This year, my thanksgiving break was different compared to previous years. Normally, my thanksgiving holiday consists of having dinner with my parents and brothers in Maryland, given that our extended family primarily lives in Guatemala. However, this year, I took a different turn and journeyed to Guatemala to visit my family. It was a great experience, as I got to explore many wonderful places across this beautiful country. From vibrant cultural spots to breathtaking natural landscapes, each place left a memory in my mind that I look back on with delight.

If you ever find yourself booking a trip to Guatemala, here are some of the spots that I visited on this trip, that I highly recommend you visit as well!

Monterrico Beach: This beach is situated in the town of Monterrico, located in the department of Santa Rosa, right on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. This beautiful beach is lined with volcanic black sand, and the sunsets are absolutely beautiful. This beach is very quiet and peaceful. It serves as a great weekend beach resort for many Guatemalans and tourists. This beach is known for sea turtle conservation, as they do sea turtle releases into the ocean every year from September to January.

Antigua: This is a beautiful city that was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Antigua is known for its religious celebrations during Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. Antigua has tons of cultural and historical relevance in the country. It used to be the capital of the country until a volcanic eruption took over the city in 1773.

Panajachel: This city is the gateway to all of the beautiful small villages that surround Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is the deepest volcanic lake in all of Central America. The view is absolutely breathtaking, as the lake is surrounded by volcanoes. 

San Juan La Laguna: This is one of the many beautiful villages that surrounds Lake Atitlan. It is reachable by water taxi through the lake. From strolling the colorful streets, learning about traditional Mayan beekeeping techniques, and seeing chocolate made from scratch, there are many fun activities to take part in while you’re visiting.

Guatemala, a land of vibrant culture and natural wonders, is extremely beautiful and has so many wonderful places to be explored. There is much more to explore than just this list, but these places covered what I was able to visit in just eight short days.