Yel Kaye – Travel Blog, Writing and Photography

If Quetzaltenango is Neverneverland for 20-somethings, San Pedro la Laguna is lalaland for hippies.

Even more than other expat centers in Guatemala (the main ones being Antigua, Quetzaltenango and the towns around Lake Atitlan) San Pedro seems totally disconnected from reality. Of course, I’ve only been here about four hours and we are right in the middle of the gringo zone around the docks, but I’m pretty sure my first impression is correct: San Pedro is where the partying, high and drunk hippies hang out, and San Marcos (across Lake Atitlan) is where the healthy new-agey ones live.

Where else can you find such a concentration of bars, cafes and restaurants with names like “Buddha” or “Freedom”? Ok, maybe a bunch of towns across the backpacking world (San Cristobal de las Casas, anyone?) but still.

Next to the dreadlocked backpackers, though, there are still lots of Mayan women wearing their traditional clothing. It would be interesting to know what most of them think of the tourists in their town.

Well, whatever. This is a great place to spend a few days with my two friends. Two friends of mine from Ottawa have decided to accompany me for the first bit of this trip. One is staying in Guatemala 10 days, the other a month. It’s great to show them all the stuff I love about this country.

It’s pouring in Guatemala right now. The forecast for practically every part of the country is rain, rain and more rain for the next week. This is a good place to laze around and hide from the rain. Lots of comfy cafes over-looking beautiful Lake Atitlan, great cheap food, and at any given time one of the bars is having happy hour. Two Gallo beers for a dollar and a half? Yes, please!