The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Huehuetenango, Guatemala: Laguna Brava, Todos Santos, the Llama Farms, Zaculeu, and More!
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. We spend our free time traveling all over Guatemala, and we’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations. We’ve traveled three times total to Huehuetenango and 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 for my Ultimate Guatemala Travel Guide.
An overview of Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango (also known as Huehue) is a department in Guatemala located along the border with Mexico. There are some Guatemalans who come here on vacation, but for foreigners, it’s still very much an off-the-beaten-path destination.
This department has the city of Huehuetenango in it, but also many remote Maya communities. It’s where you can find the highest mountain range in Central America as well as canyons, rivers, pine forests, and beautiful lakes. Also, there are llamas in this part of Guatemala!
If you like cold weather or if you’re looking for a destination in Guatemala that offers raw nature, indigenous culture, and very few tourists, then you should add Huehuetenango to your list! Visiting this part of Guatemala is an adventure. It’s not a destination for travelers seeking luxury, nightlife, or easy logistics.
A few places in the department are much less difficult to access compared to others. For example, it’s not too difficult to plan a trip to visit the tourist destinations that are in close proximity to the city of Huehue, Todos Santos, and Chiantla. These places are easier to access, and there is a luxury hotel experience that can be booked nearby. However, the places in Huehue that are close to the border with Mexico are more remote, and there is less tourist infrastructure there. Keep reading for more!
Is it safe to visit Huehuetenango?
You might already know that the US Department of State has designated the department of Huehuetenango as a Level 4: Do Not Travel (with the exception of the city of Huehuetenango). The reason for this is that this department sits along the border with Mexico, which is a transit path for human trafficking and drug smuggling. Also, much of this department is rural, and some places are difficult to reach for emergency support.
Now that I’ve shared this information, I will explain my thoughts and opinion on the travel advisory. We’ve traveled to this department three times and haven’t had a problem. We haven’t seen gangs or drug trafficking. Although, of course, we don’t know for sure. We’ve visited a few places just next to the border, including Cenotes de Candelaria, Hoyo Cimarrón, and Laguna Brava. We felt safe and fine the entire time. Furthermore, the city of Huehuetenango and the areas surrounding the city are far from the border. Many places in this department are not close to the border, and in our experience, life just seems normal in this part of Guatemala.
If you’re concerned about safety but still want to visit this department, then I recommend only exploring during the day and not driving at night. In fact, I recommend this for anywhere in Guatemala. Furthermore, you can stick to visiting just the city of Huehuetenango and the surrounding areas. There are plenty of places to visit in this part of Guatemala. If you want to travel to Laguna Brava and the border area, then to remain extra safe, you can hire a private driver to take you around and/or a tour guide.
I have almost never heard of tourists having any problems in Huehuetenango, and it’s rare to hear of problems in general in Guatemala. In my opinion, most foreigners are going to have a very good experience in Guatemala and a safe trip not only in the main tourist areas but in Huehuetenango as well.
Transportation options and how to get to Huehuetenango
In order to explore Huehuetenango, my recommendation is to hire a private driver or book a tour with an agency. Especially since this department is remote and everything is spread out. There isn’t a lot of tourist infrastructure here like in other departments, and almost no one speaks English.
As much as this is my recommendation, there are other ways to visit Huehuetenango, such as using the bus system or renting a car. I have these options listed below.
🚗 Private driver
Hiring a private driver is the easiest way to have the flexibility to see as much as possible in Huehuetenango. The company I recommend is GuateDriver, as they can bring you anywhere in Guatemala and even across the border into Mexico, Honduras, Belize, or El Salvador.
Some of their drivers speak English, and if you contact them with your itinerary, they can give you a quote for their services. One thing to note is that you will need to hire a driver with a 4X4 vehicle to visit many places in Huehuetenango, since some of the destinations are located along dirt roads and are difficult to access.
You can contact GuateDriver on WhatsApp at +502-3775-7831. Their email address is info@guatedriver.com, and their website is www.guatedriver.com.
🚌 Private bus
You can take a private bus or tourist shuttles from different cities in Guatemala to the city of Huehuetenango.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, México ➡️ Huehuetenango: Book a direct tourist shuttle with Eterna Primavera. It takes approximately 7 hours and operates 5 days per week. I recommend searching for options on Guatego.com.
Guatemala City ➡️ Huehuetenango: Book a private bus with Los Halcones between the capital of Guatemala and the city of Huehuetenango. The private buses in Guatemala are safe and efficient. This bus between Huehuetenango and Guatemala City offers reclining seats and air conditioning. It takes approximately 6 hours to travel between the two cities.
🚙 Rental car
I usually do not recommend renting a car in Guatemala. If you want to understand why, then please click here to read my introductory guide for traveling to the country.
Some people who travel to Guatemala are initially from the country and feel safe and comfortable driving. Others are very confident drivers and make the choice to do so. If you prefer to rent a car, then it will give you the flexibility to move around Huehuetenango at ease, but you should rent a 4X4 with insurance. Click here to compare rental car agencies’ prices in Guatemala City.
✈️ Flights
There is a small airport in Huehuetenango and a charter airline called Mundo Maya that provides flights between Guatemala City and Huehue. They fy from Guatemala to Huehue at 7:30 am or 4 pm Monday through Saturday. They also offer return flights from Huehue at 8:30 am or 5 pm on the same days. On Sunday, there is only one flight at 4 pm from Guatemala City to Huehue and a return flight to the capital at 5 pm.
I recommend contacting the charter airline directly for flight prices and to reconfirm the schedule. Their WhatsApp number is +502-4149-2728.
Tours to Visit Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango is an off-the-beaten-path destination in Guatemala. However, there are a few agencies offering tours. The benefit of booking a tour is that you’ll have transportation, an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, some activities, and accommodation included. You won’t need to plan much as the agency will take care of the planning for you!
✅ Laguna Brava + Juan Dieguez Viewpoint + Laguna Magdalena + Llama farms
This is a 2-day tour to visit the most popular highlights in Huehuetenango! I highly recommend booking this if you only have limited time to visit Huehuetenango. The tour includes transportation, a guide, lodging for one night, and activities. However, the canoe ride at Laguna Brava, as well as lunch and dinner, are paid separately. The tour picks up in Guatemala City or Antigua. Click here to review the details and price.
✅ Tour to Zaculeu + the viewpoint of Juan Diéguez Olivarri
This is an easy day trip from the city of Quetzaltenango (Xela). You’ll visit the ruins of Zaculeu, stop in the town of Chiantla to visit one of the most beautiful churches in Guatemala. Then you’ll end the day at one of the highest places in Guatemala and one of the best viewpoints. Click here to review the details and price.
✅ Trekking from Nebaj to Todo Santos Cuchumatanes
This is a very unique experience to hike through one of the most remote and off-the-beaten-path destinations in Guatemala. It’s a 3-day tour with a total walking distance of 60 km. You’ll hike through the tallest mountain range in Central America and past small, remote communities. The tour includes some accommodation and food. Click here to review the details and price.
Popular Destinations
📍Huehuetenango City
The city of Huehuetenango is the capital of the department and the easiest place to begin exploring the region. It’s more of a practical, local city than a colonial tourist destination, with markets, restaurants, shops, and transportation connections. I don’t recommend planning your entire trip around exploring the city, but rather using it as a base where you can stay at a hotel and take road trips to various places.
Hotels:
There are several good options, and I have them listed below. The city is a great place to stay if you want to visit the ruins of Zacueleu, Chiantla, Todos Santos, and the Juan Diéguez Olaverri viewpoint.
This is my top recommended hotel in the area. We stayed here one time, and it was comfortable with a great breakfast. The hotel has a pool, restaurant, and a parking lot. Click here to read more details and book.
This is a more budget-friendly option in the city of Huehue. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and include breakfast. Also, there is on-site parking. Click here to read more details and book.
This is a great option if you’re traveling with a group or as a family! This is a luxury house at a great price that includes 3 bedrooms and air conditioning. Click here to read more details and book.
📍Zaculeu
If you’re visiting or staying in the city of Huehuetenango, then a visit to Zaculeu is a must! It’s one of the most important archaeological sites in western Guatemala and was once the capital of the Mam kingdom. The site contains plazas, temples, pyramids, a ball court, and a small museum.
I think Zaculeu is just as impressive as most of the ancient cities I’ve visited in the department of Petén (although overall I think Tikal is the best). However, the distinctive pale-colored structures give Zaculeu a very different appearance from the jungle-covered ruins that are the most popular to visit. Since it is located within the city of Huehuetenango, it is easy to get there by car or local transportation, and it makes a fantastic first stop when exploring the department.
The entrance fee is 50 Quetzales (approximately $6.50) for a foreigner and 5 Quetzales for someone with residency or Guatemalan citizenship. It’s located in Zone 4 in Huehuetenango, and there is an on-site museum.
Hotels:
I recommend booking a hotel in the city of Huehuetenango (listed above) if you want to visit Zacueleu. Another option is to take a day trip from the city of Quetzaltenango (Xela) to this part of Guatemala or to stay at Hacienda del Café (which you’ll find listed below).
📍Hacienda del Café
Hacienda del Café is one of our favorite destinations in Huehuetenango! It’s not just a destination but a very unique hotel that is located a short drive from the city of Huehuetenango. If you’re coming from Guatemala City or Antigua, then it’s on the way to the city of Huehuetenango, and we think it’s the perfect place to stop and stay when you’re on a road trip in this department!
The property is centered around coffee production and offers visitors an opportunity to experience the agricultural side of the region. Huehuetenango is famous for producing high-quality coffee, and a visit here is a chance to see the landscapes and farming traditions behind one of Guatemala’s best-known exports.
The best part about staying here is that the farm offers unique geodomes and rooms that look like caves! One of the rooms is a geodome tree house, and the other two are luxury geodomes. We have stayed here twice, and the next time we want to book the cave room.
In order to book a room, you can click here to review the details and prices on their website. Also, once you have the room booked, you can contact the staff on WhatsApp to rent their paddle boards or to reserve a coffee tour experience. If you don’t want to stay here, then you can purchase a day pass. Their WhatsApp number is +502-5633-9517.
📍Chiantla
The small town of Chiantla sits at the foot of the Cuchumatanes Mountains and is an important gateway to the highlands. The town is known for its historic church and local atmosphere.
The church is called Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. It’s a colonial-era landmark known for having a miraculous life-sized silver-clad image of the Virgin Mary. It was founded in 1540, and it is a major pilgrimage destination for Catholics in southern Mexico and across Guatemala. It’s free to visit, and the inside of the church is so beautiful!
From the city of Huehuetenango, Chiantla is a relatively easy drive, and it makes sense to combine it with the Juan Diéguez Olaverri viewpoint and other attractions in the Cuchumatanes Mountains. As you travel beyond Chiantla, the landscape changes quickly from settled farmland to high-altitude mountain scenery.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying in the city of Huehuetenango since this is where you will find the most hotel options and it’s not far from Chiantla. You can also stay at Hacienda del Café, as this is within driving distance.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s less than 20 minutes away from Chiantla, and it’s on our list to stay there next time. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍Juan Diéguez Olaverri Viewpoint
One of the most spectacular viewpoints in the entire country is in Huehuetenango and it’s the Mirador Juan Diéguez Olaverri, which sits high in the Cuchumatanes along the road toward Todos Santos Cuchumatán.
On a clear day, you can see enormous mountain landscapes and, depending on conditions, distant volcanoes. The viewpoint is easily reached by road, although the altitude means the weather can be dramatically colder and windier than in Huehuetenango City. You should give yourself time to enjoy the drive up as well—the changing scenery is part of the experience.
There is a parking lot and restaurant located at the viewpoint. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant as the food is great! If you want to access the area with the abandoned home (this place is famous on Instagram), then you’ll need to pay a small fee. There will be a local person standing near the entrance, and they usually ask for 10 Quetzales.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying at a hotel in the city of Huehuetenango. You can also stay at Hacienda del Café, as this is within driving distance.
Another option is to stay at Unicornio Azul, which is a rural farmhouse located near Todos Santos and the llama farms. This is a boutique hotel in the mountains with a restaurant. We’ve stayed here two times and I have to admit that the first trip was a great experience. Unfortunately, during the second trip, we were put in a room that was not as nice as their typical rooms. Yet, they charged us the same price. If you decide to stay here, then I would insist on booking a room in the main house and not in the second house, which is isolated and not as nice. The main house has the restaurant and lobby. You can click here to check out their website. Their WhatsApp number to book is +502-5205-9328.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s on our list, and it’s not far from the town of Todos Santos. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍Todos Santos Cuchumatán + llama farms
Todos Santos Cuchumatán is one of Guatemala’s most culturally distinctive mountain towns, and it is a fascinating place to experience living Mam Maya culture. The town is particularly famous for its traditional clothing, which is still worn as part of everyday life rather than simply for tourists or special occasions.
From Huehuetenango, it takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive to Todos Santos. There are several llama farms surrounding the town, and you can pay an entrance fee to visit. Llamas live here because the local villagers imported them from South America, and they are well suited for the climate in this part of Guatemala since the weather is similar to the mountains in Peru.
The locals have opened the farms to tourists, and there are two I recommend visiting:
🦙 Ovejas y Llamas de la Sierra: I’ve been here two times and the people are wonderful! You’ll have plenty of chances to take photos with the llamas here.
🦙 Llamas de los Cuchumatanes: I have not yet been to this farm, but I’ve read good things online.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying at a hotel in the city of Huehuetenango, Hacienda del Café, or Unicornio Azul (this hotel is the closest). There are hotels in the town of Todos Santos. However, I have not heard good things from anyone who has stayed at the hotels here.
Unicornio Azul, which is a rural farmhouse located near Todos Santos and the llama farms. This is a boutique hotel in the mountains with a restaurant. We’ve stayed here two times and I have to admit that the first trip was a great experience. Unfortunately, during the second trip, we were put in a room that was not as nice as their typical rooms. Yet, they charged us the same price. If you decide to stay here, then I would insist on booking a room in the main house and not in the second house, which is isolated and not as nice. The main house has the restaurant and lobby. You can click here to check out their website. Their WhatsApp number to book is +502-5205-9328.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s on our list, and it’s not far from the town of Todos Santos. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍 Unicornio Azul Posada Rural
Unicornio Azul is a small, rural guesthouse in Chancol, Chiantla, high in the mountains. We stayed here twice, and the weather gets very cold overnight. They offer 5 simple but somewhat cozy rooms. I mention somewhat because the 3 rooms in the main house are very nice. However, during our second trip, we stayed in the small house away from the main house, and it was very cold and not as comfortable.
My biggest complaint is that there is a big difference between the two types of rooms, but they charge the same price. We struggled to get hot water in our room and had to call the staff because we tried to light a fire to heat up the water, and it wasn’t working. Also, our shower overflowed the first night. Moreover, the rooms in the small house were very cold compared to the main house. Lastly, they were smaller and much simpler. If you book a room here, then I would insist on staying in the main house where the restaurant and lobby are, or if those rooms aren’t available, then ask for a reduced rate.
This is the photo of the room we stayed at that wasn’t as comfortable as the room we booked during our first stay.
The property has a private viewpoint and a large area where guests can go horseback riding. There is an on-site restaurant and the food is very good. They also offer drinks such as hot chocolate, beer, and wine. Each room has a fireplace and a private bathroom.
The reason many tourists stay here is that the property is close to some of the best tourist destinations in Huehuetenango, including Chiantla, Todos Santos, the viewpoint, the llama farms, and Laguna Magdalena. The hotel is also within driving distance to Laguna Encantada and the Piedras de Kab’Tzin.
When we stayed at Unicornio Azul, we paid 250 Quetzales per person during low season and 500 Quetzales total for one night. During the next trip, we went during high season (since it was the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve), and we paid 355 Quetzales per person per night and 640 Quetzales total. The room rate includes breakfast, and I would contact the staff directly for their latest rates and activities. The WhatsApp number is +502-5205-9328, and their email address is info@unicornioazul.com.
📍Laguna Magdalena
Laguna Magdalena is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the Cuchumatanes Mountains, and I highly recommend putting this at the top of your list for places to visit in Huehuetenango.
The lagoon is located in the Chancol area of Chiantla, and it’s surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and forest, with water that can appear in different shades depending on the light and weather. Driving to the lagoon involves traveling into the highlands and then continuing along more rural roads, followed by an easy walk to the lagoon. Expect cold temperatures, especially in the morning, and potentially wet conditions. The surrounding scenery is as much a part of the experience as the lagoon itself.
When we went to Laguna Magdalena, we paid a 15 quetzal entrance fee.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying at a hotel in the city of Huehuetenango, Hacienda del Café, or Unicornio Azul (this hotel is the closest). Please review the details above to contact these hotels to reserve a room.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s on our list, and it’s not far from Chiantla and Todos Santos. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍Laguna Encantada
Another lesser-known mountain destination in the Chiantla area is Laguna Encantada. This is a small, turquoise lagoon offering a quiet experience.
The route to get here takes you through rural communities, farmland, and mountain scenery before reaching the lagoon. The final access road is unpaved, so a 4X4 vehicle is recommended. The water can be deep in places, while the high altitude means mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cold. This is a destination for travelers looking for a more off-the-beaten-path experience rather than extensive tourist infrastructure.
We went here one time, and it is very nice; however, I would put it lower on the list to visit compared to Laguna Magdalena and Laguna Brava. It is very nice to visit but not as spectacular as the other lagoons which are larger and more dramatic surrounded by mountains and cliffs. If you have the time then add it to your list and expect to pay 10 Quetzales to enter.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying at Unicornio Azul or Hotel y Restaurante La Villa in Soloma. We loved Hotel y Restaurante La Villa and highly recommend it! This hotel has many rooms and a restaurant with an extensive menu. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. Click here to book a room on their website.
Unicornio Azul is a boutique hotel in the mountains with a restaurant. We’ve stayed here two times and I have to admit that the first trip was a great experience. Unfortunately, during the second trip, we were put in a room that was not as nice as their typical rooms. Yet, they charged us the same price. If you decide to stay here, then I would insist on booking a room in the main house and not in the second house, which is isolated and not as nice. The main house has the restaurant and lobby. You can click here to check out their website. Their WhatsApp number to book is +502-5205-9328.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s on our list, and it’s not far from the town of Todos Santos. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍Piedras de Kab’Tzin / San Juan Ixcoy
Piedras de Kab’Tzin is one of the lesser-known natural attractions associated with the Huehuetenango highlands. This is because it’s not a place where you’ll visit and pay an entrance fee. These are giant rocks next to the main highway in San Juan Ixcoy and just south of the town of Soloma. We passed these rocks on the road when we returned from Laguna Brava and stayed in the city of Huehuetenango.
You’ll only need to spend a short amount of time here, as it’s a place where you’ll drive by. However, if you want to stop, there is a place on the side of the road next to one of the tall rocks. Many people stop here to take photos.
Hotels:
Once again, I recommend staying at Unicornio Azul or Hotel y Restaurante La Villa in Soloma. We loved Hotel y Restaurante La Villa and highly recommend it! This hotel has many rooms and a restaurant with an extensive menu. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. Click here to book a room on their website.
Another hotel I can recommend is called Hotel y Restaurante Buena Vista. We have not yet stayed here, but it’s on our list, and it’s not far from the town of Todos Santos. They offer cabins with a nice view, and their WhatsApp number is +502-5759-8151.
📍Soloma
San Pedro Soloma is a mountain town in the northern Cuchumatanes and an important center of Q’anjob’al Maya culture. Rather than being a conventional tourist attraction, Soloma offers travelers a chance to experience one of the department’s living Maya communities, including its market, streets, and local commerce.
We stayed here for two nights because it is a great stopping point in between Laguna Brava and the city of Huehuetenango. The town lies well north of the main Huehuetenango–Chiantla tourist route and is reached by mountain roads, making it better suited to travelers taking a longer road trip through the Cuchumatanes. The surrounding journey is a major part of the appeal.
Hotels:
The best hotel we stayed at in Huehuetenango is here! It’s called Hotel y Restaurante La Villa, and I highly recommend it! This hotel has many rooms and a restaurant with an extensive menu. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. Click here to book a room on their website.
📍Laguna Brava
This is my favorite destination in Huehuetenango and one of my all-time favorite places to visit in the entire country! Laguna Brava is also known as Yolnabaj, and it’s a remote destination. This enormous turquoise lake sits in Nentón near the Mexican border and is surrounded by forest and mountains.
Getting to Laguna Brava is an adventure. You’ll arrive at the community of El Aguacate, and the final section involves an unpaved road where a 4X4 vehicle is recommended, especially during the rainy season. There is an entrance fee, and the ticket office is located at the start of the unpaved road; when we were there, the fees were 25 Quetzales for a Guatemalan and 50 for a foreigner.
This is a community-managed tourism destination. There are pickup trucks that can take tourists to and from the ticket office, and the lake and the round-trip pickup tickets cost 500 quetzales. At the entrance to the lake, the community offers canoe trips to the cenotes across the lake and to the beautiful waterfalls. This can be booked as a private tour or with a group of other tourists.
Unlike the other lakes in Guatemala, there are no speedboats here. The community only allows canoes on the lake, and no boats can be rented by tourists. The only way to take a canoe across the lake is to book a tour.
There is a ticket office at the entrance to the lake. This is where you’ll pay the fee for the tour. When we were there, we paid 500 Quetzales for a private tour to visit the cenotes and waterfall. They offered us 140 Quetzales per person for the public group tour, and it is possible to book a tour to visit only the waterfall or only the cenotes. I would check with the ticket office or your accommodation for the latest prices.
Along the shore and at the entrance, there were cabins and two restaurants with the most delicious fish from the lake! The entire experience was so amazing that we wished we had stayed longer and booked tours on back-to-back days to the same places.
I recommend wearing water shoes or sandals and not flimsy ones! Bring shoes that are great for hiking or climbing on rocks, which is what you’ll do to visit the waterfalls. Also, the cenotes provide areas where tourists can swim. So I also recommend wearing a swimsuit and bringing a towel.
Hotels:
We stayed at a cabin near the entrance to the lake, and we booked it on Airbnb. However, I need to mention it was a bad experience. Unfortunately, the cabin was full of bugs. Of course, I expect some bugs in a remote area and along a lake. However, the bathroom probably had 10 spiders and cob webs; there were ants crawling everywhere and even more spiders inside the cabin and above the bed.
I’m going to share about the cabin just in case, because we did speak to the owner. He promised to clean it up and to no longer have bugs in the cabin. I’ve noticed he has a good review, and I like that the cabin is in a great location, just near the entrance to the lake. Also, the owner was very nice, and he offered tour guide services to visit other places such as Cenotes de Candelaria and Hoyo Cimarrón. These are the Airbnb listings for his cabins:
Another option is to book a cabin with the official Laguna Brava tourism organization. They offer cabins that are even closer to the entrance of the lake and the water. We have not stayed here, so I can’t provide my recommendations. However, I want to mention it anyway in case you want to check it out. We hope to stay here in the future and provide feedback.
These cabins are rented by the local community. You can contact them on WhatsApp at +502-5637-3324. When you contact them, you can reserve a waterfront cabin, 4X4 transportation from the community to the lakefront (if you don’t already have this vehicle), and lake excursions.
Something to keep in mind is that if you stay at any of the cabins I have listed above, then you won’t have access to electricity. They usually run a generator for a few hours per day in the afternoon and evening since there are 2 restaurants and a small store located at the waterfront. You’ll be able to charge your phone for only a bit, and I recommend bringing a big portable battery with you. This is what we did, and we were able to successfully charge our devices for two days.
Also, there is a lodge that is not far from Laguna Brava, but it’s not located conveniently at the lakefront. It’s called Hacienda Nueva Escocia, and although we have not stayed here, we have heard good things about this place!
This is a private mountain lodge and is less rustic compared to staying in one of the cabins at the lakefront. They have guestrooms, cabins, a restaurant, and farm animals. They also have a beautiful cenote located on the property and offer daily tours to Laguna Brava, including transportation.
The only drawback is that their rooms have shared bathrooms. They offer to rent the entire place with a private bathroom, but it’s large and expensive (since it’s for a group).
Their rooms and cabins are listed on Airbnb, so you can click the links below to review the prices and additional information:
Hacienda Nueva Escocia Room #2
Hacienda Nueva Escocia Room #3
Hacienda Nueva Escocia Room #4
Hacienda Nueva Escocia Room #5
Hacienda Nueva Escocia Entire House
For some reason, room #1 isn’t listed on Airbnb. It seems you’ll need a 4X4 vehicle to arrive here, and it’s in a very remote place.
Also, I have noticed that since the last time we traveled to this part of Guatemala, there is a new cabin listed on Airbnb. This seems to be centrally located to the Cenotes de Candelaria, Hoyo Cimarrón, and Laguna Brava. So it’s a great place to stay for 2-3 nights to visit all three places!
Click here to check out the cabin located in Nentón (as a reminder, we haven’t actually stayed here, but I’m sharing to give options to my readers).
📍Cenotes of Candelaria
The Cenotes de Candelaria are a series of striking natural pools in the Nentón area and not far from Laguna Brava and Hoyo Cimarrón. I recommend visiting all 3 if you have time during your trip!
The cenotes are connected to an underground water system and are surrounded by vegetation, making the setting feel dramatically different from the high-altitude Cuchumatanes. The destination is reached by road followed by walking, and some access routes can be rough. Once again, we recommend renting or hiring a driver with a 4X4 vehicle.
There are 2 cenotes, and when we were there, it was only possible to swim in one cenote. The primary cenote is very accessible with two sets of stairs leading to the water. One thing to note is that the water is very deep and it’s not clear. However, the locals told us that it was safe to swim and there’s nothing but fish inside the cenote.
We were able to see both cenotes and fly our drone above them. We think the cenotes are especially appealing to travelers interested in natural landscapes and places that feel far removed from Guatemala’s better-known tourist circuit. We paid 100 Quetzales to enter, as they charge per vehicle and not per person. Also, when we were there, they were renting lifejackets for 35 Quetzales.
Hotels:
I would book one of the Airbnb cabins or rooms I have listed above for Laguna Brava. Most people stay in one of these accommodation options and visit Laguna Brava, Hoyo Cimarrón, and the Cenotes de Candelaria all in one trip. For example, we stayed at the cabin just in front of Laguna Brava but had enough time to drive to Hoyo Cimarrón and the Cenotes de Candelaria in the same day.
📍Hoyo Cimarrón
Hoyo Cimarrón is another remote natural attraction in the Nentón region near Laguna Brava and the Cenotes de Candelaria. This is an enormous natural depression surrounded by rugged terrain and offers a very different landscape from the typical cenotes and lagoons in the area.
Hoyo Cimarrón is a collapsed limestone sinkhole, and it looks like a giant circular hole with vertical rock walls and dense forest at the bottom. It’s approximately 200 meters deep, and if you’re afraid of heights (like me), then you’ll feel nervous looking down inside the hole!
You will need to hike from the ticket office and entrance to the sinkhole. It is accessible and not a difficult hike, but it does take approximately 45 – 60 minutes to get there depending on your abilities. It’s a dirt/rocky trail with a few uphill and downhill sections. The normal visitor experience is to walk to the rim and look down. Do not expect to descend into the sinkhole.
We visited both Hoyo Cimarrón and the Cenotes de Candelaria in the same day. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive between the two places. When we were there, the entrance fee was 25 Quetzales for a Guatemalan national or resident, and 50 Quetzales for a foreigner. We paid 10 Quetzales to park on-site.
Hotels:
I would book one of the Airbnb cabins or rooms I have listed above for Laguna Brava. Most people stay in one of these accommodation options and visit Laguna Brava, Hoyo Cimarrón, and the Cenotes de Candelaria all in one trip. For example, we stayed at the cabin just in front of Laguna Brava but had enough time to drive to Hoyo Cimarrón and the Cenotes de Candelaria in the same day.
Additional destinations in Huehuetenango
Some of these are also popular destinations in Huehuetenango. However, we have not been to these places since it takes a lot of time to get everywhere. We are planning to return to Huehuetenango in early 2027, and that’s when I will update this guide with information about these additional destinations!
📍Los Jolotes Waterfalls
📍Pepajau Waterfall
📍Quisil River
📍Laguna del Chivo
📍Hacienda Nueva Escocia
📍Heaven’s Gate Trail
📍Eli Crater
📍Laguna Maxbal
📍Lagartero River
📍El Boquerón
📍Santa Eulalia
Weather in Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango is one of the departments with a very diverse climate. The reason for this diversity is the elevation, since you can travel from a cool, high-altitude mountain region to the warmer lowlands near the border with Mexico, such as Laguna Brava, Hoyo Cimarrón, and Cenotes de Candelaria in the Nentón region.
If you’re planning to only travel to the high-altitude mountain range such as Todos Santos, Unicornio Azul, the llama farms, and Laguna Magdalena, then I suggest packing winter clothes. You might want to wear layers, as it can be somewhat warm in the middle of the day if the sun is strong, but very cold at night.
Hacienda del Café can also feel cold at night, but the city of Huehuetenango and Zaculeu are somewhat warmer. Still, it feels cool in the city at night, and once again, I recommend packing layers.
We stayed in the city of Soloma, and it was cold here! If you decide to visit the large rocks, Laguna Encantada, or the waterfalls near this area in San Juan Ixcoy, then I suggest packing winter clothes.
Laguna Brava, Hoyo Cimarrón, and the Cenotes de Candelaria are located in the warmest region in Huehuetenango. When we stayed and explored here, it felt warm and somewhat humid during the day. It was warm enough to swim, but I think on a cloudy day it might not be as hot.
The dry season in this part of Guatemala follows the same pattern as much of the rest of the country. The best time to visit is typically from November – April, and the season when it rains the most is from May – October. The best overall months to visit are from January – March, and the months with the most rain are from June – September.
🏩 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.
👂 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:
📍Semuc Champey + other places in Alta Verapaz
📍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!
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