Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
kayaking ($3.50), sailboarding ($7), rappelling, and guided hikes along nature trails or to
the volcano. You can also safely camp beside the lake ($7) in your own tent or rent one (an
additional $7).
If,likemostpeopletravelinghomefromGuatemala,youflyoutonacommercial
airline, don'tbesurprisedbythedistinct smell offriedchicken onboardyourair-
craft. One look at the overhead bins will quickly reveal that they are crammed
tight with boxes of fried chicken. Meet Pollo Campero, which, along with coffee
and bananas, may be one of Guatemala's main exports.
Guatemalans have always had an affinity for the stuff. It's actually quite good,
though I've never taken it along as a carry-on. Many travelers take a box home
forhomesickrelativescravingatasteofthelandtheyleftbehind.AlthoughPollo
Campero has opened up shop in recent years in several U.S. cities, expatriate
Guatemalans still make a point of stopping at the store in La Aurora Airport to
pick up a box. To illustrate the utter hold it has on the Guatemalan masses, the
airport shop operated out of a street-side trailer during the airport's recent renov-
ation at a time when all other businesses were simply closed.
You may be asked by U.S. Customs if you're carrying food and this question
might specifically address your smuggling of Pollo Campero. Rest assured, Cus-
toms officials are happy to let the cooked chicken cross the American threshold
after applying the requisite X-rays. Some Newark Airport Customs officers even
claimtohavetheuncannyabilitytodistinguishchickenfromaGuatemalanPollo
CamperoversusaSanSalvadoroutlet,thoughI'venevertakenthemuponoffers
to verify their claims.
Pollo Campero is becoming more than just a Guatemalan phenomenon,
however. An aggressive company expansion includes the opening of numerous
new locations throughout North America, Europe, and even Asia in the coming
years. In 2007, Campero opened outlets in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Shanghai,
China, with ambitious goals to open 500 more restaurants in China by 2012.
Campero already operates 220 restaurants in 10 countries, including 38 in the
United States. It employs more than 7,000 people and is the largest fast-food
chain in Latin America. With such aggressive expansion plans, Pollo Campero
may be headed for a location near you, and I don't mean seat 25F.
