Due South Travels

27/01/2025

Fields of lavender and volcano views await. Climbing the hills to the north of Antigua, you can visit for an escape to what feels like a whole other world! Come and try their lavender ice cream, pizza, pasta or sandwiches, or just have a cup of coffee while enjoying the cooler air and panoramic views.

18/11/2024

Antigua’s annual Flower Festival has come to an end. This year’s theme was “Alice in Wonderland”, and it was too difficult to capture photos with the crowds. Although it’s a beautiful weekend, it is always scheduled at the start of the busy season for tourism, so to make your visit less stressful, here are some suggestions:
1. Book hotels no less than three months in advance to have your choice of options.
2. Do not plan any travel between Friday at noon and Sunday at 10pm. You’ll potentially be stuck in gridlock for HOURS entering or exiting Antigua.
3. The city is packed with both domestic and foreign visitors in tight crowds. Always keep a hand on your personal belongings.
4. Best times to avoid the crowds would be between 5-7am. Yes, that early.
5. We had a bit of light rain this year but regardless, we always suggest comfortable and sturdy closed-toe shoes because the event is on the cobblestone streets that can become slippery and are uneven.

While we love the beautiful displays of flowers, the weekend can be overwhelming. If you don’t do well in crowds, we don’t recommend a visit.

23/10/2024

Did you know Antigua, Guatemala is on National Geographic’s list of top 25 places to visit in 2025?!

New

01/10/2024

We’re ready for the Giant Kite Festival! It’s a beautiful celebration for All Saints Day each year on November 1st. Our small group tour to Sumpango is already sold out but you can buy round trip transfer tickets on our website if you’d like to visit the festival from Antigua. It’s our personal favorite day of the year! Brimming with color, joy, music and festival food, the day is sure to be beautiful. Book online now to guarantee your seat.

16/09/2024

What is Due South up to this week?! We’re in Peru with an amazing group of ladies! It’s our first international group trip and we’re having a blast learning about the culture, food, and history of Peru. There are many similarities between Peru’s and Guatemala’s historical timelines but also so many unique differences in culture. We work in partnership with a local tour operator so if you couldn't make the trip but you're interested in visiting Peru, let us know and we'll connect you. ❤️ 🇵🇪

15/09/2024

Happy birthday Guatemala! Celebrating 203 years of independence today 🤍 🇬🇹

11/09/2024

What is the one thing we suggest you NEVER travel without???

TRAVEL INSURANCE!

Travel insurance may seem like an unnecessary added expense, but did you know that travel insurance doesn’t just cover unforeseen emergency medical expenses? Depending on your plan, it can cover reimbursement for delayed baggage (need to buy a toothbrush and change of clothes while awaiting your suitcase that never made it?), theft of personal items (pickpocketed in a crowd and your phone was stolen?), dental emergencies (tried a super sticky local sweet and broke a tooth?), flight delays (need to get a hotel for the night and the airline isn’t covering it?), or refunds for missed travel services (your flight was delayed and your first night hotel expense that you didn’t use is non-refundable?). Travel insurance is one of those things we hope we never need, but we’re glad to have it when we do need it!

Companies we recommend are World Nomads, IMG Global, and Allianz. Some credit card companies offer a built-in travel insurance for any part of your trip that was booked with that card, but it’s always wise to really know the terms and conditions. Have you ever lost money because you neglected to travel with comprehensive insurance?

05/09/2024

Lake Atitlán has been a popular tourist destination but in the past few years things have changed drastically, with new infrastructure put in place to serve a higher number of visitors. If you’d like to book some sustainable tours that introduce you to the culture and benefit the local communities, inquire with us!

https://www.npr.org/2023/07/27/1190427910/a-postcard-from-guatemalas-lake-atitlan

NPR's Lilly Quiroz brings us a postcard from Guatemala about Lake Atitlán, considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

04/09/2024

We had an amazing trip with the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business incoming MBA students! A group of highly intellectual, well traveled and inquisitive guests, they climbed Pacaya, visited Lake Atitlán and explored Antigua over the last six days. Thank you for choosing Guatemala and traveling with us 🩵🇬🇹

If you’re looking to host a group trip, contact us for the perfect itinerary!

25/08/2024

Rainy season is something we get asked about often, as travelers tend to be hesitant to plan their visit due to the potential for rainy weather.

From early May through the first week in November we can have rains but they’re often short and either overnight or during the later afternoon hours. If you’re planning to do any outdoor activities, we always recommend you schedule those for earlier in the day but regardless, we still have days without any rain at all!

We love the ways the hills turn green, and the air is less dusty, more humid and fresh during the rainy season and we still recommend that people come. However, pack a light poncho and shoes that dry quickly (or are waterproof) for the least discomfort.

Also, do you know that active volcanoes (like Fuego) can produce an electrical discharge (it’s related to the ash) that make “volcanic lightning” from the volcanic plume? Pretty cool 😎

(This picture is Agua Volcano and the lightning here is attracted to the metal cell phone towers erected on top, and is not volcanic lightning).

20/08/2024

A volcanic crater lake, surrounded by green slopes. This is Ipala Volcano located 4 hours from Antigua (without traffic). It’s one of only two volcanic crater lakes in Guatemala. The hike is 1.5 miles, and fairly easy, taking less than an hour with ample breaks. Did you know you can swim in the lake and even camp overnight at the top? Have you been here? It’s not easy to get to on public transportation and no tourist shuttles run nearby so a private vehicle is needed. We’ll be planning some weekend trips to harder-to-reach places so keep your eyes peeled here for details.

31/07/2024

Today we celebrate Adriana Ruano, the first Olympic athlete to bring a gold medal to Guatemala! She’s fought an uphill battle to achieve her goals, and in the process, she is an inspiration to girls and women in Guatemala (and everywhere)❤️ 🇬🇹

https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/adriana-ruano-wins-guatemalas-first-ever-gold-womens-trap?chrcontext=ktvz

¡PRIMER ORO OLÍMPICO PARA GUATEMALA! 🥇🌟 Con su excelente desempeño, la guatemalteca Adriana Ruano hizo historia y se colgó la medalla de oro en la final de foso en los Juegos Olímpicos de París. 😍🇬🇹 Estamos muy orgullosos y con el corazón lleno de emociones por ver a nuestra bandera en lo más alto. 💙

29/07/2024

Another great publication recognizing Antigua’s beauty! When will you come for a visit?

Pack your bags and prepare to be awestruck

10/07/2024

Due South was started by a solo female traveler (44 countries down!) and now we’re proud to share that Timeout Magazine has named Guatemala as one of the top friendliest destinations for solo female travel!

https://www.timeout.com/travel/solo-female-travel-best-destinations?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3j0Y4-nRy1OpScNLeFUQIyawTBiThJ-fIt3Hhy0PBALKwTgdKF-fzkCdw_aem_WPuk7RskOHfhw_qoEA_GhQ

Nine amazing countries to go it alone.

15/06/2024

What are the beaches like in Guatemala? Although Guatemala has a Pacific and a Caribbean coastline, Guatemala isn’t necessarily known as a beach destination. The Pacific coastline has two tourist hubs that are frequented by foreign visitors: Monterrico and El Paredon. El Paredon has hostels, boutique hotels and plenty of airbnbs, some sandy roads, and a few restaurants. It’s popular with backpackers and those looking to party although you certainly can find really beautiful, quiet places. Some say it’s growing too fast as it’s really only been increasing in popularity the last 7-8 years. Monterrico is a bit more developed in terms of having larger, older hotels and was once the only beach location that foreign tourists visited. (We’re purposely excluding Puerto San Jose area as there aren’t easy tourist connections there although it’s popular with locals). Shuttles to El Paredon and Monterrico run daily. In Monterrico you can find a variety of local restaurants and hotel options for a few miles down the coast. El Paredon is quite concentrated in an area just half a mile long.

The black sand beaches are dangerously hot underfoot during the hours of 10am to 4pm but the heavy surf makes for a lovely environment to take surfing lessons. We always suggest booking a stay with a pool as the heat can be excruciatingly humid, and there are no lifeguards for those who will brave the waves! This isn’t to say you should avoid the beach entirely. It’s absolutely beautiful and special. There are nearby mangroves where you can spot sea turtles, various bird species, and do kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding too!

The Caribbean coast has one white sand beach that is a day trip by boat from Livingston.

Have you visited Guatemala’s beaches? What did you think? Comment below 👇

06/06/2024

There’s more to Guatemala than just Antigua and Lake Atitlan or Tikal! Rio Dulce is a gem that’s worth a visit, but if you’re in a time constraint, planning is key. We can help you with an itinerary to maximize your time and plan the best getaway for a stay that’s as relaxing or adventurous as you’d like!

27/05/2024

Did you know that we offer relocation consultation services for those looking to make the move? Whether for retirement or coming for work, we can provide you the information you need to know to make a successful move to Guatemala!

Laura Barnett has always had a bit of wanderlust.