The Best Things to Do in El Paredon | Guatemala’s Beach Town

Want to know the best things to do in El Paredón? Our traveller guide’s got you covered.

Backpackers in Central America rarely got excited about beaches in Guatemala.

Though the country has two coasts, the standard route of most travellers meant it may as well have been landlocked. With the stunning beaches of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Belize in easy reach, plus a few Caribbean island specks a little further afield, there really was no point factoring in time on Guatemala’s shores.

Then something changed.

On our third trip to the country, a decade after our first, it seemed like everyone was heading straight to the sea before or after their night atop Volcán Acatenango. Flyers in Antigua hostels and stickers on Semuc Champey shuttles all pointed to a place called ‘El Paredón’, and the word-of-mouth favourite in bars wasn’t for a trail or market, but a black sand beach that kills.

This was once a place only for locals, the waves, and the surfers who travel in search of them.

One we hung out with on a rooftop in Antigua – a Canadian surfer-hippy in his 50s that bought a property here way back when, and looked and sounded exactly like you’d expect a Canadian surfer-hippy in his 50s that would buy a property here to look and sound like – bemoaned how quickly El Paredón was moving away from that simpler version.

Everyone was investing in the town for greed rather than love, it was becoming way too popular amongst wealthy weekenders and flash packers, and the fate of becoming Guatemala’s answer to Tulum or San Juan del Sur was as unsustainable as it was undesirable.

There was too much concrete, not enough palapa.

Such a view is so common amongst ex-pats or ‘those who arrived before you’ – all incomers themselves of course – that it’s almost a cliché. However, it does ring true for a bunch of places in Mexico and Central America; places that once really were just for locals and intrepid surfers – a different tribe to most travellers – are now major tourism destinations.

Few are transforming as as quickly or as much as El Paredón though. Our drinking buddy wasn’t the only one to think that way, and we heard so many comments from those who lived there or been before about the dramatic pace of change.

After just four days, even we could see it with our very own eyes.

In this post, we want to help you plan for your own visit to El Paredón.

Whether you’re coming to surf, party, sunbathe, or just have a sea-level break from high-altitude hiking, you’ll find most of what you need to shape your trip to what is undeniably the best beach break in Guatemala.

We’ll share our personal advice on the best things to do, where to stay, our favourite places to eat + drink, plus advice on transport connections in and out of the town.

There’s also essential advice on the riptide, which you need to take seriously.

This is our traveller’s guide to El Paredón, Guatemala.

The Best Things To Do in El Paredon

Beach Days on Playa El Paredón

Impossibly long, this stretch is likely to change your perspective on black sand beaches.

More a shade of slate, the soft sand gets between your toes and is a pleasure to lay, walk, play, and hang out on. It’s a short walk down a dusty road from wherever you’re based, and most of the action is concentrated in the area in front of Driftwood Hostel and Cocori Lodge.

Despite the level of construction and development elsewhere in town, and increasing numbers, the beach has retained a rugged, natural, and wild vibe. You can spread out as far as you’re happy to walk in either direction if you want to find seclusion or quiet.

The beach is most beautiful in the early morning, with surfers and runners cast in a soft light of lilac and gold. Due to the intense heat, a lot of people settle into the rhythm of hanging out there in the morning, returning in the late afternoon until sundown, so it’s best not to be totally British about it and focus on peak heat hours.

There are no beach clubs or facilities really, so you should bring your towel and everything else you need down with you.

Generally, we found that Playa El Paredón always had a really nice, relaxed atmosphere and an excellent array of cute, cheeky dogs (not strays), surfers to watch, families, travellers, locals on holiday, and everyone getting along. Rather surprisingly, there was a patrol of about 10 young, armed marines one evening, so don’t get too concerned if you see that (supposedly their presence is to counter increased drug smuggling along this coast).

The El Paredón Rip Tide Warning

Swimming in El Paredon is not good for two reasons.

1. There are angry, crashing waves that throw someone this way and that in the shallow.

2. There’s a lethal riptide.

Whilst the ferocity of the waves are enough to pose danger to a novice or weak swimmer, it’s the riptide that kills.

Anecdotally, we learned that four or so people a month drown, and that number will only grow as more local vacationers and altitude-drunk beginner surfers venture here. Tragically, in the week before we arrived, a young man’s body went missing and washed up several miles along the coast a few days later.

There are some signs up warning about the dangers of the riptide, but not nearly enough and general awareness is quite low.

There’s a place we adore in Mexico called Zipolite – the country’s only nudist beach and site of our engagement (no cock ring jokes at the back please) – and it’s got a similarly lethal riptide. As it’s much further ahead in its tourism journey, it’s quite well set-up with red flags and life guards on quad bikes. We didn’t see any permanent lifeguards during our time in El Paredón, but there were a bunch going through training on the beach – mainly to cope with the Semana Santa influx – so hopefully there will be improvement there.

So, please be really cautious. If you are ever caught in the riptide, the main thing to know is to stay calm and fight against it as you’ll quickly become exhausted. Instead, try to attract help and swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current – this RNLI article has more advice and a short video explainer.

And don’t even think about night time drunk swimming or skinny dipping – the risk isn’t worth it!

Savour The Sunset Vibe

It’s pretty special to find a beach where both sunrise and sunset can be enjoyed equally.

Thanks to its east-west orientation, Playa El Paredón is the only place to be as the day is drawing to a close and the clawing, stifling afternoon heat is finally lowering to something more pleasant. Locals and surfers all flock to the beach in the lead up to sunset, and it’s just a perfect vibe.

The best option is to bring a few beers with you and find a good spot to watch the waves crash as everything is bathed in hazy orange. There weren’t any decent bars or rooftops on the beach for sunset, but a couple of followers on our Instagram recommended walking down to Boca Barra by the river (Google Maps), where you’ll find a hotel/bar of the same name.

Travel Tip // Most of the nightlife in El Paredón takes place in the dusty backstreets rather than on the beach. This may change as more businesses open up, but it’s partly due to the riptide and the presence of sandflies. It’s a good idea to put bug spray on, and we have used DEET-free, all natural Incognito for the last seven years.

Go Surfing In El Paredon

As it’s the swells which brought everyone here in the first place, it shouldn’t comes as a surprise that there are some seriously good local and international surfers based in El Paredón (The Guardian even listed it as one of the top 10 surf spots in the world!).

The town has built itself and its reputation around the waves. We won’t pretend to know what we’re talking about in terms of breaks, but the most popular spot to enter the water for all levels was in and around the same area in front of Driftwood and Cocori.

However, for total newbies or those who have only had a lesson or two in the past, the most important thing to note is to arrive here with a clear understanding that El Paredón isn’t the easiest or most idyllic place to learn. The messy waves, the riptide, and the cooler water temperatures make it far less appealing than places you’ll find in Nicaragua (e.g. Playa Maderas) or Costa Rica (e.g. Nauyaca).

The swim out can also be bloody exhausting.

If you go out with a good instructor, you’ll be fine. The real danger comes from newbies heading out afterward with rented boards without knowing anything about how to deal with riptides or these types of surf conditions – the Dunnig-Kreuger effect in action.

It’s also a surefire way to piss off the proper surfers.

Surf Lodges / There are now an abundance of surf lodges catering to all types of surfer, from those looking for a couple of nights of accommodation with easy access to the waves and a decent board, to complete beginners wanting a week long immersion.

You can find the full lowdown on our top accommodation picks, including the various surf camps and houses, in the ‘Where to Stay’ section towards the end of this article, but a few to consider include:

Zoah Surf | Paredon Surf House | Hidden Wave | Swell | Green Belly

Board Rental & Lessons / If you don’t fancy a surf lodge but still want to hit the waves, the good news is that you won’t struggle to find board rental or lessons in El Paredon. Prices will always be open to negotiation depending upon duration of rental or number of lessons, but the following are some prices we’ve collected:

Driftwood | Rentals 150Q per day or 360Q for 3 days (200Q / 500Q non-guests) / Lessons 150Q

Mellow | Board rental price varies by duration / Lessons from 170Q

Green Belly | 1 hour rental 50Q, 2 hours 75 Q, 24 hours 150Q / 1.5 hour lesson 150Q

Zoah Surf | Lessons from 175Q

Paredon Surf House | Rental Q150 per day or 750Q per week / Lessons 180Q

Swell | Board rental Q150 per day / Lessons Q200

The Social Scene

El Paredón has a growing party town reputation, but we found it to be a little different to what we had perhaps expected.

The curmudgeonly millennial in us would say that this is because Gen Z don’t know how to drink any more, but that’s probably wide of the mark – and we’re probably too old now to be invited to whatever’s going on anyway!

The more realistic (and useful) answer is that what’s going on and how good it is will greatly depend on the time of year, the crowd, and the vibe that day. During the weekends and holidays, lots of wealthy local families and groups of friends also flock to the town, and things ramp up accordingly.

Driftwood | One of the town’s longest-serving hostels, old school hostel Driftwood is also the go-to place for family-style dinners and the entertainment that follows on their top-floor bar. Expect pub quizzes, drinking games and beer pong*.

Mellow Hostel | Another popular accommodation spot, but this is a lot more bouji – with a bar to match. It was pretty sedate the couple of times we popped by but apparently the Friday night DJ events can be quite the party!*

Zicatela (maps) | Whilst we’re very happy to sup on a cold bottle of beer (especially during crazy high temps), we always want to find a decent cocktail recommendation. And we’re pleased to say that Zicatela offered the very best margarita we had in El Paredon – and one of the best we had in Guatemala. They also sometimes do all-you-can-drink events for around 100Q. We only drank there, but it’s got a chilled, stylish design and a popular restaurant too.

Cocori Lodge | Another popular hostel, with sea-facing bar & restaurant that’s open to non-guests. There was a big party going on when we visited (100Q entry, included one beer – horribly overpriced) but it felt terribly scene-y and not really our bag. Its bar set-up however does make it a popular place to stay.

Malibu Paredon | This little cocktail spot was just opening up during our visit to El Paredon and looked like it would be a great addition to the bar scene.

A little further down from Malibu, towards the supermarket, you’ll also find a little food/drink truck with a couple of plastic tables on the right hand side. It’s not on Google Maps, but they do a mean michelada that ticked all Emily’s boxes (Andrew’s tequila-based cocktail was somewhat lacking however).

Things are meant to close up in El Paredon at midnight, but Mi Casa en La Playa is the designated ‘afterparty’ late night spot. You’ll hear it before you see it, and whilst we met plenty of people that opted to follow the bass, we were told quite bad things by a few others (recent Google Reviews confirm this) and absolutely do not recommend staying there.

The best vibe though? The local guys hanging outside the Super 24 with the Norteña up loud and several bottles of Gallo down.

Top Tip // Keep an eye out for flyers and posters all over town with upcoming parties and special club nights.

*The popularity of these two hostels is one element that we think affects the nightlife vibe in El Paredon. They both offer affordable nightly group dinners that guests and non-guests can join, and understandably pull in loads of people. However, if all the travellers are concentrated in just one or two places, then the rest of the town can feel very empty – and we say that having visited during a very busy period. If you don’t plan on joining the group dinners, then the atmosphere at each bar also shifts and you’re best moving on.

Coffeeshops & Brunch Hangouts

Our favourite coffeeshop in El Paredon was Océan El Paredón & Surfista Café (maps)

Nice owner, cool space, excellent coffee, healthy foods, and a great place to hang out for an hour or two. They also stock a selection of independent clothing brands and other items in the shop – note that they close around 3pm.

Papi’s Place, opposite the supermarket, is a small but pleasant indoors cafe that’s worth venturing to just for the air con on those really hot El Paredon days – trust us, you’ll find out what we mean.

They also do food – find it them here on Google Maps.

The little street shack of El Paredon Coffee (maps) is brilliant, but more of a place to stop by on your way to/from the beach. Next door you’ll find Cafecito Del Mar (maps), a really popular spot for breakfast and brunch, but it was always packed when we passed by, so we weren’t able to sample it ourselves. Same goes for the much-recommend Zoha Cafe, which is quite tucked away and didn’t have any tables left on the morning we went there for breakfast – find it here on Google Maps.

La Patisserie is the new kid on the block, and as the name would suggest, serves up excellent pastries and decent coffees in a cool (figuratively and literally) space.

Got a new or personal favourite coffeeshop in town? Let us know in the comments!

Top Tip // If you need to stretch those weary limbs after heading up Acatenango, you may wish to join a yoga class whilst you’re in El Paredon. Full Moon Garden host daily yoga sessions, and we recommend you check out their instagram for further details.

Eat Fish Tacos & Pupusas

As mentioned, there is an issue with Mellow and Driftwood hostels hoarding people with their nightly group dinners. The menu changes nightly, it offers a great chance to meet others, and they’re temptingly affordable for every traveller budget.

We don’t have any issue with the businesses doing whatever works for them – and there was probably once a real need for it when there were fewer alternatives around in town – but we do recommend that backpackers don’t spend every night at them.

Instead, go out, speak Spanish, and spread your spend beyond the hostels and the 7-11 to ensure that more of the towns benefits from the dramatically increased tourism of the last five years.

So many new places are being added too, and in the space of just four pre-Semana Santa days, we saw FIVE new businesses spring up on the beach front and sides of the asphalt road that cuts through the dusty grids! Their handpainted signs and menus on white walls dried quicker than you could get bored watching it, with a cocktail spot, a couple of restaurants and another ice-cream shop amongst the new arrivals.

We haven’t seen anything like it anywhere else – and that’s without mentioning the half-constructed guesthouses and the dozen or so fenced-off fields and plots with signs saying ‘se vende’ and ‘investment opportunity’.

And so, for once, it really wasn’t hyperbole or cliché when everyone we spoke to who had been to El Paredon before said how much, and how quickly, it had changed and was changing.

Unfortunately, our guide won’t be able to keep up with that pace, but the eating out recommendations we’ve got are mainstays that (likely) won’t be going anywhere soon:

La Guagua Food Truck | The converted school bus and disco lights gave no indication that this would be the home of the best fish tacos we have ever tasted (and that covers a lot of ground). We were the only people there late on a Friday night, ordered a plate to share, then immediately ordered another round after the first bite.

The friendly guy with the face tattoos also made Andrew’s trip by being the first person to ever refer to him as ‘cabron’ in the cool way. Opening hours are unpredictable though, so let us know in the comments if you discern a pattern. The ceviche was also the tits.

Pupusas El Antojo | If you’ve already been to El Salvador, you’ll know how fucking fantastic pupusas are (and we’ve never found a good one back in Europe). This lady’s restaurant is in the courtyard by the El Paredon’s other supermarket, about a minute’s walk from the Super 24. Her meat ones are most popular, but the veggie-friendly frijoles y queso (cheese and beans) are worth the wait. If she’s not got any beers, you can buy and bring over from the shop, but do be aware that she often sells out in the evening.

Marea | Another relatively new addition to the town, we adored the fresh ceviche here for lunch.

Heading along the asphalt road into the commercial centre of El Paredon (here on Google Maps), and you’ll find more of local comedors and fast food joints. Comedor Nataly looked like a good place for homemade food, but she only had chicken options the day we passed. Instead we opted for awesome grilled fish (plus a very warm welcome and fun chats) at a little place nearby. They’re not on Google Maps, but you can find there small roadside spot opposite Taquero Mucho.

Rinconcito Donde Dina(maps) | A great little local spot for desayuno tipico or a delicious almuerzo of fish or garlic prawns. Just note that the food may take a while if it’s busy and it’s cash only.

For something a little different in the evening, consider the Asian-inspired menu at Soul Food Kitchen (maps). The space is lovely and, whilst our food was a little hit and miss, we had not long finished a month in Thailand, so it would be unfair to compare directly.

Pakololo (maps) | This ice cream spot was just opening when we visited so we didn’t get a chance to try it out, but by all accounts it’s worth a go if you’re fancying something sweet.

Note that the popular Chef in Flipflops – specialising in pop-up foodie dinners four nights a week – doesn’t appear to be operating any more. However, it may be seasonal, and the best place to check is his Instagram account.

As so many new places are opening up in town, do let us know your favourites in the comments!

Release Baby Turtles & Tour The Mangroves

The Turtles

The Pacific Coast offers the best chance to see and release baby sea turtles in Guatemala, and great work is being done in El Paredón.

Unlike in Mexico and most Central American countries, turtle egg poaching is still legal here, though conservation efforts have started to turn the tide. Several projects in El Paredón work to protect eggs by relocating them or purchasing them from poachers to ensure safe hatching.

The nesting season is June to November, with the hatchlings starting to emerge from September to early December.

We weren’t able to experience the releases ourselves, as we were in El Paredon out of season. However, the team at Driftwood has done a fantastic job in leading conservation and fundraising efforts in the area, successfully saving tens of thousands of eggs annually. Baby turtle release experiences can sometimes be something to avoid, especially when done as a commercial exercise with lots of tourists allowing (and encouraging) handling for photos.Thankfully, all our research and conversations tell us that the sunrise baby turtle releases run by Driftwood are done ethically and responsibly i.e. no touching or crowding around the babies. 

You can join them for free from September to December, but donations encouraged – visit their Facebook page for the schedule or stop by the hostel.

You can also volunteer to help with the releases through Workaway.

The Mangroves

Sipacate-Naranjo National Park is right next to El Paredon, and it’s home to red, black, and white mangroves which comprise 10% of all the mangroves in Guatemala. 

Mangroves play a crucial role in coastal protection, acting as natural buffers against storms and erosion. As well as being ecologically vital, the park is home to an abundance of birdlife, and turtles can often be spotted in the waters too, tempted in by the seagrass.

The best way to explore them is by kayak or wooden boat.

El Paredon Tours grew out of the embers of the non-profit La Choza Chula organization. It’s local-led, and a portion of each tour is donated to the local secondary school, ensuring the community of El Paredon directly benefits from growing tourism. They offer a mangrove tour, plus a local cooking class and other experiences—they are best contacted via their Instagram @elparedontours.

There’s also another tour company that offers a variety of mangrove kayaking and boat tours—visit their website here.

Where To Stay in El Paredon

From budget-friendly hostels to boutique beach escapes, El Paredón has something for every traveler. Whether you’re here to surf, party, or simply soak up the laid-back vibes, these options cover all the bases.

Important things to be aware of before picking your El Paredon accommodation are:

· It gets horribly, horribly hot here and many of the newer places popping up are now built with unnatural, unbreathable materials becoming literal hotboxes for much of the year (don’t be fooled by palm palapa roofs – this is usually covering a manmade material unfortunately). This means that for most of you, AC will be a necessity rather than a nice-to-have, and if you can afford it, you may wish to spend a little more on accommodation and get a bigger room.

· Our stay coincided with the first few days of Semana Santa, and having travelled in Latin America over this week a few times previously, we knew prices were going to be inflated. What we didn’t expect was at least a three times mark up on baseline prices. So, if you’re on a budget, really do try your best to avoid travelling to El Paredon during holiday season.

· On the note of pricing, accommodation was more expensive here than elsewhere in Guatemala generally.

· This is a super popular place for wealthy locals from Antigua and Guatemala City to visit on the weekend which can change the vibe a little. Not something to overthink, just a ‘good to know’ for those used to a more backpacker vibe.

Hostels

Mellow Hostel | This laid-back retreat located a few streets from the beach is where we’d stay if we were ever to head back to El Paredon and fancied a hostel. Combining a relaxed vibe, stylish interiors and common areas, a fantastic pool and decent restaurant, it’s a super popular choice for the more discerning backpacker. They always have lots of social events going on, but is less of a party hostel than others elsewhere in town.

The Driftwood Surfer | Located right on the beach, this is El Paredón’s original hostel. A far-cry from the boutique style options on this list, but that’s likely why it’s such an enduring backpacker appeal. They offer AC dorms, private rooms, a pool, and a rooftop restaurant, and host nightly family-style dinners and tame to full-on party social events

Cocori Lodge | Just up the beach, Cocori is a modern, social hostel offering a variety of room types from dorms to private bungalows (although the latter is priced quite highly). The standout? A stunning beachfront pool and a packed schedule of parties and events.

Caracola | Cocori’s quieter sibling (although potentially more bouji), Caracola is perfect for those who want a good night’s sleep. Located a short walk from the beach, it features cozy double-bed dorms, a communal kitchen – rare in El Paredón – and access to Cocori’s pool when you’re ready to party.

Boutique Retreats & Surf Camps

Zoah Surf | Just a short stroll from the beach, you’ll find Zoah’s freestanding, thatched villas surrounded by tropical gardens. A central pool anchors the tranquil setting, while open-air bathrooms add a touch of rustic luxury. Perfect for those seeking peaceful, understated elegance in the heart of El Paredón. This is also a popular surf camp, with three to seven day courses alongside adhoc lessons and surfboard rental.

MangoMiel| Nestled around a sprawling mango tree, MangoMiel exudes earthy, tropical charm. This minimalist beach house features just four stylish rooms with private bathrooms, a shared pool, and a rooftop deck. Ideal for a quiet getaway, it’s a space designed for lounging, cooking, and soaking up the coastal atmosphere. Can be rented in its entirety for a large group of friends (see this listing), or by the room (Amara, Kaia, Zahrah, Kassia)

Swell| This popular and highly-rated accommodation brings boutique style to El Paredón with palm-thatched bungalows arranged around a picture-perfect pool. Its tropical-meets-industrial design, hammock-filled gardens, and on-site restaurant create an effortlessly chic atmosphere. With yoga sessions and surf lessons available, it’s a haven for laid-back luxury by the sea.

Also available on Airbnb.

Casa Zala | A dreamy surf house come to life (seriously, it’s one of our top picks), with boho furnishings, a gorgeous pool, and a fully equipped communal kitchen. Its spacious rooms, each with a private bathroom, offer comfort and charm. A welcoming retreat for those looking to relax, connect, and savor El Paredón’s mellow vibes.

Also available on Airbnb – head to this link for all listings.

Shanti Surf Camp| A thoughtful blend of modern comforts and laidback coastal living, Shanti offers air-conditioned rooms, a leafy pool area, and a communal kitchen making it ideal for surfers and travelers alike. Add in daily breakfast and meticulous attention to detail, and you’ve got a home away from home.

Paredon Surf House | Combining surf camp energy with boutique charm, the accommodation is a beachfront retreat perfect for unwinding. With private rooms, cozy dorms, a pool, and hammocks scattered throughout, it’s an ideal spot to relax after a day of surfing. The oceanfront setting ensures tranquil nights and stunning sunrise views.

Hidden Wave | Just steps from the beach, Hidden Wave blends relaxed beach living with thoughtful design, the bungalows a delightful combination of natural wood tones and airy layouts. The central pool, surrounded by palms and hammocks, invites lazy afternoons, while the on-site café serves up fresh, local flavors. They also offer surf lessons and board rental. Find all listings here.

A super popular place to stay is Ka’ana Surf, but its polished concrete rooms don’t hit the contemporary beachside vibes for us (even with the palapa roofs).

Budget-Friendly Guesthouses

Whilst the mainstay of accommodation in El Paredon fits very much within the boutique, bouji and sometimes budget-breaking, there are still a few decent guesthouses that won’t break the bank, and are ideal if party-centric flash packer hostels really aren’t your thing.

A few to take a look at include:

· El Puente

· Casa Austera(we’d totally stay here)

· Sunrise El Paredón

· Bedrooms where Charlie

· Macarena Paredon(fancy tents rather than rooms mind you)

When To Go To El Paredon

El Paredón offers year-round appeal, but it’s important to know before you go that the timing of your visit can shape your experience.

The dry season (November to April) is widely considered the best time to visit. With sunny days, clear skies, and little rain, it’s ideal for soaking up the beach and local area. This season also coincides with smaller, more manageable swells, making it perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers.

It can get insanely and unenjoyably hot though – so much so that the only relief Andrew could find was from sticking his head in our Airbnb’s freezer.

The rainy season (May to October) brings a lush vibrancy to the landscape, with occasional downpours, typically in the afternoons or evenings. While it’s wetter, mornings are often clear, and this period offers excellent surfing conditions. The consistent, larger swells attract advanced surfers seeking bigger waves. Plus, fewer crowds and lower accommodation prices make it an appealing option for budget-conscious travelers.

However, if you’re planning to visit El Paredon during Guatemala’s festive periods, such as Semana Santa (Holy Week, typically in March or April), Christmas, or New Year, be prepared for significantly higher prices and limited availability. These holidays are popular with both domestic and international travellers, and El Paredón is the main coastal destination for them (more so than Monterrico with each passing year). If you have flexibility, we’d actually advise skipping Semana Santa and Christmas here, but if you can’t, be sure to book up accommodation well in advance to secure your spot.

How To Get To El Paredon

The vast majority of travellers will be reaching El Paredon from the popular city of Antigua. For this reason we’ve actually put together a wee post explaining all the different options, with pricing and booking details, as well as covering a few other potential start points.

However, we also wanted to outline the basic points in this main guide.

Bus | If you just look at the map and distance, it appears straightforward enough to reach the Pacific Coast. However, getting from Guatemala City or Antigua to El Paredon by bus takes 5-6 hours and involves two to three connections to cover the 105km (Antigua – Escuintla – Sipacate – El Paredon).

Shuttle | Whilst we’re not big advocates for the shuttle system that has grown to cover the length and breadth of Guatemala (we just love those chicken buses to darn much), for those wanting to reach El Paredon in a timely fashion, they really are the best option.

From Antigua, there are at least two shuttle bus departures everyday at 9am and 2pm, and travel time is 2-3 hours depending on traffic and how long it takes to pick everyone up. Prices are in the range of 110Q-140Q per person. The shuttles will drop you off at your accommodation in El Paredon, which is most welcome in the heat.

You book your place in person, at your Antigua accommodation or online from official ticket distributors like GuateGo, Bookaway or GekkoExplorer.

It’s also possible to quickly book a shared shuttle Antigua to El Paredon shuttle here on Viator.

Onward Travel From El Paredon

From El Paredon it’s possible to take shuttles onward to Guatemala City (and the airport, which is where we headed with tickets costing 400Q), Lake Atitlan, El Salvador, and of course, back to Antigua.

There are a few agencies in town – we bought ours from Neway Tours – where you can buy your tickets, but you can also book at some of the popular hostels. Alternatively, book online via GuateGo, Bookaway or GekkoExplorer.

Travel Tips for El Paredon

· There is now an ATM in the Super 24 supermarket. As with all 5B cajero automaticos in Guatemala, it charges a decent withdrawal fee so optimise how much you take out each time. The ATM casensible to bring enough cash with you as it can be unreliable.

· Whilst Super24 sees most traffic it’s not actually a very good supermarket for anything beyond booze and junk food, continue down and on the left to find a much better general store – especially for those of you cooking.

· The beach is notoriously bad for sand flies at night so it’s a good idea to put bug spray on, and we have used DEET-free, all natural Incognito for the last seven years.

· Be a positive force in the increased tourism that El Paredon now receives and join Cocori’s beach clean ups, where you get a free Corona in exchange for every bag of rubbish. You can find details on their social media.

· There is quite a significant stray dog population in El Paredon, with some of the poor souls in quite a bad condition. Though we’re not aware of any shelters or initiatives to give them care or a better life, you can play a small part by purchasing some dry food and (responsibly) giving them a meal.

· We mentioned this a few times in this post, but do not underestimate the heat in El Paredon – it can be brutal. Slap on plenty of suncream and try to avoid being out in peak hours, and stay more hydrated than you think. If you don’t fare well in these conditions, you need to ensure you stay somewhere with air conditioning.

· Water is a precious resource here, and is under significant pressure from the dramatic rise in tourism. Whilst it can feel like a (literal) drop in the ocean, do try and limit excessive use. Also, most showers in the town are with salty seawater.

· Whilst the tarmac will come, for now the streets and roads of El Paredon are dusty and badly lit. This only becomes an issue at night, so do make sure you’ve got your phone charged and think about bringing a head torch.

Plan For Guatemala With Our Guides