I spent about a week and a half in Guatemala last summer-- it was beautiful!

What part of the country are you going to be in?

I was in the north, in El Peten (Ciudad Flores). Tikal (ruins) are right near there, as well as some more remote monuments. Tikal is a day, maybe day and a half (if you stay out at the hotels in the park)... if you hike to the more remote monuments it's more like four days. There's a pretty well-beaten backpacker's route around there, even in the north (the really popular area is Antigua).

I spent most of my time working with an environmental organization that specialized in week-long placements in the jungle (if you have enough time, also very cool).

If you go to Flores, be sure to eat at "Cool Beans: el Cafe Chillero"... their coffee is awesome, and try their brownie sundaes!!

i'm so jealous!! the entire time i was there i wished i had my mtb-- have tons of fun!!