Where Next?

[offroader]

Another option could be GUA, from GUA you can take a shuttle van to Antigua ($10 each) and just relax for a couple of days. Not a very big town but its nice and relaxing and I felt safe, lots of expats.
Guatemala is not a very safe country for hiking and its advisable to have a guide. There are tours that will take groups to the volcanoes in the area.
GUA is an overnight flight from LAX, or at least it was, I have not rechecked. Arriving in GUA in the AM.
When I went I was picked up by a coworkers family for a ride to Antigua but took the shuttle back to Guatemala City so not sure how to catch the shuttle at the airport. There is always taxi's, its about a 45 minute drive, not sure the cost.
When I went, I took another shuttle ($10) from Antigua to San Pedro La Laguna and spent a few days there. It seems a lot of things are $10, the shuttles, the private room/private bath hostels and a lot of the meals (to me seemed overpriced compared to prices of shuttles/rooms).

Anyways, just another option.

[mrs767er]

Another option could be GUA, from GUA you can take a shuttle van to Antigua ($10 each) and just relax for a couple of days. Not a very big town but its nice and relaxing and I felt safe, lots of expats.
Guatemala is not a very safe country for hiking and its advisable to have a guide. There are tours that will take groups to the volcanoes in the area.
GUA is an overnight flight from LAX, or at least it was, I have not rechecked. Arriving in GUA in the AM.
When I went I was picked up by a coworkers family for a ride to Antigua but took the shuttle back to Guatemala City so not sure how to catch the shuttle at the airport. There is always taxi's, its about a 45 minute drive, not sure the cost.
When I went, I took another shuttle ($10) from Antigua to San Pedro La Laguna and spent a few days there. It seems a lot of things are $10, the shuttles, the private room/private bath hostels and a lot of the meals (to me seemed overpriced compared to prices of shuttles/rooms).

Anyways, just another option.

It's an option, offroader. Elder sis and I did it driving our own car! (What were we thinking???) Bad roads and no markers make it extremely difficult, plus dodging chicken buses is NO FUN. They don't even have GPS or maps, so shuttle is the way. We stayed in Antigua but wished we'd gone to coffee plantation. It was last minute substitute for Peru (no seats for LIM). We also went to Pana and got a lake house (really funky, weird mystery vortex kind of place) in town nr La Laguna. There's a French restaurant there--Guy is owner and he does the paragliding over the lake. Even had a spa w/volcanic hot springs on the other posada grounds. Damned hot water, too. We looked like a couple of scrawny lobsters /legs. Felt boiled, too!
All in all, it was fun despite the fact we had no idea where we were really going...GUA might be an issue for SFO (buddy) since she can't zed. I'm the only one who can. She can always meet us in ATL and we can figure it out from there.