Skip to main content

A Car Free Sunday in Guatemala City

Dancers
Dancers with Band

Today was Sunday, and I felt like wandering around Guatemala City. I joined a couple from Portland, Oregon for a walk down the main street in Zona 10 of the city.

The avenue was closed off to traffic for an event called Paso y Pedales (Steps & Pedals). Citizens could bike, walk, and skate down the road to enjoy the day. It’s part of a larger worldwide movement called Car Free Days.

In one park along the route, we found a band and some dancers taking part in some sort of fund-drive put together by the mayor’s wife. There were people selling art, photos, and sweets while clowns and a Santa Clause performed for kids.

Guard with Shotgun
Friends with Guns

Further down the street, I found this guy. One of the many private security men that guard the shopping plazas, gas stations, and banks in the city was standing in front of a sign that read Friends.

It was too funny to pass up, so I politely asked him for a photo. He looked confused for a second, then agreed after thinking about it for a bit.

Goat Rides
Rent Your Own Goat

There were many different parks next to the street, and some of them had horse, donkey, or goat rides for kids. This family was treating their children to a goat ride. I wanted to ride a goat but they wouldn’t let me. :(

Decorations for Christmas were getting set up all over town as well. Things like lights, banners, and a giant 80 ft. tall wire constructed Christmas tree.

The day was very relaxed and families were out in abundance with their children and dogs. I felt completely safe the whole time, and so did everyone else walking around that day.

Travel Planning Resources for Guatemala City

Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.

Book Your Flight

Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.

Rent A Car

Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.

READ MORE GUATEMALA TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you enjoyed my story about Guatemala City! Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:

  • My Budget Travel Guide To Guatemala
  • Meet The Garifuna Of Livingston
  • Visiting Guatemala City
  • Starting My Travel Adventure?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Amazing Punta Banda Peninsula in Ensenada

If you visit the port city of Ensenada, chances are you are going to be offered a tour to La Bufadora, a famous blowhole located on the Punta Banda Peninsula. For many, La Bufadora has become one of Ensenada’s top attractions.  As a consequence, it is a bit difficult to take off the entire area out of the “tourist trap” list. However, I believe Punta Banda is worth well a visit due to its natural, rugged beauty.  You can find cliff vistas, sea stacks, and small coves.  On a sunny day, the place is just gorgeous. On this article, I want to cover the area from the touristic and non-touristic perspectives.  I’ll let you choose how you want to visit. About Punta Banda Ensenada is located in the Todos Santos (All Saints) Bay.  The southern portion of the bay is delineated by the Punta Banda Peninsula, a finger-like strip of land. Almost at the tip of the peninsula (at the end of the paved road), you are going to find La Bufadora, a feature described as a marine geyser or tidewater bl...

30 Things to do in Nuremberg, Germany: The Ultimate List!

Looking for things to do in Nuremberg, Germany? This list has you covered with everything from the touristy musts to quirkier offbeat finds. Enjoy! I’ll be real: Nuremberg is a place that’s   easy to fall for. This world-famous city, located in the north of Bavaria, is every bit the fairytale dream so often linked to  Deutschland : candy cane half-timbered facades, an epic castle on a hill, dangerously munchable gingerbread, and a glittering Christmas market to boot. But as with most amazing cities, the true magic of Nuremberg comes from its dynamic layers. Lurking beneath those photogenic facades is a dark past intertwined with war, genocide, and centuries of tumultuous history. It is precisely this duality that makes Nuremberg one of the most fascinating cities to visit in Germany, and one that you can keep visiting again and again. So, what is there to do in Nuremberg? It turns out, plenty of things. Below you’ll find a roundup of my favourite things to do in ...

How to do the Kjerag hike, Norway

Planning to do the Kjerag hike and take one of the most incredible pics of your life? You’re on the right page.  Kjerag (the mountain) and Kjeragbolten (the boulder) has became very popular over recent years, especially because of social media, and nowadays thousands of Instagrammers from all over the world come to do the Kjerag hike and get the daredevil no-photoshopped picture. On the top of Kjeragbolten, Norway. After spending one and half day in Olso in the beginning of August of 2015, I took a flight to Stavanger. There are plenty of flights from Oslo to Stavanger, and prices can be as low as 25.00 euros. As I was by myself and not planing to rent a car, I opted for this city as a start point to my hikes in Norway because during the high season there is a bus from Stavanger to Kjerag (Øygardstøl). After a 50min flight, a bus from the airport to Stavanger’s terminal, and a 15min walk I arrived at the hotel. I just checked-in, drooped off my stuff and went to explore ...