Foto: Climbing the Pacaya volcano (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Guatemala - We depart from Rio Dulce toward the border with Honduras. The road we take is a new highway. That sounds good, but there’s a toll booth every ten kilometers. This takes time and is annoying. We arrive at the Honduran border around noon. It’s not very busy, and after the border formalities, we continue on to the Copán Valley. The Copán Valley lies in a mountainous area. The road winds through the hills. We drive through villages and past small churches. Chickens cross the road, and children play on the roadside. Around three o’clock, we reach the village of Copán Ruinas. I take a walk through the village. The village has a pleasant atmosphere. The streets are cobbled and lead up and down through the village. I climb a staircase that takes me to the top of the hill, to the ruins of the old Spanish fort. There’s little left of the fort. On the site, a cross has been erected, and I have a beautiful view over the village and the surrounding hills.
Caribbean atmosphere in Livingston
Guatemala - At 1:30 PM, I sail back to Rio Dulce with the same boat and captain. The trip back goes faster. The boat doesn’t stop anymore, and we ride at full speed through the narrow Rio Dulce gorge. The boat glides smoothly over the water, and I enjoy the beautiful ...
Enchanting colonial Antigua
Guatemala - Antigua has had many earthquakes in its history. The great earthquake of 1773 practically destroyed the entire city. After this earthquake, the city was abandoned. Only many years later did residents return. Many of the old colonial houses were restored ...
The Mayan temples of Tikal
Guatemala - I get dressed and grab a cup of coffee in the restaurant. I also take a breakfast pack with me. Roél, the guide for Tikal, is already waiting for me at the restaurant. A little after four o'clock, I walk into the park with my flashlight in hand. Roél ...