A memorable trip through Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico

A good start is half the battle

We flew via Mexico City to San Pedro de Sula in northern Honduras. Our driver was waiting for us, and drove us to Copán. We travelled along a road full of huge potholes, through beautiful green countryside. There we arrived at a charming hotel, the 100-year-old Hacienda San Lucas, with a large garden full of parrots, hummingbirds and other native birds. Our holiday was off to a great start!

The next day, we set off with an experienced, English-speaking guide to the nearby Copán ruins. The walk, accompanied by parrots, toucans and beautiful exotic trees and plants, was truly magnificent, and led us to the entrance of the most important Mayan site in Honduras. The combination of nature and culture is impressive, especially as there were virtually no tourists. The famous ‘stelae’ – the stone sculptures of the Maya kings in 3D relief – and the famous Hieroglyphic Stairway were a real sight to behold. It was actually a must-see, complementing what we would later see on this trip in Guatemala and Mexico. Afterwards, we had a lovely lunch and enjoyed a local meal and a local beer in the charming, authentic and lively little town of Copán.

Howler monkeys and Mayan temples

After a short domestic flight to Flores, we arrived near the extraordinary Tikal, in northern Guatemala. The La Lancha hotel was truly fantastic. A lovely, spacious and luxurious jungle room, overlooking the beautiful garden, with super-friendly, attentive staff who spoke excellent English, delicious food and drink, and a stunning view of Lake Petén. From here, we’d planned an excursion to Tikal, one of the most important Mayan sites, with incredibly impressive and towering Mayan pyramids reaching heights of almost 60 metres. The walk there was, just like earlier in Copán, once again breathtakingly beautiful. With howler monkeys in the trees, and plenty of birds, butterflies and other animals, this walk was well worth the effort in itself. Combined with the magnificent Mayan temples – some of which you can climb to the top – plus the view over the stunning rainforest, this was definitely one of the highlights of this trip.

The following day, we headed to the lesser-known Mayan site of Yaxha, in the north-east of Tikal, right on the borders with Mexico and Belize. Here too, the walk through the jungle was well worth the effort, combined with the Mayan temples, which overlook the neighbouring lakes. After this afternoon trip, a small boat was waiting for us, which took us to a very romantic spot. A table set with delicious snacks and a good glass of wine awaited us, so we could relax together whilst enjoying a stunning sunset.

The Olmecs, Zapotecs, Maya and Aztecs

Next on the itinerary was Lake Atitlán. Our hotel was situated on the shores of the lake, and our room offered a fabulous view of the three volcanoes on the opposite shore: San Pedro, Atitlán and Tolimán. Here, we spent two days exploring four different towns around the lake at our own pace. Each town has its own character: San Marco, for example, struck us as a real hippie village; San Juan had remarkable murals; and in Santiago, we witnessed the veneration of Maximon, a saint widely revered in Guatemala.

After spending a week in beautiful Guatemala, we continued our trip to Mexico. In Mexico City, we stayed at the artistic boutique hotel Pug Seal Alan Poe, in the chic and modern neighbourhood of Palenco. We found it very safe and pleasant to walk the streets there, with plenty of bars and restaurants.

Our guide gave us a detailed account of the history and development of the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Maya and Aztecs, and finally the Spanish conquest, in the magnificent Museum of Archaeology. We then went to the central square, the Zócalo. There, amongst other things, we admired the grand basilica, which was built on top of the Aztec temple. On our day off the following day, we booked an Uber taxi on our own, which took us to Frida Kahlo’s impressive house. After a stroll through the classic Roma district, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner that evening at the Michelin-starred restaurant Pujol. It was a culinary experience in an attractively decorated restaurant, after which we sat in the garden for an espresso with our favourite rum, to savour the moment a little longer.