Where to Go From Here???

Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

For the past 3.5 weeks I’ve had pronominales, irregular verbs, the preterito and the personal ‘a’ sloshing around in my brain. I know more Spanish then I did a month ago but I’m glad to say that my time in Xela is coming to an end next Tuesday. Not that Xela was a bad place to spend a month but I’m eager to once again start moving.  I was originally going to leave Xela on Saturday but Monday is Día de los Muertos so I’ll stay in Xela for the weekend. On Monday I’ll take a quick trip to Todos Santos for Día de los Muertos where the holiday is ‘celebrated with abandonment and drunkeness’ according to my guidebook.

I know my next two destinations are Lago Atitlan and Antigua, however, I’m not sure where my next stop will be after that.  Coming up with places to visit is easy since Guatemala has a lot to offer.  It’s more about the logistics of which way makes the most sense to see everything.  My general direction is northeast and ultimately visiting Tikal.  After Tikal I will have to go back to Mexico or into Belize for at least a 72 hour period to reset the 90 day limit on my passport for traveling in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras or Nicaragua (Stupid Central American 4 (CA-4) Immigration Zone).  By the time I’m done traveling in Guatemala I would have been here for 60 days and there is no way I’ll get through the other three countries in 30 days.

I have no desire to go back to Mexico so I think I’ll take a quick one week trip to Belize. A trip to Belize doesn’t really excite me since it’s expensive and there is nothing in Belize that I haven’t seen in Mexico or am unable to see in Guatemala or Honduras. On top of that they also hit you up for an exit fee when leaving.  But, it just seems to maks the most sense to stop in Belize and then ferry over to Honduras. From there I think I’ll go the Bay Islands but…who knows. The rough travel plan in my head looks something like this:

 Of course, suggestions are always welcome.