From Rio Dulce to Chichicastenango

Hi,

I'm planning my Mex-Guatemala trip...I'll be with a group and we'll
have private mini-bus. I'll arrive to Guatemala from Belize going to
Tikal then I'd like to go to Livingston and move to Chichicastenago for
the Sunday market. The problem is that I'll fly out from GUA on
thursday, so I really have to be in Chichi Saturday night for the
sunday market...
I should visit Tikal on friday morning and them move and sleep in
Livingston.
Is it possible to have a short boat trip in Livinston on saturday
morning and then move to Chichi or it's to rush and not enough time?
How long does it take to go from Rio Dulce to Chichi with mini-bus?

The other solution would be to skip Livingston (does Livingston worth
the effort?) and go from Tikal to Chichi....

Is the road from Tikal to Chichi dangerous for criminals that assoult
buses?

Any suggestion?

Thanks a lot!

Ciao,
Renton

"Renton" <marcoinperu@m> wrote in message
news:1148230190.286865.241210@38g2000cwa. ...
> Hi,
>
> I'm planning my Mex-Guatemala trip...I'll be with a group and we'll
> have private mini-bus. I'll arrive to Guatemala from Belize going to
> Tikal then I'd like to go to Livingston and move to Chichicastenago for
> the Sunday market. The problem is that I'll fly out from GUA on
> thursday, so I really have to be in Chichi Saturday night for the
> sunday market...
> I should visit Tikal on friday morning and them move and sleep in
> Livingston.
> Is it possible to have a short boat trip in Livinston on saturday
> morning and then move to Chichi or it's to rush and not enough time?
> How long does it take to go from Rio Dulce to Chichi with mini-bus?
>
> The other solution would be to skip Livingston (does Livingston worth
> the effort?) and go from Tikal to Chichi....
>
> Is the road from Tikal to Chichi dangerous for criminals that assoult
> buses?
>
> Any suggestion?
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> Ciao,
> Renton
>
From Rio Dulce to Chichi in a minibus is10 hours or so depending on the
traffic in and near Guatemala City. The most dangerous part of the trip is
when you get on the road to Chichi from Los Encuentros. There are a lot of
assaults there. Also be very careful in Chichi itself as there are lots of
robberies of tourists in the streets.
For an alternate, scenic route to avoid Guatemala City you could go north
toward Coban at El Rancho then west on 7W at Santa Cruz Verapaz to Sacapulas
then south to Chichi. Part of that route still isn't paved I don't think but
is in good condition. Dan

What you want to do is impossible. This is not like going from your room
to the bar, to the pool, to the dining room in a Cancun al-inclusive.
You are really traveling! What you could do is to go from Tikal to
Coban, through Sayaxche on the first day. Then take the north road
through Sacapulas to Chichi on the second day. If you arrive late
Saturday afternoon in Chichi you should have a reservation in one of the
few decent hotels in that town. Otherwise plan to sleep in Panajachel.
From Coban to Chichi it is a beautiful mountain road, part of it dirt.
You don't want to be in a hurry.
Get a guide book like Footprint or L.P. to see what you can see along
this route. It is very interesting and not too many people do it yet.

DanTop wrote:
> "Renton" <marcoinperu@m> wrote in message
> news:1148230190.286865.241210@38g2000cwa. ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm planning my Mex-Guatemala trip...I'll be with a group and we'll
>> have private mini-bus. I'll arrive to Guatemala from Belize going to
>> Tikal then I'd like to go to Livingston and move to Chichicastenago for
>> the Sunday market. The problem is that I'll fly out from GUA on
>> thursday, so I really have to be in Chichi Saturday night for the
>> sunday market...
>> I should visit Tikal on friday morning and them move and sleep in
>> Livingston.
>> Is it possible to have a short boat trip in Livinston on saturday
>> morning and then move to Chichi or it's to rush and not enough time?
>> How long does it take to go from Rio Dulce to Chichi with mini-bus?
>>
>> The other solution would be to skip Livingston (does Livingston worth
>> the effort?) and go from Tikal to Chichi....
>>
>> Is the road from Tikal to Chichi dangerous for criminals that assoult
>> buses?
>>
>> Any suggestion?
>>
>> Thanks a lot!
>>
>> Ciao,
>> Renton
>>
> From Rio Dulce to Chichi in a minibus is10 hours or so depending on the
> traffic in and near Guatemala City. The most dangerous part of the trip is
> when you get on the road to Chichi from Los Encuentros. There are a lot of
> assaults there. Also be very careful in Chichi itself as there are lots of
> robberies of tourists in the streets.
> For an alternate, scenic route to avoid Guatemala City you could go north
> toward Coban at El Rancho then west on 7W at Santa Cruz Verapaz to Sacapulas
> then south to Chichi. Part of that route still isn't paved I don't think but
> is in good condition. Dan
>
>

Thank you guys!

Going to Chichi via Coban could be a good alternative, maybe I could
stop along the route to visit Samuc Champey...

I was thinking it was not possible to go alo to Rio Dulce making the
tour to Livingston...and u are giveng me the confirm to my dubts...but
I also think that missing Rio Dulce/Livingston I'm not loosing a "must
see" of Guatemala...am I wrong?

Ciao,
Renton

"Renton" <marcoinperu@m> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:1148230190.286865.241210@38g2000cwa. ...
> Hi,
>
> I'm planning my Mex-Guatemala trip...I'll be with a group and we'll
> have private mini-bus. I'll arrive to Guatemala from Belize going to
> Tikal then I'd like to go to Livingston and move to Chichicastenago for
> the Sunday market. The problem is that I'll fly out from GUA on
> thursday, so I really have to be in Chichi Saturday night for the
> sunday market...
> I should visit Tikal on friday morning and them move and sleep in
> Livingston.
> Is it possible to have a short boat trip in Livinston on saturday
> morning and then move to Chichi or it's to rush and not enough time?
> How long does it take to go from Rio Dulce to Chichi with mini-bus?
>
> The other solution would be to skip Livingston (does Livingston worth
> the effort?) and go from Tikal to Chichi....
>
> Is the road from Tikal to Chichi dangerous for criminals that assoult
> buses?
>
> Any suggestion?
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> Ciao,
> Renton

I have been last december in Rio Dulce and Livingston..
I slept in Rio Dulce .. on an island with a few bungalows immersed in the
natural forest. ( Catamaran ???)
so.. you can organize a Lancia trip on Rio Dulce and castillo de san felipe.
just ask for it and in a few minutes you have it if you agree about the
price ( I think it was 50 dollars for the whole day... )
It will take you at least 4 to 6 hours. if you do not stop along yr route
and visit a few natural paradises.

LIVINGSTON is just a very small village that does not deserve a visit at
all.
do not lose yr time in LIVINGSTONE

from Rio Dulce you can take a fast Bus to Guatemala City and should take you
between 3 and 4 hours.
( Actually I went from Rio Dulce to Copan Ruinas Honduras.. but there was no
direct service so it took me a long time.
a direct service goes every second day if you need )
from Guatemala City to Chici it should take you about 3 to 4 hours by mini
bus.
Again. I went from Antigua. so it takes about 1 hour from Guatemala City to
Antigua.

as to small criminality. I did not have the impression of being in danger in
CHICI or in any other Guatemalan Place.
I visited the market thouroughly.. both the part for the tourists and the
part for the locals.
I was just careful. there was a huge crowd ( very few tourists though..
CHICHI is not what it was anymore.. )

there is a beautiful hotel in CHICHI with a wonderful garden and bar /
restaurant.

In Panajachel you will have no difficulty in finding accomodation
there are wonderful boat excursions on the lake of Atitla. the price is
about 5 dollars..

a very good room in Guatemala does not cost more than 50.00 dollars for two
persons..
but of course accomodations can be found for as little as 5.00 us dollars.

again. I found out that there were very few tourists in Panajachel and
Antigua and TIKAL/FLORES.

pls note that airlines flying to Tikal/Flores from Guatemala city offer very
cheap prices.
I saw a one way for 36.00 us dollars.. and many more for 55.00 us dollars.
just check if departures and landing times will suit you.

from Guatemala Airport it will be easy to find a minibus to Antigua/CHICHI:
a fast bus from Guatemala City to Tikal flores takes about 8 hours.
actually. it will take you to Flores.
Flores Tikal is about 1 hour. The airport lies in the middle.
>