Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you'd rather just soak your weary bones in the warm waters of some pleasant hot
springs, you can do that at
Kawilal Spa
at Baños Termales Santa Teresita (tel. 6633-0225,
www.santateresita.com.gt
,
8 A.M.-6 P.M. daily). You can enjoy a private steam bath or a
soakinaprivatetubfilledwithsteaminghotwatertoyourtaste($5).Severaloutdoorpools
ofvaryingtemperaturesarealsoavailableandthere'sarestaurantservinggrilledmeatsand
chicken,salads,sandwiches,andseafood.Roundingoutthelistofofferingsisaspa,where
you can enjoy a one-hour massage for about $13.
Parque Nacional Naciones Unidas
This 491-hectare park near the lakeshore is managed by private conservation group
De-
fensores de la Naturaleza
(tel. 6630-6421 or 6630-6153) and is open 8 A.M.-4 P.M.
Monday-Fridayand8A.M.-5P.M.SaturdayandSunday.Admissionis$3.50.Facilitiesin-
cludepicnicareaswithbarbecuepits,hikingandmountainbikingtrailswithlookoutpoints
over the lake, basketball courts, and soccer fields. A five-platform, 400-meter canopy tour
and rappelling were added in 2008.
Getting There
You'll probably need to rent a car to get to Lake Amatitlán, though you could also hire a
cabtotakeyoutherefromGuatemalaCityforabout$25.Ifyou'redriving,takethePacific
Highway (CA-9) south out of the city. The main entrance to the Amatitlán lakeshore is at
Km. 26. You'll see signs. The exit veers off from the right side of the highway. From the
exit ramp, you'll come to a Shell gas station, where you turn left. Follow the road until it
dead-ends just past the soccer fields on your left. Turn left at the dead end. You'll pass a
bridge over the Río Michatoya on your right. The next left will take you to the Teleférico
and farther up that same road is Parque Nacional Naciones Unidas. Turning right onto the
bridge over the Río Michatoya followed by an immediate right will bring you to the Santa
Teresita hot springs.
PACAYA VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
Looming over Lake Amatitlán is this 2,552-meter-high active volcano spewing lava and
ash for the amazement of tourists and locals alike. Its current active phase began in 1965
and has barely ceased since. Activity varies from quiet gas, lava, and steam emissions to
full-scale explosive eruptions hurtling rocks into the sky. It sometimes spews large ash
cloudsthatprompttheclosureofGuatemalaCity'sLaAuroraInternationalAirport,aswas
thecasewhena1998eruptionblanketedtheairportrunwayinfinevolcanicsandandagain
in May 2010.
The volcano makes a convenient day trip from Guatemala City (45 minutes) or Antigua
(1 hour). Logistically, it makes more sense from Guatemala City, but the tour operators of-
