I'm currently in Merida and will start heading southwest towards Guatemala next week. Semana Santa is coming up and I'm wondering if anyone can make a recommendation on a good location to hunker down and watch the festivities. It's only a month away so I need to make reservations ASAP. It can be either in Mexico or Guate but needs to be on the way from Merida to Guate, not backtracking. I plan on stopping in Campeche, Palenque and San Cristobol (and probably more places) on the way.

All suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

In Mexico, if you stay away from the beach, generally things should be okay. Everyone and their family heads to the water for the holiday, and things are crazy in the popular beaches. In Guatemala, Antigua is probably booked already, but you'll probably be able to find accommodations in other places (other than beach 'hotspots' like Monterrico).

I haven't been to Guatemala for over 20 years now, but I remember Semana Santa used to FABULOUS there! I would imagine you could find somewhere to stay somewhere!

I'm betting you can find some digs in Lago Atitlan, though I don't imagine Semana Santa is so fantastic there. Guat city, Nah. How about Todos Santos? Its small, but has great native feel to it.
Then of course there is antiqua.

Quezaltenango might be good, because its big and relatively safe, even if it isn't so pretty.

Almost impossible to find a room in Antigua now so for Semana Santa forget it.

Just an idea, but if you really wanna see Semana Santa in Guatemala, Antigua is the only place to do it. Why not sign up for a Spanish school? you can live at the homestay then, obviously price is going to be a factor but if you have the money then it could be worth looking into, and I´m 100% sure that all of the homestay places wouldn´t be booked out!

Was thinking of leaving the name of the school I went to but wouldn´t want you all thinking i work for them

Have done the home stay through a Spanish school & it is normaly the cheapest way to go & would think the only chance of a room in Antigua, worth checking.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. I think I've decided to head to San Cristobal. I think there is probably going to be a lot there that I want to do and I don't want to backtrack so it seems like a good place to settle down for a week or two. It'll also be nice to have a break from the heat.

You can't go wrong with San Cristobal.

Right next to the Language School and movie theatre, there WAS a great Italian restaurant with pasta dishes to die for.

Some people like to buy red Amber at the markets there. I found it fun to buy a piece and then sculpt it to shape.

There is a language school there too, by the way, and not a bad one.