Just like that, another three weeks had flown by. After my time in Belize, which I mostly look back on as a relaxing holiday spent by the beach, my time in Guatemala felt like I was reconnecting to the very purpose of my trip – to explore and learn more about the world.

Guatemala, I think, might have been my favourite country thus far. I know I said that about every single one I had visited, but this time I really meant it. This country felt like a rawer version of Mexico – a country I hold very dear to my heart after experiencing so many new things there. It’s Guatemala’s untapped, wild nature that made me absolutely fall in love with it. So many incredible experiences in such a short time! First, it was the trek to El Mirador in the depths of the jungle. Then it was the pristine Lake Atitlán. And then, something I never even thought I could ever experience – a hike on an active, erupting volcano. How on earth would I find anywhere else that could top that? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did hope the universe would prove me wrong. That would only mean there’d be even better, bigger things in store for me during this trip! 

Then there were the ‘usuals’:

• • • Friendship: Then there were the friends I made along the way. Whilst I’m a pretty social person and can make friends easily, there’s just something special and different about the bonds created with people you trek with. Understandably so, I came to refer to the group with whom I trekked to El Mirador as a family after five straight days of incessant talking. Whilst I could say the same about longer treks I’d done in the past – mostly those of the Ciudad Perdida in Colombia and the Salkantay Trek in Peru – I also developed a strong kinship with some of the people I hiked the volcano of Acatenango with. I guess there’s just something about blood, sweat and tears (and mud and mosquitoes) that connects people better than anything else – say a beer or a cigarette!

• • • Peace: Whilst in Guatemala, I also started to prioritise myself a bit. I managed to find and make some time for myself – getting back into the routine of reading, writing, drawing and just being. Whilst in Río Dulce and Lanquín, I can say I centred myself a bit, something I didn’t have much time to do before then – except during that day I spent in the cabaña at Seine Bight. To me, relaxing means being in the comfort of my own room – wherever that is – on my own, doing whatever I feel like. Things most people find relaxing – say going to the beach or chilling at the spa – don’t count for me. Whilst in those places I am physically relaxed, I can’t say the same when it comes to the mental peace I yearn for. And so, without missing out on anything, I found a way to make time for this.

• • • Fitness (or lack thereof): During my time here, I also started to notice I was getting out of shape. Most of my muscle bulk had either disappeared or turned to belly fat. And despite all the hiking and trekking, I still found myself short of breath at every single demanding uphill. I mean sure, I had smoking to thank for that, but that aside, it’s the lack of exercise. Back home, I used to work out at least three times a week, and this number suddenly turned into a big fat zero. Now, I was back to my old, slightly hunchbacked, slightly skinny-fat self. It wasn’t just the fright I’d get every time I’d look in the mirror, mind you – it’s also the fact that I genuinely started to miss working out at that point. The blowing off steam, the rush of endorphins, the feel-good factor of seeing results. But workouts take time, and my busy schedule wouldn’t allow for more activities than it already had. I guess this was something I’d have to get used to for the time being – with hiking and trekking being the only forms of exercise for the foreseeable future. And maybe some yoga and water sports here and there – since I was now expanding my horizons. 

• • • Spanish: Oh yeah, just a teeny tiny update on my Spanish. I guess this is where I started to believe the locals when they’d tell me my Spanish’s good. With every passing day, I found myself speaking more confidently and using different words. I could also use basic past and future tenses by the end!

As I packed my bags and got ready to leave Guatemala, I couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions. I wasn’t just leaving behind volcanoes, jungle treks and turquoise lakes – I was leaving behind a chapter of growth, adventure, and connection. Guatemala didn’t just thrill me – it grounded me. It made me feel wild and centred at the same time. And, most of all, it made me feel alive. 

• Distance:

• • • Total walked: 246km
    • Total travelled: 1020km

• Books: 
  • • Complications, Atul Gawande
    • The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
    • The Library of Babel, Jorge Luis Borges
    • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou