El Paredón Travel Guide
Why should you trust me and take my advice?
I moved to Guatemala to be with my husband, and I’ve been lucky to call this country my new home. It’s been a life-changing experience!
We spend our free time traveling all over this incredible country and we’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala. My advice and travel tips are based on extensive experience.
If you have a long list of questions or if you need help creating a customized Guatemala itinerary then please click here to book a travel consultation with me. For an introduction to traveling to Guatemala, click here.
An overview of El Paredón
El Paredón is a tiny surf town along the Pacific coast of Guatemala and it’s one of the country’s fastest growing tourist destinations! It’s recently become popular amongst backpackers, surfers, and travelers looking for a peaceful destination in Guatemala.
Along the Pacific coast of Guatemala you can find black sand beaches (if you are looking for white sand beaches then you need to visit the Caribbean coast), an ocean with strong waves, and hot and humid weather. This small town has many new restaurants and hotels that cater to all types of travelers. Also, there are a few great activities that tourists can book here such as surf lessons or a mangrove boat tour.
In this guide you will find all my recommendations for this laid-back surf town!
Transportation and how to get to El Paredón
El Paredón is such a small town that it’s easy to walk everywhere. It won’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes to walk from your hotel to the beach, restaurants, etc.
Most tourists who visit El Paredón will arrive from Guatemala City, Antigua, or Lake Atitlán. It takes approximately 3-4 hours to drive to El Paredón from Guatemala City, 2-3 hours from Antigua to El Paredón, 4-5 hours from Panajachel (Lake Atitlán) and 4-5 hours from San Pedro La Laguna to El Paredón. I write approximately because the drive can vary a lot in Guatemala due to the road conditions and traffic.
Private Transportation:
For the most convenient option, I suggest booking a private driver with GuateDriver. They are my go-to private transfer company in Guatemala and you can contact them at +502-3775-7831 or info@guatedriver.com.
Uber:
You cannot book Uber transportation to El Paredón and Uber does not exist in the town.
Shared tourist shuttles:
Another transportation option is to book a shared shuttle from Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan, or another destination to arrive in Antigua. These shuttles transport a number of tourists together and everyone pays a reduced price compared to private transportation. The price is especially affordable for solo travelers but if you are a group of 3 or more than the price is not as affordable and I recommend booking private transportation.
There are a few drawbacks to booking the shuttles. The first is that they have a set schedule. So if you arrive at the Guatemala City airport and want to take a shuttle, then you will sometimes need to wait for the set time. Also, at times the shuttles can run late so even if the time is set, there is the possibility of a delay while GuateDriver will always be there to pick you up early.
Another drawback is that the drivers are not always so cautious. Some of them drive quickly and tourists (including myself) often complain about motion sickness. Especially when they are driving through mountains and on curved roads. If you suffer from motion sickness and plan to use the tourist shuttles then I recommend buying less-drowsy dramamine (click here for my favorite product) or a motion sickness patch (click here).
If you want to book a shuttle then I have some options listed below.
- Book from Antigua to El Paredon by clicking here and from El Paredon to Antigua by clicking here.
- Book from Guatemala City to El Paredon by clicking here and return from El Paredon to Guatemala City by clicking here.
- Book from Panajachel, Lake Atitlán to El Paredón by clicking here and from El Paredon to Panajachel by clicking here.
Where to stay in El Paredón
The hotels in El Paredón are so stylish! Many of the hotels reminded me of the villas and hotels that I saw in Bali, Indonesia. I have a few hotel options listed below and most importantly, I recommend booking a hotel with a pool and air conditioning. You will need both in El Paredon because it gets so hot and humid in this part of Guatemala!
My favorite hotel in El Paredón and the one I highly recommend is Fresco Hotel! This is one of our all-time favorite hotels in Guatemala and the reason is because it’s such a quiet, and exclusive hotel for a very affordable price. Many of the hotels in El Paredon have a party vibe. They can get busy and you’ll always find someone in the pool or hanging around somewhere.
Fresco Hotel only has 4 private rooms. It’s a chill vibe here with no parties, no DJs, and a private pool. They are planning to open a cafe soon but it’s in a separate area on the property so only hotel guests can access the pool and general hotel area.
Something else I love about staying here is that they have a private kitchen. So if you want to go shopping at the Super 24 or if you want to bring leftovers back from dinner then you can store it in the refrigerator. We did the turtle release experience (I highly recommend this) and even though we were up at 4 am, we were able to make coffee and eat a snack!
We stayed at the hotel for 3 nights and for the most part, we had the pool to ourselves! We came across two other couples staying here but during much of our stay, we were alone at the hotel and it was peaceful and quiet.
Fresco Hotel has a two night minimum to book a room and it’s approximately $80-120 per night depending on the room and the time of year. The rooms are very clean, stylish, and all have air conditioning. This is a must in this part of Guatemala since it gets so hot and humid!
You can check out the rooms they have available by clicking the links below:
If you are looking for a backpacker hostel or a party style hotel then there are other options in El Paredón! I recommend using Booking.com to find a hotel or hostel option in the area. I like to use this tool because when I frequently use the platform, it rewards loyalty with different tiers of customer service, free breakfasts and discounts off bookings.
Below are some of the most popular hotels and hostels in El Paredón:
Mid-range/Luxury:
- Cocori Lodge Paredon: This is a good hotel option if you want to socialize and party. They have different types of rooms from dorms to private bungalows. The pool area is very nice and they have regularly scheduled social events and parties.
- Wander Boutique Hotel: We have not yet stayed here but I have heard very good things about this hotel in El Paredon. They have a great pool area and restaurant and I’ve been told that they have very fun vibes on the weekends!
Budget-friendly:
- The Driftwood Surfer Hostel: This is the most famous hostel in the area and the original one that started to bring tourism to the area. This is a social and party hostel with a pool, a bar, and surf lessons and rentals. The hotel is just right in front of the beach.
- Mellow Hostel El Paredon: This is another popular hostel in El Paredon. They offer social events but with a much more chill vibe. The hostel is set further away from the beach but still within walking distance. They offer dorms and private rooms and have a nice pool!
What to do in El Paredón
This is a small town and therefore, there aren’t as many activities or tours to book here compared to Antigua or Lake Atitlan. However, there are a few that I highly recommend! I think it’s always important to book tours and support the local community.
- Click here to Book a sea turtle and salt farm tour. This is a really nice 2-hour sunset tour on a boat from El Paredón and it’s a great way to see sea turtles in their natural habitat.
- A free activity is just to hang out at the beach! For the most part, the waves are too rough to go swimming but it’s a peaceful place to take a stroll and especially at sunrise and sunset (when it’s not as hot). There are warning signs about the strong current at the beach and no lifeguards. Therefore, I highly recommend not swimming.
- You can book a private surf lesson at the beach in El Paredon! This is the best place to go surfing in Guatemala since there is a powerful beach break here and consistent and strong Pacific swells. Click here to read more details.
- My favorite activity in El Paredon is the mangrove boat tour! We booked this tour during our last trip and the guide was so much fun. She took us on a small boat through the mangroves. There was an option to go fishing but we skipped that. Click here to book this activity.
- My second favorite activity is the turtle release which takes place annually from mid-September to mid-December. The Driftwood Surfer organizes this tour by buying turtle eggs from poachers. They take care of the eggs, hatch them, and then release the turtles into the ocean. It’s an amazing experience and I highly recommend waking up early for this. The release happens daily at 5:45 am and you only need to meet in front of the Driftwood Surfer Hostel or contact them on their Facebook or Instagram accounts to confirm. This is a donation based activity.
- Another fun tour to book in El Paredon is a cooking class. For this activity, you’ll go to a local family home and learn how to make tortillas and empanadas. Click here to read more and book the experience.
- Another free activity is to watch the sunset from the beach in El Paredon or from the new Spaceship restaurant (it’s free but you should support the restaurant by buying a drink or food)! They have a terrace overlooking parts of the town and it’s amazing to watch the sunset from here.
Restaurant recommendations in El Paredón
There are several great restaurants in the town of El Paredón. I have below a list of my favorites. Of course, there are more restaurants that I’ll keep adding to this list every time I return, but these are the ones I’ve personally been to so far and can recommend.
- Soul Food Kitchen: I love Asian food and I was surprised to find this restaurant in El Paredon. They serve a fusion of Thai and Indian food and it was delicious!
- Spaceship Restaurant: I mentioned this one above and it’s our favorite restaurant in El Paredon. It’s a new restaurant, the entire property has a Star Wars theme, they have a pool, the staff is so friendly, and the food is amazing. Also, as I mentioned above, they have a terrace! I 100% recommend coming here and I think anyone will love the vibes.
- Bora: This is a great place for tacos and cocktails!
- El Tiburon: If you’re craving pizza then I recommend coming here! The food is delicious.
- Delicias del Mar: If you love seafood then you should eat here. This was an inexpensive and local restaurant that is very centrally located.
Weather in El Paredón
El Paredon is hot and humid year round. The dry season starts in November and ends in April. We were here during the rainy season but for the most part, the weather was clear and hot and humid. We heard from others in the area that this is typical. During the rainy season it’s usually nice most of the day but will rain in the afternoon.
El Paredón travel tips
- Safety: I felt very safe in El Paredon, Guatemala! I will mention that I’ve only been here with my Guatemalan husband However, I wouldn’t hesitate to travel alone here. I think any tourist will only need to take normal precautions in order to feel safe in El Paredon but I will mention that since it is a party town, I would take extra precautions if you plan to drunk and roaming around at night. Unfortunately, anything can happen anywhere. You can read more about how I feel in regards to safety in Guatemala by clicking here for my main travel guide.
- Medical emergencies and travel insurance: Guatemala’s public healthcare system is not very good but there is very high-quality private healthcare available in the country. However, if you need to visit a private hospital you will need to pay thousands of dollars upfront. This is why I recommend having a travel insurance policy in place. I recommend Safety Wing because they offer health and travel insurance including a simple claims process and great customer service! The insurance plans cover hospital stays, medications, surgery, travel delays, lost luggage, and more. You can click here to sign up for a plan.
- Language: Most people in Guatemala speak Spanish and not English. Therefore, it’s important to at least learn the basics to be able to communicate with people. If you want to learn Spanish from a Guatemalan teacher then I can recommend Instituto IIAA. You can contact Luis on WhatsApp at +502-4647-5877 or reach out to the school on Instagram by clicking here. You can use my code KERRY to get a $50 discount off monthly classes and receive a free placement exam!
- Cash, credit cards, and ATMs: You can use your credit cards in many restaurants and hotels in El Paredón. However, there are some places that are cash only. Moreover, you’ll want to have cash for tips. It’s important to bring enough cash or you can use the ATM at the Super 24 (a convenient store) in the town.
- Internet & data: Most hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and restaurants will have free wi-fi. Although, sometimes it works well but in some places it doesn’t! If you need consistent data and wi-fi access then I suggest downloading an app with an eSim. Now that I live in Guatemala I use a local sim but when I was initially traveling here, I used Airalo eSim. This was easy to set up and I avoided going into the store in Guatemala to get a physical sim. You can click here to download the app and set up service.
- Noise cancellation: I recommend traveling to Guatemala with ear plugs because this country can be LOUD. I am not exaggerating as there are often weddings or just a celebration in Antigua in general with fireworks. If you bring ear plugs with you then you can thank me later. Click here for my favorite ear plugs.
- Food & Water in Guatemala: In Guatemala, the water from the faucet is not safe to drink, however, most restaurants will serve a glass of filtered water or bottled water. I also recommend traveling to Guatemala with a water bottle that has a built-in filter. I use the Life Straw bottle in Guatemala and it completely filters out any of the bad stuff and works well! You can buy this online by clicking here. Also,if you’re the type of person who has a sensitive stomach then I recommend avoiding street food or eating anything raw. Usually the raw vegetables are fine but as an extra precaution, I would skip those.
- Portable safe: In my experience, many hotels in Guatemala do not have a safe. Therefore, I recommend buying a portable safe that can be locked to many different fixtures in a hotel room. You can put your laptop, passport, extra cash, etc. inside this safe and hide your valuables. Click here to buy the portable safe I’ve always used in Guatemala.
- Sun protection: It can get very sunny in Guatemala and sunblock can be expensive here. Oftentimes it’s double the price so whenever I’m in the U.S. I’ll stock up and bring it back with me. I usually buy this sunscreen for my face and this for the rest of my body.
Do you need more travel tips for Guatemala?
Check out my Ultimate Guide for Guatemala! This blog post provides an introduction to traveling to Guatemala, a high level overview of how to plan a trip, what to expect, and my best travel tips for the country. Click here to review this guide.
You can also check out my guides for specific destinations in Guatemala:
Or, if you need help with a customized itinerary then you can book a travel consultation with me! Click here to review my calendar with availability and the cost for this service.
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