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 want to see 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. You can contact them in English or Spanish on WhatsApp at +502-3775-7831 or at info@guatedriver.com. I have compared Guate Driver’s prices to other transportation companies in Guatemala and their rates are either better or equal.  Please note that I cannot provide specific prices for GuateDriver because every trip is different.  GuateDriver will provide you with a quote based on the date (sometimes holidays can cost more), the time of day (the middle of the night will cost more), and the size of your group.

I do not recommend booking one of the random private drivers listed online or in Facebook groups.  I have received very bad feedback about these drivers that aren’t fully vetted.  One named Mohammed in particular who ends up charging too much and acting in a bad way.

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 el Paredón.  I recommend using the GuateGo platform to search for a specific route.  For example, you can book a shuttle from the Guatemala City airport to El Paredón, or from El Paredón to San Pedro La Laguna.  There are many other routes such as from El Paredón to Antigua and vice versa.  The shuttles are available a few times per day leaving and arriving in El Paredón and you can view all the times on the Bookaway platform.  

Click here to search for shuttles to and from El Paredón

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 economical and I recommend booking private transportation.  

The shuttles are safe.  However, some of them drive quickly and tourists (including myself) sometimes 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). 

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 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 is different because it 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 bring leftovers back from dinner then you can store it in the refrigerator.  We did the turtle release experience (I highly recommend) 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:

• Poolside Bungalow 1

• Poolside Bungalow 2

• Pool View Room 2

• Pool View Room 1

• Entire Boutique Hotel 

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.  You can contact the Driftwood Surfer Hostel to inquire about their surfing less. 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 Paredón 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.   

General Travel Tips for Guatemala

🏩 Medical emergencies and travel insurance

Guatemala’s public (free) healthcare system is not very good, but you can find very high-quality private healthcare available in the country.  However, if you need to visit a private hospital, you could possibly be required to pay thousands of dollars upfront.  This is why every tourist in Guatemala should have a travel insurance policy.

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 read more and 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.  In the tourist areas, you’ll find some people who will speak a bit of English but also many travel guides who speak English very well.  The majority of drivers, people on the buses, shop owners, wait staff, etc., do not speak English.

The online language program I’ve used with the most success is Rocket Languages.  I like Rocket Languages because the platform prioritizes conversational fluency and active speaking over flashcards and gamification (compared to many other language learning tools).  Rocket Languages has interactive audio lessons, advanced speech recognition, and comprehensive grammar.  They offer both an online and mobile option for using the platform, and you can click here to check it out.

💰 Cash, credit cards, and ATMs

You can use your credit cards in many restaurants and hotels in the main tourist areas in Guatemala. However, there are cash-only places such as small local restaurants, markets, tuk-tuk drivers, lancha (boat) transportation, tips, and more.  You will absolutely need cash, and I recommend using the local ATMs to take out cash for a small fee (do not use the money exchange at the airport, as they have a very bad rate).

If you’re traveling from the U.S., many banks will allow you to pre-order Quetzales at a very good rate.  This is what I’ve done through Wells Fargo many times while traveling back and forth between Guatemala and Florida.

📱 Internet & data

Most hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and restaurants will have free wi-fi. Although sometimes it works well, at times 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 an Airalo eSIM.  This was easy to set up and convenient, rather than wasting time going into the Tigo or Claro store in Guatemala to get a physical SIM.  You can click here to download the app and set up service.

🛌 Hotels & Accommodation

The website I recommend using to find hotels and apartments in various destinations in Guatemala is Booking.com.  In my opinion, this is the platform with the most extensive options in Guatemala and for competitive prices.  You can search on Booking.com by date, location, and preferences such as free parking, air conditioning, a private bathroom, review score, etc.

🚗 Transportation in Guatemala

In Guatemala, you can use tourist shuttles or private buses to transfer around the country but also, hire a private driver.  To search for the best option for a private bus or shuttle, I recommend checking out the platform Guatego.com.  This platform will give you all the best options every day, with the prices and times for the transfers.  If you want to hire a private driver, then I recommend contacting GuateDriver to receive a quote.  You can contact them on WhatsApp at +502-3775-7831 or at info@guatedriver.com.

👂 Noise cancellation

I recommend traveling to Guatemala with earplugs because this country can be LOUD. I am not exaggerating, as there are often roosters crowing, loud motorcycles, dogs barking, and weddings or celebrations with fireworks. If you bring earplugs with you, then you can thank me later. Click here for my favorite earplugs.

🥑 Food & Water

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.  Many restaurants will insist that tourists buy a bottle of water, which costs money compared to a free glass of water, and it’s worse for the environment.  However, most restaurants, especially in Guatemala City or the tourist areas, will serve you a free glass of filtered water. Whenever I’m in a sit-down restaurant, I’ll tell them I want “vaso con agua,” which means I want a glass of water instead of bottled water.  If you’re worried, then you can order bottled water everywhere, but I haven’t had a problem ordering and drinking filtered water at sit-down restaurants.

I also recommend traveling to Guatemala with a water bottle with a built-in filter.  I use the LifeStraw 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.

Something else to note is that tourists often get sick from eating street food or food from local markets in local areas.  Unfortunately, I’ve had a parasite two times, and I needed to take medication to get rid of it.  This can be very uncomfortable and can greatly interrupt your trip.  Therefore, if you’re worried at all or if you already know that you have a sensitive stomach, then I would skip eating street food or food from the local market unless you’re at the Central Markets in Antigua or Guatemala City.

I’ve never been sick from the food at sit-down restaurants in Guatemala or the markets in Antigua or Guatemala City.  However, travelers have commented on my posts to let me know they have been sick.  I think it’s important to bring medicine for diarrhea in your luggage and be prepared with travel insurance just in case.  Most likely you won’t have a problem, but anything can happen.

🔑 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 to buy in the country.  Oftentimes it’s double or triple the price, so whenever I’m in the U.S., I’ll stock up and bring it back with me.  Click here to buy the sunscreen I always use for my face, and this is the natural sunscreen I buy for my body.

🧭 Navigation

Most people in the U.S. tend to use Google Maps, but after living in Guatemala for a few years and traveling all over, I recommend using Waze.  This is what my Guatemalan husband uses to drive around the country, and I’ve noticed that it works much better than Google Maps.  For example, there are often road closures, and drivers will need to be rerouted.  Waze always shows us these closures, but Google Maps does not.  Also, I tried to use Google Maps in the department of Huehuetenango, but it took us to roads that did not exist.  Therefore, I recommend downloading this and using it in Guatemala if you decide to drive yourself or if you want to track the route of your personal driver.

 

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:

📍Antigua

📍Lake Atitlán

📍Semuc Champey + other places in Alta Verapaz

📍Guatemala City

📍El Paredón

📍Río Dulce + Livingston + Playa Blanca + Puerto Barrios

📍Tikal + other places in Petén

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. 

Please note that some links on my site are affiliate links.  This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a booking or purchase. By using these links you’re supporting my blog so I can continue to publish content and travel recommendations for Guatemala. Something important to mention is that I only feature recommendations I believe in and use myself. Thank you!