To start off, the design of the property is gorgeous. I sat and watch for most of the day from my hammock surfers being thrown around. There arent too many things to do here; however, the best thing to do is to chill at a hotel via a day pass unless you are already staying at that hotel. As a small, sleepy town, crime is really minimal. The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots. Here, guests can experience the magic of baby turtles hatching and running into the sea. Our last night was on a Friday and we met multiple people coming from Guatemala City for the weekend. The small surf town of El Paredon, Guatemala, is safe to visit! Make friends with the local dogs, roll out a towel, cover yourself in suncream and read your book! We mostly ate at our hostel (Cocori) and they had amazing food. I couldnt work out which ones were open and when, it was kind of pot luck turning up and seeing if they were open! Just be careful when swimming in the ocean. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The ride here from Antigua is around 2 hours and 3 hours from Guatemala city. Again, you can STAY at these hotels if you want, then you can get free access, but they are also kind of party places and most offer dorms as the budget accommodation. Watching the sun rise and the sun set is one of the best things to do in El Paredon for sure. 7 Travel Shoes for Women That Are Functional AF. The majority of people that come in here are coming for the surf. What a perfect way to end your trip here than to watch the amazing sunset this area has to offer. El Paredon is more for backpackers, and though it is a little bit smaller, more of the locals speak English. El Paredon is a surfing beach town located on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, in the department of Escuintla. He has been to over 30 countries in over 5 years of travel. Note that we define significant precipitation as .1 inches or more in this section. Driftwood Surfer Hostel raises money each year to buy eggs from the poachers and donates them to the conservatory. This is where we stayed and we loved it! For as long I can remember I have had an appreciation and fascination for other cultures. If there are particular food or snacks you wish to bring with you, make sure you purchase them before your stay in El Paredon. Its developing quite fast there and for good reason. Just 60 meters away from the beach, you can run to the waves straight from your villa's doorstep. And What Not To Pack? Amplios jardines, lagunas, columpios, paseos a caballo, tours planificados, piscinas, nacimientos de agua y mucho ms. Central America ; Guatemala ; Escuintla Department ; El Paredon ; El Paredon B&Bs / Inns ; Paredon Surf House; Search. 76 68. One of the many things La Choza Chula offers is a Guatemalan cooking class. The hostel is a huge part of the community in El Paredon, so if you need information about surfing, turtle release, or really about anything in El Paredon, the staff at Driftwood Surfer can help you. Be sure to wear shoes as the sand gets extremely hot! Id love you to share it for me. Some tours even include classes for you to learn how the locals fish, and youll get the chance to try a new experience on a tranquil part of the mangrove. There is no ATM! You might also like: Acatenango Volcano Hike - The ultimate 2 day adventure in Guatemala El Paredon, Guatemala, is a small and sleepy surf town. If youre looking for an up-and-coming destination thats good for surfing and having a good time, El Paredon is definitely perfect for you! El Paredon, Guatemala, is a small and sleepy surf town. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise as whilst wandering down the beach I stumbled upon Casa Macano Surf-Yoga. Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes, three of which are constantly active. You can enjoy the sunset AND the sunrise from the same spot on El Paredon beach. You can chill at their pool (excellent since the beach sand has rough water and burning sand) and use their facilities. Solola, Guatemala. The complete tour will take approximately 2 hours if you stop several times to see the various species. So when looking for travel insurance its important to check it covers travel disruption due to COVID-19, World Nomads, Safety Wing, or Travel Insurance Master all provide cover for this. Someone different is putting on an event each night and thats where you will see everyone. Driftwood is the popular hostel I mentioned at the beginning of this El Paredon travel guide. It will cost between $50 and $60 USD, You will not have to get on a boat when coming from Antigua. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I got the best of both worlds, access to the cool hotel WITHOUT the lack of sleep at night (granny needs her shut-eye, kids!). It features an on-site restaurant serving some of the best food in El Paredon. Best Times to Travel Guatemala El Paredon, Guatemala, Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Fro. El Paredon, Guatemala has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Unlike many other surf towns in Central America, El Paredon is a very quiet one. If you want to stay a little longer I would recommend speaking to, If you are a bit of an adventure junky then you could also book a Summit to Surf tour through OX Expeditions. 2023 Wander Her Way. I'm Phillip, an adventure enthusiast from the U.S. traveling the world full time. In this post, I am going to go through how to get from Antigua to the beach El Paredon, where to stay in El Paredon, what to eat and a few not-to-miss things to do. The way we experience weather isnt all about temperature. Being such a small surf town, you really do feel removed from the chaos of the city and of the world. Did you find this post helpful? Whether youre an avid surfer, yogi, beach volleyballer or beach bum, I think we can all agree that getting to enjoy the sunrise and sunset light in one day is nothing short of a dream. I was here for three days and it was MORE than enough time. Remember, they have a bit more of a party vibe going on, though, so as long as you know that and thats what you want, youll be right there in the action. The Essential Beach Packing List (+ Fun Items and Tips! I would suggest a minimum of 2 nights so you can take the time to relax as well as get a surf lesson and go turtle watching! Support local businesses. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. El Paredon off the beaten path. About 10 days before I visited El Paredon, there seemed to be reasonable availability on Airbnb / Booking.com but 6 days before? Below I will explain multiple options when coming from Lake Atitlan and Antigua. Set back just 5 minutes walk from the beachfront, Mellow Hostel also has a wonderful reputation as being somewhere social to stay but without the intense party vibes. If you take a tour or do an activity through La Choza Chula, your money will go back into the local community. They do have a huge sea turtle conservation project that is a must to check out if you come during the sea turtle hatching season. They offer the following tours: I took the turtle tour and although the turtles were pretty quiet its was a great tour and so interesting to find out more about the organization. In fact, you might as well watch it every night! Booking a tour is easy, and youll get a tour guide that will paddle you through the stunning mangrove estuaries of the National Park. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. You can choose to keep the fish to cook or donate some of the fish to the local families. Please see myDisclosurefor more details. Im sure it is finished now and much better equipped. Some of the other activities you can book through them include: As you will come soon find out, partying is very popular in this area of Guatemala. This small, laidback fishing village is located on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, about two hours from Antigua and three and a half hours from the capital. Youll learn how to prepare Guatemalan tortillas, empanadas, ticucas, and much more! Make sure you plan your meals accordingly because the majority of places only offer meals during select times. This is due to volcanic activity. El Paredon is famous for its black sand beaches. Most accommodations will offer surf hire and surf lessons to guest and if they dont have the instructors / equipment themselves, they will be able to make arrangements for you. Like the one below. When you arrive here it feels so remote but that is why I fell in love with this place. Canadian Rockies Road TripAn Epic 1-Week Itinerary, 15 of The BEST Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala, Hi, friend! The beaches in El Paredon and Monterrico are very much alike. Depending how many people you have, this isnt too much more expensive than the shuttle and is more convenient. Super cool chill spot with access to hammocks, pool, and hang-out area at the top of their main bungalow. Best Hostel In El Paredon Driftwood Surfer Hostel. The sand is HOT. World Traveler, Travel Blogger, Photographer. Of course, Guatemala has some of the most beautiful destinations in Central America, but none of them feel quite like El Paredon. If you decide to take a Chicken Bus from Antigua to El Paredon it will take you a whopping 6 hours! This tour takes you on a boat with a local guide. Since then, I have trekked through the Andes, tested my lungs at over 5,000 meters above sea level, encountered the worlds deadliest spider in the Amazon Rainforest, explored the worlds most catastrophic nuclear disaster. El Paredon Sur Camp is the first original place at El Paredon Beach, it is a great place for anyone from experienced surfers, beginners or travelers with a taste for a rustic, relaxing, hostel-style place to stay on the beach. There arent as many accommodations to choose from in El Paredon as there are other popular tourist attractions in Guatemala. I stayed here for 4 nights back in March and it was a nice way to end our time in Guatemala. El Paredon beach it's a black sand beach that you will pretty much have to yourself! There are no lifeguards on the beach, and swimming is pretty dangerous. During the day, its best to observe from the safety of a hammock or a pool deck. based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details. Happy days! Another option is taking an Uber from Antigua, which is what I did and it was about $55. However, the water here is a bit intimidating, so you might want to go out with somebody who can help you have more fun and be super safe. Located in El Paredn Buena Vista, a 3-minute walk from El Paredon Beach, Casa Zala has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and a shared lounge. El Paredon is the most gorgeous little surf townon the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The WiFi at Mellow Hostel works very well, but I heard it can be not so great at other places. If dry weather is what youre after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in El Paredon are January, December, and then March. You're probably more likely to have your food taken from a hostel kitchen or your drink swiped at a weekend party. It can be a bit pricier than other parts of Guatemala but that is due in part to the location. RELATED: 15 of The BEST Things To Do in Antigua, Guatemala. Hey, I am Sean Lau! When I visited I was super lucky to stumble upon the place as it wasnt online at all back then. Youll then stop off at a local salt farm where you can see the process of the natural salt extraction here in Guatemala. La Choza Chula has even more activities that are worth checking out, so make sure to head their way during your stay in El Paredon, Guatemala. However, even though it is extremely well-known, this beach town maintains its laid-back, almost remote feeling. Fro. Not a single cloud in the sky so it was a perfect time to go for a swim. Categories Central America, Destinations, Guatemala, Why You NEED To Do A Tikal Tour In Guatemala. Wind in El Paredon is usually extremely calm. This museum, about 2.75km on foot or 5km by vehicle from El Bal hilltop site, comprises a very fine open-air assemblage of Pipil stone sculpture. The tranquil town of El Paredon is the perfect place for surfers and lovers of the ocean. If youre not an early riser the sunset is for you! The best way to enjoy the lively atmosphere is to book a room with Driftwood Surfer and stay with them. They will at the least have drinks going all day and often have DJs mid-day and well into the night, live music, and other events. The most popular places to stay in El Paredon are: Surf House (Bit more upmarket but on the expensive side and always full), Surf Camp (cheaper, not so nice and always full), Casa Macano Surf-Yoga(If you want to have more of a retreat-style stay I stayed here so see below for full review), Soul Food Kitchen and Guesthouse (best Thai food in Guatemala! It is the lowest . Youll also get to admire some of the most gorgeous beachfront properties along the coastline here! El Paredon may not be at the top of everyones bucket lists for Guatemala but its certainly one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala and, if you have time, I highly recommend checking it out.