Hellish Hiking

After Jordan and I relaxed in Xela for a night, we started getting ready for our three day hike. We took the hike with Quetzaltrekkers (a great organization!) which donates all proceeds from its customers to the education and well being of the Xelan street children. We hiked with about 25 other people from around the world.

Our hike would take us from Xela to Lake Atitlan, a scenic location with a beautiful lake made entirely of rainwater. We were very excited to see the Guatemalan countryside.

However, our hike ended up being a little more than what we could handle. The hike was a LOT of uphill, something we weren’t prepared for. As we ascended the mountains the air became progressively thinner and I struggled quite a bit. Jordan was fine, but I, an actual idiot, was very slow and embarrassed the entire way, especially after seeing locals take the same hike faster and with less complaints. Take it from me, before you do a three day hike really evaluate the state of your body/mind and truly, truly be honest with yourself about if you can partake in a hike of that intensity. Because, unfortunately for me, those three days were a real pain in the butt.

Despite the pain, the jungle was truly amazing to explore. I can’t explain the feeling of breathing clear, pure air while surveying the small communities that call the mountains home.

What’s more, Lake Atitlan was worth the hike. Each small village on the lake, such as San Pedro and Panajachel, had its own unique vibe. San Pedro, where we stayed, is the unofficial holistic capital of Guatemala. Although we didn’t experience any holistic healing, the amount of white American hippies in dreadlocks walking barefoot was at an all time high there, so take that as you will. They also serve pizza with carrots here, so beware of a “vegetarian” pizza!

Overall, the hike was a wonderful addition to our trip. Would I do it again, though? Probably not.