Hello all!

I'm flying into Guatemala City in February and I have a little under two weeks to travel. I plan on going a a day or two in Guate then heading to Antigua and on to Tikal.

What I really want to do, however, is make time to see a little of Belize City and El Salvador too. I've read some great recommendations, but I just want to see if people think it's feasible for me to see what I want to see of Guatemala and then be able to make time for those other countries as well.

What do you think? I appreciate any and all feedback so I can make the most of my time in Central America!

Two weeks is barely enough to visit Guatemala's 3 main tourist attractions: Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Tikal. I would keep it at that plus, maybe, include Copan Ruinas in Honduras.
Belize City is five hours from Tikal and definitely not a nice place to stroll about. It is really dangerous and has next to nothing to offer except transfers to the Cayes or to Mexico.
El Salvador is a good place to visit once you have been all around Guatemala. They do have better beaches.

I agree - Guatamala is fabulous and you could easily spend your 2 weeks very well here. There's nothing much in Belize except the islands - which are lovely - but I'd stay in Guatamala if I were you.

I agree with the other replies. In two weeks you can tick those places off your check list, but you won't actually "visit" them. One could more than easily spend two weeks in Guatemala and regret that they have to leave so soon.

And yea, Belize City isn't so much for the strolling

What Louis G Hiker said.

I at first thought your question was a joke. Then I read your bio and saw you had spent some real travel time in Chile.

Take louisghiker's advice and see the big 3 in Guatemala. They will be pushing the short time you have, and will make you wish you had several months for Guatemala alone. Anything else and you will be spending almost all of your time just traveling.

First of all, I want to agree with Louie G.

Second, I will state that I would never return to Belize City for any night or for more than a small portion of a day in transit.

Although this may have been an aberration, I was stalked on the street and eventually threatened when I confronted two locals back in the lobby of our so-called first class hotel. Seeing two guys who had apparently stalked me on the street while also being right in front of our hotel room when I finally returned to it was freaky. But when I went out to face and presumably fight them, they were gone. That is when I found them in the lobby. Despite my complaints and one verbal physical threat from one of the antagonists, the hotel did nothing. Despite this, we three agreed to have nothing more to do with each other. When I saw the white guy on the street, he did not acknowledge me, per agreement, but I never saw the black guy again.

As for El Salvador, there is not nearly as much there, especially if you are looking at the fabulous Maya Culture of the region. It will be great as part of a third or fourth trip to the Maya regions.

if people think it's feasible for me to see what I want to see of Guatemala and then be able to make time for those other countries as well.

No.

Possible, yes; feasible, no. The above recommendations for Guatemala are good - Copan Ruinas in Honduras is just across the border, and worth visiting on a Guatemala-focused trip. With two weeks, you have a full plate with Antigua, Lake Atitlan area, Tikal, Copan, and either Livingstone-Rio Dulce or Monterrico or something else.

I am also looking to do two weeks in Guatemala.

Would have spent longer, did spend longer when I did proper travelling but am mid-reality so two weeks is all I have from Sat to Fri week. Am probably leaving in two weeks time... which I understand is not ideal/warm/dry but hey-ho, that's life!

I'd love it if someone/anyone could suggest an ideal itinerary starting and finishing in G.City.

I speak Spanish so am happy to plan as I go along but a rough plan is always good.

Also, I love hikes/multi-day trips e.g. Inca Trail (sorry to be cliche), Northern Thailand climb/village stay, Salar de Uyuni jeep etc.... are there any good trips that are good for joining a group of people (am a solo traveller). If this involves hopping across a border that's OK too.

Also, if have already done Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum etc (not to mention all the Egyptian temples), should Tikal still be on my agenda?

Will be with backpack.... any advise on travel/hostels welcomed too.

If you arrive late, stay at Las Orquideas hostel and let them help you organize the next day in the City. If earlier go directly to Antigua and stay at the Black Cat or any other hostel in the area. Next half day climb volcan Pacaya and then visit the restaurants and bars. Next morning at 7 am take the one and only Pullman bus to Panajachel on lake Atitlan. You could spend a month around that lake. If you want to also see Tikal, run back to the airport and fly there and back. You will be rushed but you will be hooked on Guatemala and you will be back sooner than you think.

What Louis G Hitch said.

If you miss the tourist bus to Lago atitlan, you have other options. I don't recommend them... but....

You CAN take a chicken bus from the bus station to Los Encuentros, and then you get off at a dusty road. There will be buses coming in calling "Pana Pana Pana!", at which point you run to one with all your things. Your bags are thrown on top by a daisy chain of young men, and you squeeze in.

Its a very grueling two-3 hour trip. After a few trips, it gets old fast.

BTW- don't quote me on the transfer area. Its very confusing to begin with, and it doesn't really matter. You go to the bus station and ask for the bus to Pana. The people will call out PANA! Pana! Pana!/

If you ask if its 'directo', they'll agree, but it won't be. They'll go on for a while, stop at a dusty road with little town in sight. They'll yell Pana! and you change there, and then you go on to Solola, which is the town just before Panajachel, and then to Panajachel. Just say Pana a lot, and they'll put you on the right bus. with some hurry.

Or, you can get on the crowded tourist type bus at the station, at 7:00 am, and just stay on the bus until you get there. I prefer the second.

Did I mention you'll be stuffed into small seats of a childrens school bus, often three to a seat.
See other articles about how to sit in such seats.

I have to agree that if you have two weeks, you should just stay in Guatemala.

I'd do the Guate -> Antigua -> Pana (lake atitlan) thing then add Semuc Champey for some beautiful hiking/swimming ( some pics on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semuc_Champey ).. Then Tikal.

The Semuc Champey area is beautiful. That is where alot of coffee and chocolate comes from

I think that a must to visit is Tikal, and if you have the opportunity to go to Yaxcha and Aguateca sites, you will be delighted.
Good trip!

Well, you can't see all of Guat in two weeks.....However, if you are intent on staying in the north, I disagree with everyone. You can see a number of things in Guat, and a number of things in Belize. You can, for instance, Go from the Guat Airport. Spend the day there getting acclimatized with the myriad English speakers. Grab a bus from there and head up to Chichicastenango, a day and then the Peten. Go see Tikal the next day. The next day, explore the area around Flores, which is beautiful. There is still lots of time left to go to Belize

I have two caveats here.....One: I promise you that you will want to leave BZE soon after you visit. The place is a dump, dump, dump. Even the locals say it.

Two: My plan has you flying out of somewhere else. I suggest Cancun. In thru Guat, out thru Cancun.

For Belize, I would suggest San Ignacio and then San Pedro or Caye Caulker....This is because they are all on the route to Cancun. You even get to see BZE in passing....and there is no backtracking.

So You stop in the Cayo for a day or two. (this adds to seven days, I think) Now you gun it to BZE, where you go to the ferry docks. You look around asking yourself the question "Why is everybody down on this place?" and then realize why. You dive onto the speedboat and light out for Caye Caulker (or San Pedro.) The next day, you leave your hotel room and soak up the ease of Belize, which is a great country, much maligned by Felix.
Now, there is a boat, called the Lightning Bolt, which takes you to Chetumal, right by the border to Mexico. The boat leaves early, so you have the day to boot up to the evil disgusting place called Cancun. You get a hotel away from the horseshoe of stupidity. and then the next day go to the airport...Or, even better. stay in Playa Del Carmen and go up the next day.

Now, if you are going to fly out of Guat City, the same city you came in with...This is all negated. Then, I say you have to stay in Guat, and maybe Honduras....and I wonder about the logistics of crossing the border if the coup is still going on.

On a related note. I just read some Honduras news. Apparently a family buried their apparently dead son, who was just in a coma. He woke up in a coffin and screamed and yelled...but the locals thought it was a ghost and left him to die again....for real...

Now THAT sucks balls. Lesson ONe: Superstition sucks....Lesson Two: Pack as much life in as you can...never know when you're gonna wake up in a coffin.

Good Luck Out There...(Or GLOT)

D
Have a good trip.