From Fear to Favourite: How Guatemala Won Me Over

Updated: 29 June 2025

Reading Time: 3 minutes

I usually approach my blog posts with more of a logistical side to help other travellers doing the same journey. But this time, I wanted to try something a little different. This isn’t an analytical breakdown of safety stats or travel advisories (though I always recommend checking them). Instead, this is the story of how Guatemala defied my expectations and how it redefined how I see both travel and the fears that come with it.

🚨 The Warnings vs. The Wanderlust

“Exercise a high degree of caution.”
“Avoid the Guatemala-Mexico border.”
“Armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, and murder are routine here.”

I scroll back and forth—government warnings on one side, TikTok reels on the other: lava-lit hikes, hidden turquoise waterfalls, streets alive with music, colour, and food. The disconnect is jarring.

Lying in my hostel bed, I weigh the risks. The country’s beauty is undeniable, but so are the dangers. Is it worth it?

I message my friends. They’re both so nonchalant about the matter.
“Don’t worry about it, man. It’ll be fun.”
I envy their optimism, but I can’t shake this sense of uncertainty. I decide to make my decision in the morning and let the screen dim as I fall asleep.

The next day, I’m at the hostel’s reception, and I’ve bought the bus ticket. Next stop: Guatemala. Surprising myself, I make the decision on a whim and hope for the best. I almost can’t explain what possessed me to suppress all reason and care when making this choice. Anyway, I pack my bags and get ready for the next day. The adventure of a lifetime awaits.

🌍 First Impressions of Guatemala

The following morning, I say goodbye to my friend. We’re energised with anticipation at the thought of seeing each other again across the border. After a long and stressful border crossing, I’m overwhelmed by the sights of Flores. A small, beautiful blend of colonial architecture and remnants of its Itzá Maya heritage. The town teems with colour and explodes with vibrant nightlife. I’m mesmerised.

🛤️ My Travel Route

At first, Guatemala’s warnings still loom large in my mind, until the country proves them wrong. The shift happens slowly, then all at once.

My itinerary is fairly simple:

• Start in Flores 🌅, explore solo for a couple of days
• Meet my friends and take a day trip to Tikal 🛕
• Travel down to Antigua via Semuc Champey 🌊

This whole plan is shaped by other travellers using their stories, their routes, and their advice. With the end goal of ending our Guatemala trip Hiking Guatemala’s Famous Volcano. The fear I carried dissolves with every shared smile, every “¡Buenos días!” from a passing stranger. Guatemala isn’t the danger zone I imagined. It’s vibrant, resilient, untouched, and breathtaking. The real risk? Missing it altogether.

🌋 A Place That Redefined Travel For Me

Guatemala forces me to confront my assumptions. The country doesn’t ask me to ignore risks, it simply shows me they’re not the whole truth. Its beauty isn’t just in the landscapes (though the volcanoes and emerald lakes certainly help) but in the smaller things. Like the laughter during daily basketball games in the town square, the quiet pride of Mayan weavers making incredibly intricate Huipiles, and the way every “¡Bienvenido!” makes me feel less like a tourist and more like a guest.

Now, when I think of Guatemala, I don’t think of warnings. I think of warmth and natural beauty. It’s the place that taught me fear is often just a story we let ourselves believe.

Although my trip was not perfect and carefree, I must admit that the country I was so afraid to visit became the one I never wanted to leave.

🚀 Leaving Your Comfort Zone

Guatemala didn’t just defy my expectations, instead it shattered them. While I’ll always advocate for checking resources like Smartraveller, I’ve learned that the most transformative journeys begin where your comfort zone ends.

Have you ever visited a place that changed your perspective on travel? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!