Adventures with Cloud People – Travel Blog

Central American coffee is some of the best in the world. The climate and conditions for growing beans are close to perfect. Unfortunately, while you are in Central America, it can sometimes be hard to locate a decent brew. Most of the high quality stuff is exported overseas. What is left are the discards, deemed [...]

Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepequez, both not far outside of Antigua, Guatemala, play host to the “Feria del Barrilete Gigante” (Giant Kite Festival) on the first of November each year. We chose to head out to the Sumpango festival. The first of November in Guatemala is celebrated as the day of the dead. On this day, [...]

Antigua is a haven for food-lovers in Guatemala. Its wide variety of international cuisines provide a wonderful dilemma for travellers when deciding where one should dine. High quality restaurants require high quality products, and it’s here where Caoba Organic Farm steps in. Alex, owner of Caoba, is deeply passionate about producing the finest in vegetables, [...]

Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlan) is Central America’s deepest lake. Surrounded by towering volcanoes in the highlands of Guatemala, it was once described by Aldous Huxley as ‘…too much of a good thing.’ Villages dotted along its hillsides preserve Mayan culture, their residents still dressing traditionally. We arrive at its shores eager to pay homage to Maximon, a folk [...]

Antigua, the centre of tourism in Guatemala often gets a bad rap from many ‘true’ travellers. “This isn’t the real Guatemala.” They may be right. To me though it should be seen for what it is, a beautiful city. Is Vienna not the real Austria, Paris not the real France? From Antigua they go to [...]

  Finca El Paraiso is about a one hour mini bus ride from the town of Rio Dulce, also known as Fronteras. The Finca is best known for its hot waterfalls. Our buson the way out there was packed to the roof with people, 23  I counted at one stage. As is typical in Guatemala, there [...]

A clear morning allowed us to take a wander down behind the Antigua market to where the Chicken Buses (or Camionetas) park when off-duty. The volcanoes rising through the clouds made for a picturesque scene behind the colorful vehicles. Guys selling flags and other paraphernalia for the upcoming independence day added to the experience.

Las Capuchinas was once a convent for the Capuchin nuns of La Antigua, Guatemala. It was completed in 1736 and eventually abandoned after the earthquake of 1773. The partially restored site contains beautiful courtyards and gardens, as well as a mysterious underground dungeon-type area. The fragments of light that shine through a small window onto [...]

Wooden masks were originally used throughout Guatemala in traditional dances. Some are based on animals, others include representations of the conquistadors, used in dances that mock their arrival. Now, they have become a popular item for tourists to take back home. This particular mask was found in Antigua, a popular shopping destination for travelers.