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Guatemala & Honduras | Central America with Kids
22
items A family journey through Guatemala and Honduras. This list documents the real-time experience of traveling Central America with kids, from transit days to cultural immersion, practical logistics, and everything in between.
Sections
8
Arrival & Travel Days
Guatemala | Flores & Petén Region
Honduras | Copán Ruinas & Western Highlands
Guatemala | Transit Days & City Stops
Guatemala | Lake Atitlán & Highlands
Guatemala | Antigua & Colonial Charm
Arrival & Travel Days
Airport transitions, border crossings, and the in-between days that aren’t glamorous but shape the rhythm of the trip.
Nothing glamorous about today. Just airplanes, airport lines, and the slow shuffle from one gate to another. But after a long travel day, we made it to Guatemala City safely, and sometimes that’s all that matters. Travel days are rarely the highlight...
Arrival in Guatemala City
Guatemala | Flores & Petén Region
Exploring northern Guatemala through Flores and the Petén region, including island life, jungle ruins, and slower-paced travel days.
After a good night’s sleep at our bed and breakfast in Guatemala City, we were right back to the airport to catch our flight north to Flores. It’s a long journey overland, which is why many people skip this part of Guatemala, but flying makes it easy... https://www.instagram.com/p/C0-qnN_NOeC/?img_index=1
From Guatemala City to Isla de Flores
Guatemala was once the beating heart of the ancient Mayan Empire, and nowhere makes that more tangible than Tikal. Stone carvings, massive step pyramids, and centuries-old myths are woven into the jungle landscape in a way that feels both powerful an...
Exploring Tikal National Park from Flores
By this point, it was official. The kids could easily live in Flores. Fishing during the day, basketball every evening, and fitting in like they’d always belonged. That laid-back island vibe worked on all of us. We were grateful to still have most of...
Goodbye Isla de Flores | Back to Guatemala City
Honduras | Copán Ruinas & Western Highlands
Exploring western Honduras through Copán Ruinas, including border crossings, small-town life, and one of Central America’s most important Maya sites.
Today was all about getting into Honduras, and honestly, the kids deserve more credit than I give them. They traveled like pros, sleeping through most of the journey. My husband too. Clearly we were all running on empty. This part of the trip involve... https://www.instagram.com/p/C1GLqRptEtM/?img_index=10
Crossing into Honduras | Arriving in Copán Ruinas
This was a classic two-post travel day for us. Up early and trying to fit in as much as possible before the afternoon. We started the morning at Villa Doña Nina, where we were staying. Our host, Evelin, was wonderful. She helped us with laundry using...
Inside the Ruins of Copán Ruins
After the ruins, we weren’t done yet. That’s just how we travel. A must-do for us was Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve, a tropical bird sanctuary about a 10-minute tuk tuk ride from town. It’s a rescue, rehabilitate, and release center w...
Macaws, Coffee & Town Life in Copán Ruinas
Guatemala | Transit Days & City Stops
Travel days through Guatemala City and surrounding regions, including border crossings, traffic realities, and practical stopovers between destinations.
We were back in Guatemala City for one night, our third stay here on this trip, and once again at the same bed and breakfast. At this point, they probably recognize us on sight. The border crossing went smoothly again, thankfully, and even the road b...
Back to Guatemala City (Again) | A Long Road Day
We said goodbye to Antigua today and headed back to Guatemala City, or “Guate” as it’s known locally. I’ll miss Antigua’s charm. Many locals from Guatemala City head there for drinks and evenings out because it feels safer and more relaxed than the c...
Back to Guatemala City | A Different Side of Guatemala
Guatemala | Lake Atitlán & Highlands
Experiencing Lake Atitlán and the surrounding highlands, including the beauty, the culture, and the realities of life in rural Guatemala.
Today was emotionally heavy. Lake Atitlán is breathtaking. A massive flooded volcanic crater, the deepest lake in Central America, surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. The views are unreal, the kind that stop you mid-sentence. Every travel blog tal...
Arriving at Lake Atitlán | Beauty and Hard Truths
Lake Atitlán is home to more than a dozen different villages, each with its own personality. After the boys made friends the night before, they couldn’t wait to see them again in the morning. We already planned to explore other towns by boat, so it f...https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Q4q72tpc1/?img_index=1
Village-Hopping on Lake Atitlán
We woke up to a very Merry Christmas at Lake Atitlán, and the boys were beyond excited to see what Santa had brought. Watching their faces that morning was one of those moments that makes every long travel day worth it. They spent most of the morning...
Christmas at Lake Atitlán
Guatemala | Antigua & Colonial Charm
Exploring Antigua, Guatemala’s historic colonial city, including architecture, family-friendly pacing, and practical travel notes.
Today was a simple travel day from Lake Atitlán to Antigua. The bus was comfortable, the countryside was beautiful, and once again the kids were absolute pros. Justin fell asleep almost immediately. Hendrix worked on crosswords, played a few games of...
Arriving in Antigua Guatemala
This was another two-post kind of day. Antigua is home to more than 30 churches, convents, and monasteries, and once you start exploring them, it’s impossible not to get pulled in. In the 1700s, a series of devastating earthquakes severely damaged mu... https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Yl2A-uC1v/?img_index=1
Churches & Ruins of Antigua Guatemala
Today’s only real plan was to walk. See more churches, explore old buildings, feed a few pigeons along the way, and just let the day unfold. And honestly, that’s the best way to experience Antigua. Some churches charge a small entrance fee, but many ...
Wandering Through Antigua Guatemala | Markets, Cafés & Volcano Views
Honduras | Roatán & The Bay Islands
Exploring Roatán and the Bay Islands, including beach time, snorkeling, reef life, and slow island days to close out the year.
Today was mostly a travel day as we made our way from Guatemala to Roatán. We landed around 2:00 in the afternoon, but immigration took nearly an hour due to long lines. Just one of those things you factor into Caribbean island arrivals. By the time ... Booking a reef tour is one of the best ways to experience Roatán’s coral system, especially if you want access to less crowded snorkel spots. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1djmhTNucN/?img_index=1
Arrival in Roatán
The best thing about losing power is when it comes back on. Roatán reminded us quickly that it’s not a built-up luxury destination. When the electricity went out, so did the water, since it’s pumped electrically at the hotel. No power meant no flushi...
Island Realities in Roatán | West End Life
I truly can’t think of a better way to end the year than with sloth snuggles. We started the day at The Arch's Iguana & Marine Park, one of the island’s oldest animal sanctuaries. Established in 1980 to protect iguanas, it’s now home to thousands... https://www.instagram.com/p/C1iebCpuSQ6/?img_index=1
Sloths, Iguanas & Wildlife in Roatán
Snorkeling is easily one of the most popular things to do on Roatán, and once you get in the water it’s obvious why. The island sits along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. We booked a small snorkeling ...
Snorkeling the Reef in Roatán
If you’re looking for the classic Caribbean beach day on Roatán, West Bay Beach absolutely delivers. We took a short water taxi over from West End and spent the entire day here snorkeling along the reef wall. The best part is how quickly the marine l...
Beach & Reef Day at West Bay Beach
When your flight doesn’t leave until 8:30 at night but you’re on an island full of beaches, there’s really only one logical solution. Buy some cheap shorts you can leave behind and spend the entire day at the beach. We headed back to Half Moon Bay an...
Last Beach Day in Roatán
Trip Reflections & Travel Lessons
Final reflections, travel takeaways, and the realities of returning home after weeks on the road.
Travel days home always start early. Airports, airplanes, long waits, and the quiet exhaustion that comes after weeks of moving through new places. By the time we finally walked through the door, there was only one thing on our minds. Home. Travel is...
Coming Home After Central America