2026 Getting breakfast around Blemopan bus station On the road again with two additions, a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old, backpacked for 2ish weeks in Belize and Guatemala during their Spring Break. Backpacking with kids seemed impossible when the kids were younger. Travel meant 2+ cart-loaded suitcases and bags, plus strollers, at resorts or on road trips for a few years. Parents have told me it is just a phase that will pass. Their words were true, but seemed surreal at
For anyone planning a trip in this region, here is the "on-the-ground" reality for 2026: Guatemala’s public transit relies heavily on "Chicken Buses"—retired North American school buses. While cheap for foreigners, I find them still relatively costly for locals. Most tourists use private shuttles that connect major hubs at 8–10 times the price of public buses in exchange for speed and direct routes. Our Shuttle Costs: Antigua to Panajachel (~3 hours): 125 QTZ per person. Pa
Jocharvel+2’s second backpacking trip is now in the book. The trip has been in the planning since last summer. I am glad we did everything we set out to do plus some more, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the adventure together. Leading up to the trip, I was feeling a growing uneasiness in my mind about safety in the two countries. After all, these Central American countries only make the news when violence broke out. On the other hand, we knew travel advisories and news headlin
