Guatemala: Lago de Atitlan, Antigua, Rio Dulce, Tikal

We made it through San Salvador, although as we were warned not to go out at night we stayed in our room the whole time until our bus left for Guatemala. Since then, we've had an amazing ten days, starting with a couple of days at Lake Atitlan (photo above). The chicken bus ride to get there was like being on a rollercoaster as it wound through the mountains at breakneck speed, and our bags were slung on top of the bus (not even tied down...!) The area is still traditional Mayan, with many local people dressed in lots of brightly patterned outfits... not just the hippy travellers!

We then went to Antigua, where we enjoyed wandering around the colonial centre, climbing a nearby active volcano (getting right up close to the lava), and took a day trip to the famous street market at Chichicastenango where we bartered with the locals.

Our next stop was Rio Dulce, where we arrived at our riverside cabin by boat - like something out of James Bond! We took a boat ride from there to Livingstone on the Caribbean coast - an interesting blend of Spanish and Garifuna cultures. Then we headed North to the stunning Mayan ruins at Tikal, where we climbed up 60 metre high pyramids and saw more monkeys than tourists!

Next stop is Belize for a few days chilling out on an island and another jungle boat ride to see Mayan ruins.