From Guatemala (Lago de Atitlan) to El Salvador (5h):
From Guatemala (Atitlan's lake) to Honduras (18h):
Ciudad de Guatemala- Copan - Chiquimula-San Pedro Sula
We choose the first option to cross from Atitlan's lake to el Salvadore. The trip was on local buses driven by crazy Latin driver. They can arrive on their own time beside the time schedule, i believe there is no such but they rush you when you get in and get out. They behave like animals and they treat passengers in the same way. Once you are on the bus there is limited dance as the number of seats doesn't count. Person on top of another one and the commerciants passing through selling who knows what from hot/cold meals, through fruits/vegs/dressers up to medicine/tooth brush. I've you forgotten to take sth from home for sure you'll get it on the bus. There is no need of eating in the restaurant before the trip as for sure you can be treated by variety dishes on the vehicule. You need to change few times buses before you get to destination. The distances are short but the quality of old American school busses and Central American roads are very low. To get from one destination to the other one even if it's only 100km you need a whole day. Central America is pretty small but wast of time on transport is pretty remarkable.
We arrived by the border with Salvador in the evening therefore there was no more public bus to take. I think that Guatemala is the only Central American country without any immigration fees. Well done to Guatemala;)
We found an honest taxi driver who wanted to take us to the most visited Turístico destination of Tunco - surfers beach for 60$. We refused it because of the cost so he took us to the nearest Garrita - Palmiera beach only half an hour away from the boarder. As we arrived he introduced us to a local guy - Roberto who owned a propriety by the beach. We set up our tent by his propriety on the beach. In the morning I woke up by an amazing quite ocean still before a sunrise. Few fishermen took their boat and went for fishing, some came back. I jamped in to this flat and warm water by a sunrise and kept swimming while the sun was rising up. It's my favourite time of the day, this is when the most I can integrate with the nature. The Quite ocean sound with sea eagles sing and palm trees sound is the only noise which wakes you up. In this meditative state of mind you can start the day and go all the way through it. This is the main reason while we camp and stay in the most beautiful places in the world. There is no such a 5 stars hotel which can give you a similar experience, fully living the nature makes our trip unforgettable. We went around the village, fund some little restaurant (comedor) to have breakfast: eggs, beans, goat cheese, cream cheese with tortillas and cafe con leche (2$ each). Fund a beautiful Laguna from both side of the beach at the beganing and the end. The place was outstanding with no Tirists, only locals. Roberto's family was very poor but very hospitable and honest. They offered us few coco nuts, some for drink and some for a trip. Told us the story of the Huracane which came in May and the ocean took away all the houses which were built by the beach. They had to rebuilt their own. This people leave in 2 m2 houses made of pals trees and whatever they recycle. They sleep outdoors on the Hamacs. The toilet is outside in a very poor conditions and the chi genie conditions are very poor. They don't receive any support from the government as they apparently own too much. These people live on the age of poverty and they don't receive any benefits because their standard Is too high. The crudelity of the reality is excruciating. This so far was the most beautiful and back laid place we visited so far during the whole trip. After 3 days we went to the most visitors tutlristic spot - Tunco. It took us ages to travel by local transport. Eventually we didn't make it on the last bus which was packed but fortunately we met a local naturopath- Jose who gave us a ride. We made a friendship with him, we paid just for the flew and hole would drive us everywhere we wanted. He didn't want to make money out of us as he was making enough by his profession. He just wanted to be in our company and show us arround.
