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| El Mirador over Lago Atitlan for a sunrise |
We entered Guatemala with a few goals; learn some Spanish, meet some friends, do some trekking and help out some kids.Our trekking began with a three day trip from Xela to San Pedro Atitlan. A great hike and an oppertunity to get our feet wet with Quetzaltrekkers, the organization with which we we going to be spending our time with. The highlight of the trek was an early start to the last day and breakfast on the hillside overlooking the lake for the sunrise.
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crew at Quetzaltrekkers, Keith (Colorado, USA), Travis (Australia), Me,
Emma (England), Marissa (Vancouver, Canada), Katie, Lottie (England),
Rob (England), Cesar (Guatemala). Pete (England), Grace (Boston, USA)
and Andy (Australia). Behind the camera is Santi (Guatemala). |
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| Katie doing something to a rock |
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Katie and I did some trips on our own as well.One of our favorite quick trips is up to Cerro Quemado just up from Xela. Some quick rock scrambles and great views of the city.
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| Stike a pose |
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| Cerro Quemado (Burnt hill) |
I think my favorite hike on this trip was the full moon hike up Vulcan Santa Maria. Mysef and three other guides took a group of happy hikers up the volcano that stands tall over Xela in the middle of the night. We arrived at the summit just before sunrise for one of the most spectacular views I have ever seen.
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| Volcanoes from a Santa Maria sunrise |
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| Santa Maria casting it's shadow |
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| Xela from Santa Maria |
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| Santa Maria from the streets of Xela |
On the backside of Vulcan Santa Maria is the active vent called Santiaguito. This is a quick hike to hopefully see an eruption. It is said to go off every 45 or so, and I had the pleasure of seeing it go. Katie got stumped both times she went out. However she always manages to make friends.
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| Katie's new friend on our way to Santiaguito |
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| Our last day in Xela with Travis and Marissa at Santiaguito |
What was to be a fun hike for guides, without any clients, turned out to be a bust. We set out for Fuentes Georginas, the local hot springs. This hike was to be a 27 km sloppy trek, however we managed to ourselves lost and had to bail out without reaching the hot springs. Fortunate enough to not have to spend the night, unprepared, on the side of the mountain.
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| Peak of Santa Maria from Vulcan Zunil |
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| Muddy trail to Zunil |
Vulcan Tajamulco stands at 4,222 meters and is the highest peak in Central America. The concensus of climbing this mountain is usually once is enough. A tough hike and a cold night on the mountain gives way to a gorgeous sunrise over Guatemala and southern Mexico.
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| From Vulcan Tajamulco |
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| Cesar on the summit at Tajamulco |
