Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
derfulsix-dayhighlandtrekbetweenthevillagesofNebajandTodosSantos($150).Italso
does a unique full-moon climb to Santa María Volcano to watch the sunrise ($17). Most
trips leave on Saturdays and every other Wednesday depending on demand, but you can
always get your own group together.
Travel newcomers enjoying early favorable reviews include
Altiplano's
(12 Avenida
3-35 Zona 1, tel. 7766-9614,
www.altiplanos.com.gt
)
and
Icaro Tours
(15 Avenida 6-75
Zona 1, tel. 7765-8205,
www.icarotours.com
)
. Upcoming trips are prominently displayed
on their websites, taking some of the legwork out of trying to get a group together if you
are traveling alone.
Rock Climbing
The
Cerro Quemado,
near Xela, offers good rock climbing on its 45-meter (150-foot)
rock faces known locally as “La Muela.” Routes include traditional climbs as well as sport
climbing and are rated 5.07 to 5.13.
Vertical Expeditions
(tel. 5801-6871 or 5412-6717,
www.verticalexpeditions.com.gt
)
offers one and two days of climbing with a minimum of
four people for $75 and $80, including transport from Guatemala City or Antigua, guide,
gear, meals, and overnight camping on the latter option. Antigua-based
Old Town Out-
fitters
(5a Avenida Sur #12C, Antigua, tel. 5339-0440,
www.bikeguatemala.com
)
does a
two-day trip for $150, leaving from Antigua and staying overnight in a Xela hotel. Locally
based
Quetzaltrekkers
(Diagonal 128-37Zona 1,inside Casa Argentinas, tel. 7765-5895,
www.quetzaltrekkers.com
)
does a day trip for $20 p/p (minimum of four) including gear,
transport, food, water, and guides.
Under $10
An excellent choice for budget travelers,
Hostal Don Diego
(6a Calle 15-12 Zona 1, tel.
5308-3616 and 5308-1489,
www.hostaldondiegoxela.com
,
$6.50 dorm, $7-9 p/p private
room) has clean rooms and a choice of twin- or queen size-beds in private rooms, some
with wood paneling. Xela now has its own version of the wildly popular Antigua equival-
ent,
Black Cat Xela
(13 Avenida 3-33 Zona 1, tel. 7761-2091,
www.blackcathostels.net
,
$6p/pdormor$16dprivateroom).Thecomfortableroomsarecenteredroundatwo-story
courtyard.
Hotel Quetzalteco
(12 Avenida, one block north of Parque Centroamérica, tel.
7765-8461, $9-13 d) is a decent-value hotel in an old colonial home where the 20 basic
rooms have desks and reading lamps along with shared or private bathroom. The rooms
upstairs are slightly nicer and there's a squawking parrot on the premises to keep you com-
pany.
