Visiting Tikal is probably on the bucketlist of every traveler in Guatemala. As the most famous Mayan sight in the world, Tikal is one of the most iconic places to visit in Guatemala. The misty atmosphere, the huge Mayan pyramids, the gigantic size of the national park,
Maartje's enthusiasm and curiosity knows no bounds. She loves museums, nature, food, walking, architecture, history, animals. Writing and photography is a big passion and she has been writing about cooking, minimalism, food, hotspots and travel for many years. Above all, she has a special place in her heart for castles, royal jewels and ancient Egypt. Maartje gave up her job as a lawyer to bring more balance to her life: less work and more life. Besides to The Orange Backpack, she works as a legal entrepreneur.
The best places to visit in Guatemala include colonial villages, impressive Mayan temples, active volcanoes and deep blue lakes. Guatemala is a dream destination, combining lush green jungle with charming pastel-coloured towns. We explored both the well-known highlights of Guatemala and the hidden gems, while traveling around
Where to stay in Quetzaltenango, or Xela as the town is called by locals? The ultimate place to stay in Xela is the best boutique hostel in Guatemala. As one of the least visited destinations in Guatemala, Quetzaltenango is not yet on the tourist radar and therefore
Pastel-colored facades, coble-stoned streets, dazzling sunsets and famous Mayan temples draw all travelers in Guatemala eventually to the Flores peninsula. Flores is a town on a peninsula in Lake Petén Itzá. There are several small villages around the lake, but Flores is the most popular with travelers
Are the impressive Maya ruins of Central America on your bucketlist as well? For us, it was one of the reasons to travel for two months around Guatemala, Belize and Mexico and visit many of those magical archaeological sites. We were enchanted by misty jungles with ancient
The smurf village of Júzcar in southern Spain is completely painted in all shades of blue. The houses, the streets, the shops and pretty much every detail is blue. The village was created – or actually mainly painted – into a Smurf village in 2011 following the
The ancient Xunantunich Mayan Ruins are an incredible place to visit when traveling around Belize. As one of the most unique places to visit in Belize, the Maya complex gives an intriguing insight into the country’s history. The largest structure El Castillo is still one of the
The best places to stay on Ambergris Caye in Belize include beautiful beach hotels, bucket list beach cabanas and luxury resorts. The Caribbean island is one of the most popular destinations in Belize, known for its tropical atmosphere and beautiful luxury resorts. Madonna even sang about the
Where to stay at Caye Caulker? This tropical island in Belize is known for its relaxed vibe and ‘go slow’ motto, attracting many travelers to this island. As one of the most popular island destinations in Belize, there is a huge range of hotels on Caye Caulker.
The perfect itinerary for Belize combines the tropical beach on the coast with the lush green jungle inland. This small country in Central America, sandwiched between well-known destinations of Guatemala and Mexico, can be fully explored in only one to two weeks. You’ll go on hikes through