Below are our recommendations on lodging and restaurants in Guatemala City and Antigua.  Below that are our medical and dental care recommendations.  Also, check out Guatemala City Recommendations from Monkey Bay Cruisers.

LODGING & RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS in GUATEMALA  CITY and ANTIGUA

November 2006   (updated January 2008)

Deborah & Steve,  s/v ARGO,  www.svargo.com

None of these places have A/C, but as both cities are around 4,500 ft. elevation, it’s cool at night.

GUATEMALA  CITY

[Please refer to Guatemala City Recommendations from Monkey Bay Cruisers for a more complete and updated listing]

Las Torres Guest House  -  this is where most cruisers stay when going to the city

13 Calle 0-43, Zona 10

Tel:  2334-2747   (Maria Elena speaks English; owner George has a boat on the Rio Dulce at Shell Bay haul out)

Price:  The cruiser discount is $30/double room - mention you live on the Rio Dulce to get the discount.  GREAT price.  (eff. January 2008)

Comment:  EXCELLENT location!  The place is clean (although not fashionably decorated), hot shower, cable TV, phone, refrig and wireless internet in each room; free internet computers, microwave and bottled water downstairs; laundry service.  The beauty of it is the location – right in the middle of “ritzy” Zona 10 (Zona Viva) and within close walking distance to excellent restaurants, bars, shops, big malls, movie theaters, and even Hospital Llevandi for Dr. appts if you want a little exercise.  Very safe walking, even at night.  The place is funky, each room is different (a few don’t have windows), ask to see the room first, we recommend rooms #2, 5, 6, 8, 22.  They also have large storage lockers so you can store extra baggage/purchases here while you take a side trip - $3/day, bring your own lock and they also will put their own lock on it for extra security.  You can't beat this place for the price and location.

Armadillo Suites, fully equipped apartments including all linens, microwave, cook top, refrig, cable TV, phone

3a Ave. 10-21, Zona 9 

Tel:  2332-2907  or  2331-2132

Price:  1 bedroom/3beds Q362 ($48) a night;   2 bedrooms about Q450  ($60) a night  (eff. July 2006)

Comment:  Annette (owner?) and Kiara (manager) speak English.  Clean, good location, big grocery store located a couple of blocks away.  Laundry, free internet.

Disadvantage:  Planes fly right over head starting around 6am and ending around 10pm, so ear plugs help if sleeping in;  it’s not continuously, maybe a dozen a day??

Hotel Posada de los Proceres

16a Calle 2-40, Zona 10

Tel:  2363-0744/46

Comment:  Some cruisers also recommend this place.  We have not stayed there but did check out a room.  Very similar to Las Torres, but costs more.

Our Favorite Restaurants in Zone 10  

- Pecorino Italian Ristorante - covered outdoor dining in garden setting, outdoor brick pizza oven.  Closed Sunday.

- Tanoshii - sushi, sashimi and more, reasonably priced

- Tacontento - great tacos (and Azteca soup) at inexpensive prices; sidewalk tables make for good people watching

- San Martin - great place for coffee or breakfast (and lunch and dinner); eat indoors or outdoors

- Hacienda Real Steak House - steaks, indoor/covered/outdoor garden dining

ANTIGUA

Hotel Posada San Pedro

There are 2 locations, we stayed at the north one:

7a Ave. Norte 29

Tel:  7832-0718    (Edgar speaks some English)

www.posadasanpedro.net    Email: info@posadasanpedro.net

Price:   About $45/night. (eff. July 2007)

Comment:  8 rooms around 2 lovely courtyards.  Very nice and pretty, exceptionally clean, hot water (sink and shower), very secure.  Common areas include kitchen, cable TV and stereo, and lovely sitting areas, laundry.  They may have internet, but don’t know for sure – there are lots of internet cafes around so not a problem.  We recommend rooms #8 and #7; #5 also nice -- all upstairs.  We definitely recommend.

Casa Florencia Hotel

7a Ave Norte #100

Tel:  7832-0261    (Patricia, owner, speaks English)

www.cflorencia.net   Email:  casaflorencia@earthlink.net

Price:  $45/night, Saturday nights $55 including Sunday breakfast.  (eff. January 2008)

Comment:  8 rooms.  Very similar to Hotel Posada San Pedro, but instead of courtyards, it has a garden area and a long balcony with individual sitting areas and a good view of the volcanoes.  Very nice and attractive, exceptionally clean, hot water (sink and shower), cable TV in rooms.  Very secure.  Common areas include kitchen, probably laundry.  Ask for a room upstairs.  We definitely recommend.  (Their sister hotel next door, Hotel Posada Los Bucaros, is $45/night, clean but not as nice.)

Posada Juma Ocag  (odd name is owners’ initials)

Calzada de Santa Lucia (8a Ave. Norte) 13  (between 3a & 4a Calles)

Tel:  7832-3109

Price:  Q122 ($16) for a double; we stayed a week and got it for Q110 ($14.50) a night. (2006 rates)

Comment:  This 7-room posada is clean, very secure, nicely decorated, private hot showers, good beds,  laundry?, small patio upstairs with tables and chairs, and nicely landscaped little atrium garden.  No ice, no internet, no TV.  Basic, but for the price, location and nice ambience, you can’t beat it.

Disadvantage:  The only drawback is that it is on a busy street so you can hear street noise – but earplugs took care of that problem at night.  We liked staying upstairs because we got more breeze and light, but downstairs may be more quiet. 

Our Favorite Restaurants in Antigua  

- Queso y Vino - Italian, pizza, outdoor and indoor dining

- La Pena del Sol Latino Restaurant & Bar - alfresco colonial dining atmosphere.  Owned by cruisers Bill & Mary (s/v Backstage Pass).  Live music, including great Andino (Peruvian pan flutes) music, Bill plays drums. 

- Sangre - tapas, sophisticated intimate setting

- Meson Panza Verde - very nice restaurant (and hotel), alfresco setting around gardens, art and reflection pool; Cuban jazz (Buena Vista Social Club) plays Thursday and Friday; other music

- Reilly's Irish Pub - Steve's favorite place to "meet up", great pub atmosphere to hang out, and good fish and chips

- Ojales Tacos - good, cheap lunch stop (3 tacos for Q10 / $1.30 and up + condiment bar)

TIPS on what to pack:  Rain jacket/poncho and umbrella during rainy season.  Flashlight, candle(s) and lighter as the electricity tends to be unreliable.  Ear plugs if you're a light sleeper, just in case.  Bug spray depending on where you travel.  If you have a digital camera, we recommend having extra memory cards to swap out for your camera and/or a memory stick so you can occasionally dump off your pictures to it - we've heard several stories of cameras being stolen with the person's entire trip pics on it.  Internet cafes are plentiful.

MEDICAL  REFERRALS  in  GUATEMALA  CITY

Rev. 7/29/06

Deborah & Steve, s/v ARGO 

[Please refer to Guatemala City Recommendations from Monkey Bay Cruisers for a more complete and updated listing]

All doctors speak good English; staff typically does not.  Prices are cheaper than the U.S.

Internal Medicine -- Dr. Juan Manuel Rodriguez

6a Ave. 7-00, Zona 10

2nd level  (hard to find - located upstairs above the pharmacy at corner of 6a Ave. @ 7 Calle)

Tel:  2360-8160

Email:  docjmrb@itelgua.com

Cindy is receptionist but only speaks Spanish;  Elsie is a nurse? and speaks good English so maybe can assist with making appt., etc.

Comment:  Steve went for routine physical which was VERY thorough; Deb .  If you have records from your previous exam(s), bring with you.

Dermatologist -- Dr. Francisco Saravia Camacho

6a Ave. 7-55, Zona 10  (in Hospital Herrera Llerandi)

2nd floor, Clinic #10

Tel:  2334-5874  or 2384-5959 ext. 2543

Comment:  Steve and Deb both went for routine skin cancer check

Ob/gyn -- Dr. Jorge Mario Ruata (Villanueva)

6a Ave. 7-55, Zona 10  (in Hospital Herrera Llerandi)

2nd floor, Clinic #?

Tel:  2334-0284   or 2334-5959 ext. ?

Comment:  Lab (blood work - fast before appt. if you want blood work done that day) and radiology (mammograms, etc.) are all located in adjacent buildings, so getting everything done in a few hours is easy.  All results were back at Dr.’s office the next morning.  If you need a pelvic sonogram, Dr. does it in his office on Tues. and Thurs.  If you have records from your previous exam(s), bring with you.

Orthopedic -- Dr. Carlos (del Valle) Monje

6a Ave. 7-55, Zona 10  (in Hospital Herrera Llerandi)

? floor,  Clinic #?

Tel:  2334-4240

Comment:  Lynn, s/v Griffin, used him for shoulder injury; I used him for a minor problem.

Gastroenterologist -- Dr. Garcia del la Riva

In Las Brisas next to Hospital Llevandi (see above)

Tel:  2334-7583  or  2384-5959 ext. 2523

Comment:  We have not used him yet, but Dr. Ruata (ob/gyn above) recommended him.

Dentist -- Dr. David Ovana

Centro Dental de Especialistas – large, full clinic

20 Calle 11-17, Zona 10

Tel:  2337-1773

Email:  cedesa@intelnet.net.gt

Comment:  His prices are closer to U.S. prices, high quality work; Lynn (s/v Griffin had a crown made, about $575); Deb did a consult (at no charge).  There are dentists that charge less, don’t know who they are.  I’ve consulted 2 specialists (on occlusional issues) so if you need I can provide info.