Finca San Cayetano

Coffee Farm under the Volcanoes: Finca San Cayetano

Casa Lily Open House (aka Katie's House)

Antigua Cerveza El Bosque

Welcome Brews

Porta Hotel

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Buen Viaje Breakfast

Thank you for sharing your joy with us and for considering celebrating with us in Guatemala! You are our nearest and dearest and all your love and support has gotten us to this very special day. It would mean the world to us to have you there with us, but we also understand Guatemala is far away for many of you, and a significant investment, so please know that you will be with us in spirit on May 11th regardless of whether or not you are with us in person! We love you! Please note that while we both truly adore your children, we would like to request that, due to the historic nature of the venues, our wedding ceremony and dinner on Saturday will be an adult-only occasion (high school age+ and nursing infants excluded). Kiddos are welcome to join activities on Friday and Sunday. If you plan to travel to Guatemala with your little ones, please let K&amp;F know and we are happy to explore childcare options for you during the ceremony and reception so that you can get your party on, footloose and fancy-free! Porta Hotel offers babysitting services by their staff until 10pm for $20 per hour per child, for children 4 years old and above; the price goes up to $25 after 10pm).&nbsp;

Site of the ceremony, the San José el Viejo Ruins (Photo credit: Fernando Merced)

Site of the reception, Porta Hotel (Photo credits: Porta Hotel)

It is a one-minute walk between the ceremony and reception sites, they are right across the street from one another! The wedding sites are a 12-minute walk to the famous Santa Catalina Arch, in fact set on the very same street, passing through Antigua's Central Park along the way. See more info on what to do in Antigua on the Things to Do page!

Our Wedding

The Guy and Gal Next Door...

We met in 2018, as Katie and Franco both lived in the same four-house condominium in Guatemala City. After a rocky start (Katie did NOT want to rent her extra parking spot to Franco), they went on to become friendly neighbors, hanging out occasionally during the pandemic and with their dear friends and neighbors Sarah and Carlos. Yet they were both in relationships at the time, so their friendship was nothing more than a neighborly wave or, more often, a shared peace sign when passing one another in the parking garage. Fast forward to 2022, and Katie and Franco both found themselves single and ready to mingle. Franco decided he was ready for a new adventure, and decided to move to Almería, Spain, where his family lives. He had planned to drop his bags in Spain and then travel to Qatar for the World Cup. Three days before he left, Katie invited him and his mom over to her house for a "despedida." After a bit of wine, the sparks flew and Franco kissed Katie when his mom wasn't looking (eek!). Yet fate had other plans. On the day of this flight, Booking.com had cancelled all of Franco's lodging in Qatar, so he decided to postpone his trip. Franco and Katie started hanging out, and quickly realized that their years of friendship had something much sweeter at its core! Since they started dating, Katie and Franco have loved exploring new and old places together and meeting one another's loved ones. They traveled to Washington, DC in December 2022 for Christmas and to Spain in May 2023. They got engaged in Antigua, Guatemala in August, 2023, just blocks away from the site of the upcoming wedding!

Five Fun Facts About Katie1. Katie loves salsa dancing!2. Katie still roots for the World Champion Washington Nationals from afar.3. Besides Guatemala, Katie's favorite places include London, Italy, and Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia (Go Hoos).4. Katie has lived in Guatemala for about 7 (!!!) years.5. Katie bought and renovated a house in Antigua, and will happily give tours for all those who would like to see it!

Five Fun Facts About Franco:1. Franco's favorite team is FC Barcelona (aka soccer). He loves the World Cup and is a fan of the Spanish national team, as he is both a Guatemalan and a Spanish citizen!2. Franco is an amazing chef and whips up incredible dinners most nights of the week.3. Franco works in logistics and recently shipped a boat for the US Space Force!4. Franco loves to travel to unique places- some of his favorite trips have included Russia, Colombia, and Cuba.5. You will never find Franco without socks on his feet.

Our Story

Photos

Katie's Godmother and Aunt, Annie has been by Katie's side through all the big and little moments of her life, so there is no one else she could imagine standing next to her on the Big Day! Annie lives in Arlington with Wiggins, the Very Good Boy, and loves painting in her free time. She is generous, an epic story-teller (though has been known to exaggerate on occasion), has a beautiful laugh, cries far too easy in movies, and is beloved by the extended family. Annie also served as Katie's mom's Maid of Honor 40 years earlier:)

Anne

Franco's oldest friend, Tavo grew up with Franco and has been at his side for over 18 years. They have shared infinite laughs and stories together, and their friendship continues to grow stronger every day. Goose is courageous, determined, and relentless. He is a go-getter, and he shows it constantly at work. He also loves to dance after a few drinks.

Gustavo (Goose/ Tavo)

Katie's nephew, Thomas, is very proud to tell you he is 2! He lives outside Atlanta with his dad, Katie's favorite sibling, Deegan, and his mom, Katie's sister-in-love, Kaitlyn.  He loves waving and saying hello, running around the house and backyard, watching baseball games on TV with his dad, and bringing joy to everyone that loves him.

Thomas

Franco and Pablo met at work in 2015, and since then, a strong and beautiful bromance has grown between them. Playing sports together, drinking, watching movies- you name it, they have done it. 
Pablo is dedicated, organized, and tech savvy. He is a hardworker, always evolving. Pablo is a peaceful soul, with a big heart, yet he is always up for challenging you to a dance off.

The first time he met Katie, he kindly warned her to guard his best friend's heart. This is one of the many reasons why Katie, too, is a big Pablo fan, and why they have asked him to be the officiant of their special day! It also helps that he is bilingual:)

Pablo

Katie's mom and stepdad live in Maryland and have loved getting to know Franco! Mary is a retired teacher and loves making stained glass. She has the biggest heart and a great sense of humor, and is one of the most resilient people Katie knows. The family very sadly lost Walter in December 2023. Walter was a gentle soul with a big heart, and a very talented artist, who specialized in colored pencils. Walter and Franco shared a passion for boats and beers! Walter is very missed.

Mary and Walter

Residing in Katie's hometown of Arlington, Katie's dad and stepmom host epic dinner parties, love going on walks with their dog, Sandy, and somehow still love Franco even though he likes some other baseball team from the AL East that shall not be mentioned. Katie's dad is a lawyer and also a total goofball.  Anna is incredibly generous and a great conversationalist, especially over wine! They also had the great joy of living with Anna's mom, Carmen, who was a beloved Abuela of Katie's, who lived fully with every breath she took in each of her 102+ years. Katie and Franco will be toasting Carmen throughout the wedding celebrations!

Kevin and Anna

Franco's mom and stepdad live in Almería, Spain, just blocks from the Mediterranean Sea. Blanca is a lawyer, but she enjoys spending months of the year working with Lisardo, a retired telecomms engineer, to cultivate their own farm filled with olives, papaya, cactuses, and other crops. They both love to cook, but more than that, love to eat and share stories and laughs over a shared meal. They are also proud parents of lots of stay cats they are very happy to have now found a home with them. They first met and fell in love just blocks away from where Katie and Franco met! 

Blanca and Lisardo

Wedding Party

Q + A

Flights and Transportation You will be flying into Guatemala City (GUA). Antigua is about an 90 minutes away from Guatemala City, depending on traffic. Porta Hotel will offer all guests transportation to the hotel for a fee, reserved through A La Carta Tours (Lessly, info@alacartatours.com):$60.00 USD (1 or 2 people)&nbsp;$25.00 USD per person (3 people)&nbsp;$22.00 USD per person (4-5 people)&nbsp;$18.00 USD per person (6-8 people)&nbsp; Before you exit the airport, you can also arrange a shuttle to Antigua from various providers. Uber is also a safe method to get to Antigua!

To make the most of your time in Antigua, we recommend you fly in on Thursday, May 9th and fly out on Monday, May 13th, at a minimum. This would allow you to participate fully in the wedding events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while also having time on Saturday morning and Sunday to explore Antigua in your down time. If you are pressed for time (which we TOTALLY understand), please make sure you fly in by the latest on Friday, May 10th because Guatemala traffic is very unpredictable , and you can fly out on Sunday, May 12th. Please also consider staying longer to enjoy all that Guatemala has to offer!

Once you book your flight, please fill out this Google form so that we have a copy of your flight details! ¡Mil gracias! <a href="https://forms.gle/bfuBn6vktteGA92z5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/bfuBn6vktteGA92z5</a>

The link for our hotel room block is live! Please note that the hotel only releases 10 rooms at a time. The rooms start at $135 USD per night. We are trying to group the rooms together. They are available at the discounted rate the nights of Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11th. Let us know when the rooms are no longer available and we will request another batch to be released asap. ROOM BLOCK: <a href="https://bit.ly/katieyfrancisco-pha" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/katieyfrancisco-pha</a> We are excited about this hotel because it offers our guests airport transport, a pool, spa, volcano views, a convenient location in the heart of Antigua, and it is steps away from the ceremony. The reception will be held within the hotel, so everything will be in walking distance, just steps away from your room!

Porta Hotel Antigua

If you need to travel to/from Antigua or Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán (Panajachel), I highly recommend taking the Atitrans shuttle. It is safe, cheap, and reliable!https://www.atitranspanajachel.com/

Travel

Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It is a gorgeous, walkable little city filled with cobblestone streets, volcano views, brightly colored buildings, and hidden away courtyards for you to discover. Porta Hotel has a partnership with A La Carta Tours if you would like to arrange private tours or activities during your stay with a 5% discount:https://alacartatours.com/category/tours/ In your free time, click the <a href="https://www.google.com.gt/maps/dir/Hotel+Los+Pasos/Casa+de+los+Gigantes/Convento+Santa+Clara,+Antigua+Guatemala/Santa+Catalina+Arch/Nim+Pot%E2%80%99/Los+Tres+Tiempos/Convento+Capuchinas,+Antigua+Guatemala/Mercado+de+Artesanias+El+Carmen/Hotel+Casa+Santo+Domingo/Cafe+No+Se/@14.556601,-90.7333931,17z/data=!4m67!4m66!1m5!1m1!1s0x8589a1865ea774e5:0x24bae70ee265b564!2m2!1d-90.7305!2d14.5523503!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e723b44c6f7:0x7a3c956c80f535ae!2m2!1d-90.7301563!2d14.5544671!1m10!1m1!1s0x85890e72482b6c03:0x91577c31f02ecc05!2m2!1d-90.7310985!2d14.5548902!3m4!1m2!1d-90.7341048!2d14.5572672!3s0x85890e734630dacb:0x8001bef1a1863dc1!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e74b3771e19:0x68ec9eeea79fd9a7!2m2!1d-90.734262!2d14.559576!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e73550d9427:0xa4b92d9ab217fda1!2m2!1d-90.7339808!2d14.5599001!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e0cc2fc2e0d:0x5996d0d0e313324c!2m2!1d-90.7341521!2d14.5602081!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e0d5cc60dbf:0x7c68c0013ad1cdb!2m2!1d-90.7313785!2d14.5597484!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e737d8987ef:0xbf962aba02389829!2m2!1d-90.732288!2d14.5585534!1m5!1m1!1s0x8589a22abb904243:0x7688f328c77074f0!2m2!1d-90.7283653!2d14.558493!1m5!1m1!1s0x85890e7180126053:0x95ce390904147581!2m2!1d-90.7296212!2d14.5556575!3e2?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">link here</a> to explore Antigua via Katie's personalized walking tour: 1. Walk all the way up to the roof of Panza Verde hotel for amazing volcano views (make sure to go up the spiral staircase by the hammock...and don't worry, it feel private but no one will stop you!)2. Walk by the San José el Viejo Ruins where the wedding ceremony will be...huzzah! Construction began in 1740 and finished in 1762, due to some red tape from the King of Spain.3. Go to Casa de los Gigantes, Katie's favorite place to buy gifts from Guatemala (home goods, jewelry, clothes, etc.)4. Stop in the Santa Catalina Ruins (for a nominal fee) and walk around the gorgeous courtyard and ancient temple to snap some great pics! The convent was built in 1700.5. Pass by Tanque La Union (where people used to wash their clothes!) and the Cathedral, and the Central Park, which used to be the heart of Guatemalan government from 1541 to 1776.6. Walk down the main street of Antigua, la Calle del Arco, and pop into the world's fanciest Starbucks on the right.7. Pass under the famous Santa Catalina Arch, which was built in 1694. Cloistered nuns used to use it as a footpath to avoid being seen on the street. Don't forget to take your selfie under it! And can you find the error in the French-style clock on the Arch?8. Nim Po't, right under the Arch, is an amazing warehouse full of souvenir treasure to take back home with you!9. At the end of the Calle del Arco is the beautiful yellow La Merced Church, be sure to snap some photos in front of the beautiful façade, likely covered in pigeons!10. Stop by Katie's favorite ruins (other that the wedding ruins, of course!), Las Cappuchinas. The convent opened in 1731, you can see the tiny rooms where the nuns used to live. Katie and Franco got engaged in the courtyard in these ruins!11. Walk through the maze-like traditional Carmen market for more shopping! Here you can practice your haggling skills:)12. Casa Santo Domingo is a gorgeous hotel built on ruins that is worth walking around- it has a chocolate shop, an amazing spa (the $50 day pass is well worth it!), a restaurant, and tons of art museums. It's history can be traced all the way back to 1538. A MUST in my book!13. You can end your tour at the most famous bar in Antigua, Café No Sé. There is a hidden mezcal bar in back (sneak through the small door on the right). If this place isn't your vibe, this street is one of Antigua's party streets and has many great bars and restaurants with beautiful patios or terraces!

MORE THINGS TO EAT, SEE, AND DO IN ANTIGUA &nbsp;Food:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caobafarms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caoba Farm</a>- Farm-to table brunch Saturday or Sunday with live music and farmer’s/craft markets·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hbistro/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hector's Bistro</a>- My favorite restaurant in Guate! French bistro with big open air courtyard- I love their steak medallions with blue cheese and craft beers·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://lafondadelacallereal.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">La Fonda de la Calle Real</a>- Franco[s favorite restaurant in Antigua, which offers traditional Guatemalan dishes, such as Pepian (a traditional stew), tamales, mole, rellanitos (plantains stuffed with sweet fried beans), and more! Many past Presidents that have visited Guate have dined here.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/comocomoantigua/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Como Como</a>- Super cute French-inspired bistro with adorable outdoor patio with fountain, really cozy, romantic vibe. Right next to Santa Clara ruins.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d8092503-Reviews-Sobremesa_Helados_Exoticos-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sobremesa</a>- Crazy flavored ice cream.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://villabokeh.com/en/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Villa Bokeh</a>- 5 minutes outside of Antigua, this is a gorgeous brunch spot on the weekends with live music, a super popular wedding destination.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d3511990-Reviews-Cactus-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cactus tacos</a>- Amazing shrimp and bacon tacos·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://elviejocafe.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">El Viejo Cafe</a>- French-style café- great for a cappuccino, pastries, and/or breakfast·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbqguate.com/menu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pappy’s BBQ</a>- Delicious slow-cooked Texas BBQ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d5979554-Reviews-Los_Tres_Tiempos-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Los 3 Tiempos</a> (Guatemalan food), <a href="http://www.restaurantefridas.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Frida’s</a> (Mexican food), and <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d2412486-Reviews-El_Sabor_del_Tiempo-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">El Sabor del Tiempo</a> are popular places right under the Arch. If you go to El Sabor del Tiempo, be sure to walk around the old mansion house and go up to the terrace- views are amazing!·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.epicure.com.gt/?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Epicure</a>- Great deli across from the Mercado de Carmen·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thai-wow.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thai Wow-</a> Delicious Thai food with a gorgeous garden courtyard.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/santospiritoantigua/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Santo Spiritu</a>- Modern design with their menu on a chalkboard, delicious and cozy!&nbsp;Drinks:·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://elgran.cafe/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gran Café</a>- My favorite little place to get coffee to-go, and also where I buy all my ground coffee. It is close to the Central Plaza and adorable inside.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aqua-antigua.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aqua</a>- Has an amazing terrace for drinks with sunset views and incredible truffle fries!<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295366-d1605618-Reviews-Cafe_Sky-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Café Sky</a> – Another great spot to watch the sunset- go all the way up to the roof!<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295366-d1020477-Reviews-Cafe_No_Se-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Café No Sé</a>- You can't leave Antigua without going to the secret little mescal room in the back left- also great souvenir to bring home- they wrap up bottle of mescal to go in bubble wrap<a href="https://www.antiguacerveza.com/taproom" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Antigua Cerveza</a> Taproom- Right under Arch, my buddy Jorge is the brew master.<a href="https://www.antiguacerveza.com/bosque-antigua" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Antigua Cerveza el Bosque</a>- This is one of my absolute faves. A big open air farm/finca with craft beer, fire pits, yard games, and food trucks, just a few blocks away from La Merced Church.<a href="https://www.cerveceria14.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cerveceria Catorce/14</a>- This is about 15 min outside of the city, but easily accessible via Uber. It’s a brewery with a huge lawn and a view of the volcanoes, corn hole, great, organic food, and an amphitheater- a great, relaxing place to spend an afternoon! One of my favorite places in the area! Go during the week to avoid crazy crowds on the weekends.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ulewcocktailbar/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U'Lew</a>&nbsp;has craft cocktails in a cave-like environment.&nbsp;Ruins and Other Things to See:<a href="https://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Casa Santo Domingo</a>- Gorgeous 5-star hotel with a spa and you can walk around the ruins and galleries- a MUST.<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295366-d308634-Reviews-Convento_de_las_Capuchinas-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Las Capuchinas-</a> An old nunnery- totally stunning to walk around<a href="https://www.panzaverde.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Panza Verde</a>- I love exploring the domes and spires of this rooftop! Great views. Also an amazing spot for brunch!<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295366-d308635-Reviews-Convento_Santa_Clara-Antigua_Sacatepequez_Department.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Santa Clara</a>- Similar to Santo Domingo but without as many tourists<a href="https://www.nimpotexport.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nimpot</a>- Right under the arch, an incredible mega warehouse to buy souvenirs.Artisan Market- Near the bus terminal, another great place for souvenirs, but you will need to haggle<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PitayaJuiceBarAntigua/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pitaya Mini Golf</a>- If you want come delicious healthy food and smoothies with volcano views and the opportunity to play mini golf and other outdoor games, head right outside Antigua to Pitaya in San Pedro Panorama. Great place for fresh air and a bit of outdoor fun! They also have a location in Antigua, so make sure you go to the right one.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hike of&nbsp;<a href="https://oxexpeditions.com/tours/pacaya-day-trip/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pacaya</a>&nbsp;or Acatenango Volcanos. Pacaya you can do in an afternoon and it’s not as difficult. You can roast marshmallows or cook a pizza on top of the lava! Hiking Acatenango is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. You leave early in the morning with a group, sleep at the base camp with amazing view of the Fuego volcano spewing smoke or lava, and then you summit at 5am and see the sunset and can see Guatemala City and the ocean. It’s an other-worldly experience, but you’ll be hurting the next week! JHobbitenango- In the mountains over the city, great spot for beer and views, or you can stay <a href="https://en.hobbitenango.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">overnight</a> in a Hobbit hut. They just built this huge giant out of stone that you can climb out onto his arm hanging over the valley for incredible Insta photos.Salsa dancing- <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laspalmasantiguaguatemala/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Las Palmas</a> is a super cute place with live music and a lot of charm and it’s hopping even mid-week. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/algranoantigua/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Al Grano</a> is a new place that has become popular on Sundays.<a href="https://sancayetano.gt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Finca San Cayetano</a>- 20 minute drive outside of the city with a restaurant and grounds right at the foothills of Volcán Agua with AMAZING views, especially during dry season. Great for breakfast on the weekends or splurging for an overnight cabin with hot tubs to wake up with the volcano views!!There are also tours of macadamia farms, avocado farms, coffee farms, etc.

Looking to extend your stay and explore Guatemala outside of Antigua? Ask K&amp;F for more specific recs! GUATEMALA CITYZone 10- International touristy part of the cityZone 4- The neighborhood of 4 Grados Norte is trendy, hipster walking area- Katie's favorite place to go out for dinner and drinks on the weekendZone 1- Historic downtown<a href="https://cayala.com.gt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Paseo Cayalá</a>- A fake little town on a hill that is a great area to walk around, eat, and shop. It’s also very cute at night. Pasos y Pedales- Katie's favorite activity in the city! Every Sunday from 10am-2pm, they close the main La Reforma/Las Americas boulevard and open it up for walkers, bikers, dogs, kids, food trucks, and events. A great, safe place to go for a long walk and enjoy the outdoors. LAKE ATITLÁN·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Panajachel- Pana can be a quite bustling little town, but it’s the perfect jumping off point to check out all the other little towns on the lake!·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;San Marcos- Hippie-yoga town where you will see more gringos than Guatemalans (almost!). A place to get away to attend yoga retreats, get massages, and embrace the natural lifestyle. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;San Juan- Lots of handicrafts and beautiful streets to roam for souvenirs and Insta-worthy photos!·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Santa Cruz- My favorite little town to stay in for an extended stay- lots of cute AirBnbs and the hotel <a href="http://lacasadelmundo.com/es/inicio/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Casa del Mundo</a> is close by in Jaibalito. JUNGLE and PYRAMIDS·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Petén/Flores- A 45 min, cheap flight from Guatemala City, you are suddenly in the tropics of sorts! Flores is a cute little island with brightly colored buildings. But my favorite place to stay is <a href="https://bolontikuhotel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bolontiku</a>, a little boutique hotel with a pool, kayaks, and private bungalows. It´s worth the splurge. While in Flores, you have to go visit <a href="http://www.tikalpark.com/#!/maphome" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tikal</a>, the Mayan pyramid site. I recommend going there early in the morning to best hear the howler monkeys…make sure to climb to the top of the Temple IV for breathtaking views and the scene from a Star Wars movie. I also highly recommend the sunset tour at <a href="http://mcd.gob.gt/yaxha/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yaxha</a>. THE BEACH·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;El Paradon- Up and coming surf town with black sand beaches. I love the hotel <a href="https://www.swellguatemala.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Swell.</a> Definitely book a room in a swim-up suite so that the pool is at your doorstep! TRADITIONAL GUATEMALA·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quetzaltenango/Xela- A town about 2 hours from Antigua, with chillier weather and surrounding mountains. Very cute downtown plaza. Pasaje Enríquez&nbsp;has lots of bars. Must go to my favorite shop <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tanchulayogt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tan Chula Yo</a> for cute clothes and jewelry with a Mayan twist, which is a block away, as is the famous bakery <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g292013-d5992677-Reviews-Alimentos_Xelapan-Quetzaltenango_Quetzaltenango_Department_Western_Highlands.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xelapan</a>. There is a great <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g292013-d2067582-Reviews-Sabor_de_la_India-Quetzaltenango_Quetzaltenango_Department_Western_Highlands.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Indian restaurant</a> and also an awesome wine bar in a cave called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BajoLaLunaXela/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bajo la Luna</a>. Just outside the city is an amazing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/www.copavic.com.gt/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">recycled glassware factory</a>. I got 25 pieces for $100 and LOVE them.&nbsp;

Katie & Franco

Katie & Franco

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