Panacachel, Fuertes Georginas, Quetzaltenango (Xela) We left bright and early on a shuttle bus headed for lake Aititlan in the highlands. The shuttle was no chicken bus but got us to the lake bright and early. You come down through the mountains to a lake surrounded by volcanoes and little towns and the view is incredible. By this point me and lauren were suffering massively from volcano-clogged airways (I had the barry White voice for a record week...) and the ...

Having arrived almost by accident in Guatemala we quickly realised that Puerto Barrios, the port town, was a place to pass through as quickly as possible. After an amusing immigration (a hut about half a mile from the docks with very loud latin music playing out of the windows) we dumped our bags in the hottest room known to man and booked a 3.30am bus out of there. The bus journey was like a dream. I have heard about how beautiful Guatemala is but nothing pre...