Both Colombia and Guatemala have some great cities and tranquil chill out spots. Here`s my top 5...
Cities
1. Xela (Guatemala)- I used to laugh when my Guatemalan friends told me that Xela was ¨la tierra prometida¨. I don´t anymore. For me it really is. Some gringo´s complain that it is becoming like Antigua and that their are too many foreigners there. I prefer to call it cosmopolitan - and let´s face it, if you want to hang out all the time with other gringo´s that what´s you´re going to but if you don´t there´s not better place to learn spanish and get involved in everything that Xela has to offer. It´s a city with a great colonial centre, friendly people, vibrant social life and within half an hour you are out climbing volcanos and relaxing in stunningly located hot springs. If I walk down the main street during the day, the odds are that I´m going to bump into somebody I know. Heck, you can even get a good latte there. If I could choose anywhere in the world to live, it´d be Xela.
2. Mompox (Colombia) - ís a small, wonderfully preserved colonial town that it hard to reach. It takes several buses and changes in the middle of nowhere to get there. There isn´t even much to do there. But it has an atmosphere and authenticity that you can´t find anywhere else. When you are in Mompox you are transported to another era of people sitting outside their houses on rocking chairs, groups of men playing draughts by the river and people eating churrasco in the many plazas. It´s even got the best fruit juices I´ve ever tasted.
3. Bogotá (Colombia) - a captial city on the up. It´s got great museums, a youthful vibe, good cafes and people who speak the best Spanish I´ve ever heard. It can get a little bit cold but then again you can´t expect everything.
4. Manizales (Colombia) - stunning location in a valley surrounded by green hills. The city has a university feel to it and the people are super friendly. There are lots of great day trips from the city, including hikes, fincas and nature sanctuaries.
5. Medellin (Colombia) - they say that "there are no ugly Colombia women, just poor ones". Meaning - there is nothing that plastic surgery cannot enhance or correct. Medellin epitomises this and paisas love to party. Sometimes you´ve just got to join in...
Chill Out Spots
1. Lago de Atitlan (Guatemala) - probably the most beautiful lake in the world. Formed in the inverted cone of a volcano and surrounded by three others and beautiful greenery nowhere I´ve been to comes close to Atitlan in terms of raw overpowering beauty. Don´t go to the hippie hang outs of San Pedro or Panajachel. There are plenty of smaller, more tranquil places where you can swim in the lake and take a walk around it. The walk from San Juan de la Laguna to San Marcos is simply stunning. Ok, Lonely Planet says that it is dangerous, but if I listened to Lonley Planet I´d probably never leave the hostel.
2. Mompox (Colombia)
3. Finca Villa Maria (Colombia) - the odds are that you´ll probably have the finca to yourself if you go there. This working coffee farm is near the city of Pereira in the middle of Colombia´s coffee region. It has a swimming pool, horse riding and walks into the surrounding coffee plantations. It is located at the top of a series of fincas meaning that the views from the Villa Maria are unparelled in the coffee region.
4. Parque Tayrona (Colombia) - picture perfect, sandy beaches with turuqoise/blue sea. Rent a hammock, enjoy some seafood and relax. There´s really nothing else to do.
5. Salento (Colombia) - great place to enjoy some of Colombia´s most beautiful scenery. The was palm trees of the Valle Cocora are one of a number of walks that you can do in this area. The town itself is fairly tranquil and laid back with good trout eating opportunities. But the jewell in the crown is a tour around Don Elias´ finca. He is the Clint Eastwood of coffee farmers.
