If you are interested in taking a look around a coffee farm on a horseback, you should go to Parramos. Type in Posada de me abuelito, Guatemala on Google. You will find some information about this german country farmhouse converted to a BB. Get a weekend package that includes bed, brekky and horse riding for Q.300 or something(apprx. $40) Take a chicken bus to Chichicastenango at Antigua bus terminal and get off in Parramos it cost like 3 Q's p/p. Then get a local taxi to the hotel...it takes around 5 minutes from town center. I loved everything about this place - its coffee(fresh coffee from the owner's finca), its food(authentic guatemalan), its atmosphere(green, fresh, cool and quiet), unforgettable horse riding(though it hurt my unprepared arse bit too much) and the hospitality of the hotel owner couple! Bet you'll have a great time.

Bring a flashlight for the sunrise tour, eat breakfast at their restaurant (best pina and plantains ever), and watch for soldier ants!

se llama chichicastenango, no chicastellanos!!!!!!

Market days are Thursdays and Sundays. If you are pressed for time a good way to visit the markets is via a tourist mini bus from Panajachel or Antigua. They cost between $10 and $15, pick you up, drop you for a couple hours at the markets, (you can leave your bags on the bus) and then drop you at the next city. Really worked well for us as that time, we only had a week in Guatemala and being able to leave our bags was huge because otherwise we would have had to have lugged them around the markets.

Trippin - a great hostel - cheap, nice people San Pedro is a great place - nice, friendly and open people. Good Food in most of the restaurants Buddha Bar - has good food and a good place to hang out

La Villa del Chef is a highly recommended restaurant in Flores... great food and great atmosphere, especially if you can get one of the tables outside almost next to the waterfront.... but the waiting periods at this restaurant on a busy evening can be long...

Don't stay in Guatemala city. Catch a taxi between the bus stops, and head straight to your next destination.

Don't arrive very early in the morning because everything is closed - even the hostels!
They start to open their doors around 9 or 10 am.

If you go to the Volcano Pacaya tour, warm clothes (even if it is hot during the day) and lights are a must. After 6 pm you start to climb down and it gets so damn fast dark! Without lights you wont see anything and it is slippery and dangerous!

In Chichi there is the most colorful native market in north america they say. And it is true!
We think we even could include south america.We were on markets there, but they were not as colorful as here.
Very nice fabrics and handicrafts.