kind and happy to have visitors, the food was impeccable and the history was rich. Worth giving a day to for sure. Save money by staying in a hostel, ubering and walking around. Of course, there are certain situations where you will need to be mindful of safety but I can't think of a single city where that isn't the case.