The journey back from Guatemala to Costa Rica was a little bit difficult. First, I undertook one of the bizarrest transactions I've ever done - taking out 500 Quetzales of an ATM in Guatemala City Airport, then exchanging 400 of it for American Dollars, and 100 for Mexican Pesos. The flight was late (as in, it was on time, but late in the day) adding to just how knackered I was on making it to San Jose. What followed was a stressy attempt to try find my transfer...

I'm knackered. Every morning in Guatemala. Up before 6:30am. This time, 5:30am, ready and waiting for the packed (literally every seat) tour bus bound for Volcan Pacaya. Pacaya is Guatemala's most active volcano, and a must-do for anyone passing through Antigua. It was a long, sleepy, rocky drive through the Guatemalan countryside to the foot of the mountain before a steep, steeper and even steeper hike up to the volcano. It's phenomenal. I'd read Pacaya was...

So that's it! My 1100km route around Guatemala, all in one week, is over. Its been rushed, hectic, and thanks to my decision to go to Guatemala's most active volcano tomorrow, for every single morning I've been in Guatemala I would have been up before 6:30am. I'm knackered. But then again, I'm going to be home in a few days. Despite much preferring the idea of going on to Mexico, Cuba or even Trump's America. Much of the drive on from Rio Dulce was on the same ...

Currently in Rio Dulce, on a brief-stop on the long journey from Flores to Antigua. We've now left the Peten, on a highway notorious as a major drug-trafficking route - from the world's most murderous city, San Pedro Sula, Honduras, up to the jungles of the Mexico-Guatemala border, perfect narco territory. The ride has mostly been a game of chicken between my bladder and my sweat glands - thirsty cos of the heat, sweating loads, but not actually doing anything s...

For the sixth Guatemalan morning in a row I was up before 6:30 in the morning, this time to head to Tikal. Tikal. It really should be ranked as a world wonder. Tikal was the largest city state of the Mayan civilization and was inhabited for well over a thousand years since 300BC. Whilst Copan had impressive carvings, Tikal has impressive size. I went to Tikal on a tour organised by my hostel with a pair of Australian sisters, a Dutchman, an Austrian and a Swis...