Guatemala Part 6 — Chisec and the road to Lanquín

Left Flores and pointed the car south into Alta Verapaz. Broke the drive up with a night in Chisec, a town that does not appear on anybody’s itinerary, which is exactly why we liked it.

Dinner was at a spot in the middle of nowhere where Enzo’s kids meal came with a wind-up frog called a “Naughty Frog.” No explanation given for the name. The frog has been wound up approximately 400 times since and shows no signs of dying. Xander and Axel have both attempted to claim it. Legal ownership remains with Enzo.

The next morning we asked around and found a local swim hole outside town — spring-fed pools strung with flags, a hammock hung low enough that you lie in it half-submerged, and a little wooden footbridge the boys treated as a diving platform until further notice. Entrance was $5. It was a Monday and we had the entire place to ourselves except the family that runs it. They told us on Sunday there were 300 people here. Timing is everything. Enzo took up residence in the water hammock and had to be evicted at departure. Axel jumped off the bridge more times than I counted. Cold, clear, perfect.

Then the drive to Lanquín, which the internet warns you about and the internet is not wrong — 3 hours of winding mountain road. Lunch in Lanquín was tacos, and Xander put away a full board of them, so I’m declaring him officially recovered from the Wendy’s Takis burger.

We’re staying at El Portal, no AC, limited power, no AC, yet right on the river — The river runs loud enough that it’s the only white noise machine anyone needs

#unpavedparenting