Make sure you plan your meals accordingly because the majority of places only offer meals during select times. I've worked abroad and remotely to support my adventure travel addiction, and now I'm sharing all my travel hacks, travel job opportunities, and ways you can travel longer! Its never far! El Paredon is a surfing beach town located on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, in the department of Escuintla. The least humid month is March (65.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is October (80.3%). WiFi is meh and not offered at every accomodation. If youre looking to experience an off-the-beaten path destination in Guatemala, look no further than El Paredon. And What Not To Pack? The Surf House is a super cool place to stay (on the beachfront!) Locals and tourists visit El Paredon from Antigua to relax, unwind and take a break from the busy locations surrounding it. For example, on the week of January 1st there are no days of precipitation on average. Because of its location, facing entirely South and out of the shadow of the Galapagos Islands, any south swell that comes out of the Antarctic will hit El Paredon in full force. Many come here to relax, surf, or party as there are honestly not many other choices! The town is at sea level on the pacific coast, which means that during these hotter months most people will either stay in the water for as long as possible, or stay in the hotels and resorts that have fresh air. Your options are Thai Curry, Indian Curry or Noodles. This is due to volcanic activity. This tour involves hiking, The Solo Girls Guide To Traveling Without Fear, The Solo Girls Guide To Becoming A Digital Nomad, El Paredon Surfing Where to surf in El Paredon, book transport in Guatemala with them here. Locals open their homes, so you can experience what it is like to live as they do! Go to a local family home and learn to make the local salad, empanadas and tortillas. Visit the turtle hatchery early in the morning to see turtles hatch and run to the ocean! Thinking of traveling from Antigua to El Paredon? The local fisherman will teach some fishing techniques before you have a go at fishing for yourself. The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in El Paredon. 76 68. The only company I recommend for booking transport and tours in Guatemala (other than the individuals and companies I have named) is GuateGo. Within their mission, La Choza Chula also offer local experiences that will immerse you deep into the local culture and will give you the unique chance to see and experience the way the locals do things. You can enjoy the sunset AND the sunrise from the same spot on El Paredon beach. Lisbon is alread, Brand new travel guide: A Guide To Planning Your W, Craving the coast? Luckily there are a few little hammock huts along the beach, but those are for guests only; we will talk more about this in a sec! Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. If you are a big surfer and love relaxing by the pool, then I highly suggest you visit El Paredon in Guatemala. Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes, three of which are constantly active. Jokes aside - El Paredon is pretty safe. My goal is to help others find the experience they want out of life and to show them how to achieve it. Im not joking; this town is pretty desolate! The way we experience weather isnt all about temperature. Again you can opt for a dorm room, beach shack or private room! Many people will flock to Antigua, Lake Atitlan, or the Mayan ruins. 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. This small hostel is known for its rooftop restaurant and lively nightlife, thanks to the number of backpackers that arent afraid to dance all night and take too many shots of tequila. There are no lifeguards on the beach, and swimming is pretty dangerous. Claires Itchy Feet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Relax on the beach in El Paredon, cruise serene Lake Atitln, and visit one of Central America's . However, the beach really comes to life when sunset approaches. This is a non-profit tour company that is famous in El Paredon for its tours. Things you need to know about visiting El Paredon beach in Guatemala, There are only about 5 places to stay there (a few more options and it is growing), Although there isnt much choice in the way of places to eat, the food is amazing, If you are looking for a quiet time out place, go to El Paredon, If you want a mix of quiet time and party time then you want. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. And those hippies that walk around beach towns barefooted regret all their life choices when they come here thinking they will do the same. Sgueme en Instagram como JULSGOES #guatemala #beachhotel #beachlife #hotel.julsgoes | Publicar el sorteo en mi InstagramQuieres ganarte 1 noche aqu ? Driftwood is the popular hostel I mentioned at the beginning of this El Paredon travel guide. So if you want my advice to give Monterrico a miss and head to El Paredon quickly before everyone else realizes just how good it really is! 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. Unless youre here to really take on the surf, you probably wont need more than 2-3 days. So which spots have the best day passes? Just be careful when swimming in the ocean. Youll also get to admire some of the most gorgeous beachfront properties along the coastline here! Learn more. Between June and October (rainy season) is when youll find the biggest waves in El Paredon so do some research if surfing is something youre keen to do. Like, Im not joking here, this sand is crazy. 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! About 10 days before I visited El Paredon, there seemed to be reasonable availability on Airbnb / Booking.com but 6 days before? Read More: Guatemala Bucket List Best Things To Do In Guatemala. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. You can see turtles feeding year-round in El Paredon (and depending on the season, you might even be able to watch them hatch!) Here are the best things to do. The local families La Choza Chula work with are very warm and friendly and love to learn about the new cultures too. So if youre wanting a late lunch at 4pm you might struggle to find a place offering food at that time. Its mainly the kind of destination you go to if you want to surf, or just kick back and relax at the beach or pool (and party at night! One of the guys staying in my dorm told me his friend broke his board the day before and so he was mostly bodyboarding because it was too crazy out there. Located a few streets behind the main area is a river that is surrounded by trees. Your Perfect Guatemala Itinerary: 1-3 Weeks + Tips! This is a really magical experience, you head out during sunrise and on a clear day, youll see the 3 volcanoes. Its better if you drive there or take a shuttle. They offer authentic and unique experiences in El Paredon. Additionally, La Choza Chula provides workshops and proper training to all of its staff. Relaxing on the beach will give you the breather you need, you are still on vacation after all! And definitely keep in mind if you book another place, the town is small and you might still here the music if youre close enough. Book your experience and enquire today via Instagram @lachozachula or WhatsApp +502 53872886. Finca El Zapote ofrece a sus visitantes cientos de actividades por hacer al aire libre, siendo un lugar paradisaco con vistas impresionantes. Just lay down, enjoy some coconut water, and listen to the calming sound of the crashing waves. Youll then stop off at a local salt farm where you can see the process of the natural salt extraction here in Guatemala. Double-check before you go if the place youre staying has WiFi, and what people say about it. Wear shoes on the beach. There are shuttles leaving every day from the popular locations in Guatemala. Super cool chill spot with access to hammocks, pool, and hang-out area at the top of their main bungalow. Two reputable organizations are El Paredon Surf Camp School El Paredon Surfing School (not online) and Pacifico Tours (not online). El Paredon, Guatemala, is a small and sleepy surf town. If youre not a guest you can get a day pass for the pool and to chill out in the gorgeous setting. In order to avoid having your plans sidetracked due to heavy rains, it is best to visit between November and April. HomeContactWork With UsPrivacy PolicyArchive. REMINDER: Never walk around barefoot, the black sand is incredibly hot! Weather is perfect this time of year in El Paredon to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. Unknown to most travelers, Guatemala's best kept secret is home to some of the country's top surfers. Take a bracelet making class with some of the local girls from the village. One way to get to El Paredon is by shuttle. I picked one of the very last available when I booked (Sunrise Hostal) and it was perfect for what I was looking for. If you are doing shorter trips or a longer backpacking trip then WorldNomads or Travel Insurance Master are the best option. Other travel guides we know you will like: Global traveller @ste_marques shares with us the B, 5 DAY TRIPS FROM LISBON One of the many things La Choza Chula offers is a Guatemalan cooking class. El Paredon, Guatemala Its known for being an up-and-coming destination thats popular with surfers and beach bums. (47 reviews) "Exelent place to Relax" Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023 Considering I dont enjoy staying at places that have a lot of people with parties and have dorms to sleep in, I opted to have my private bungalow elsewhere. So take my advice if you are going to El Paredon, book to stay at Casa Macano Surf-Yoga! The owner is a pretty cool guy). Did you find this post helpful? The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early January. Theyve worked on building local libraries and schools. By contrast, its most likely to rain or snow in early to mid October with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of October 8th. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot all year with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. How magical is that!? This was during peak season in January 2022. Everything is within walking distance so no need for transport to and from places. 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 small surf town of El Paredon, Guatemala, is safe to visit! Like the one below. If you are going to eat fish in Guatemala, this is the place to do it! If you'd like, you can also opt for a visit to the sleepy beach community of Monterrico for a special wildlife experience. We recommend that you do horseback riding around sunset, so you can enjoy the beautiful colors of the falling sun as you make your way across the gorgeous black sand beaches of El Paredon. To no ones surprise at all, Driftwood Surfer is the best hostel in El Paredon. El Paredon is situated along a river filled with mangroves, which empties out into the ocean. In fact, they only have two dry and wet seasons. So if you want to hammock it up along the coast, this is the spot. I only have one night, which was not enough! Since then the ownership has changed and it is now called, After being turned away by most of the other places in, As I mentioned before there isnt that much choice BUT its probably the best food Ive eaten in, This is a popular local food place that serves some really great fish! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Mellow, Driftwood, and Cocori are totally awesome places to book while staying in El Paredon! I hope you can make it out this way when visiting this beautiful country. This advisory was last updated on Sep 09, 2019. Crowds naturally gather in this location come sunset so its a very social place to grab a drink and join in with the beach volleyball which, during my stay, seemed to be daily occurance. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. See the exact locations of these spots on the Guatemala Google Map Legend. The cost for this can end up being about the same as a shuttle, so thats really your best option. Start your day with some movement and connection to self before the world gets its hands you! I dont care for that, so I just did day passes instead, which are 100% worth it! Other than this it is practically not worth grabbing your board to head out there, which is sad. Since then the ownership has changed and it is now calledCasa Macano Surf-Yoga. If the place youre staying doesnt have its own pool, you can get a day pass at Mellow Hostel for Q150 (which includes Q100 bar tab.) Many hostels in the area have pools but if yours doesnt then you can easily get a day pass. Id love you to share it for me. Unfortunately, there are a lot of riptides, and youll see signs scattered around the beach and all of the hotels warning you to be careful. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month. 10 journal prompts and ideas for you, 14 photos that will make you want to go to Finnish Lapland, The best things to do in Queensland, Australia, An open top car tour of Londons iconic landmarks and landscapes, The perfect winter getaway in a Shepherds Hut in Sussex, UK, The best things to do in the Dolomites, Italy, Gili Island life Saving the best for last, Stoneoven pizzas and cervezas at Olivias pizza (bottom left, duh), El Naranjo wildlife tour 2.5 hours, 250Q, Poza del Nance turtle tour 2 hours, 200Q. Did I forget to mention its location just a few minutes walk from the beach? I'm Phillip, an adventure enthusiast from the U.S. traveling the world full time. Hammock Living. The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots. Make sure not to go anywhere around town barefoot as most of the towns streets are made of this same sand, and there is only one major (paved) road that runs through the town. When they were open.. the food was amazing! Travel insurance has always been high my list of things to get before I travel but now more than ever its at the top of my list. If I were to go back, I would definitely just take the shuttle from Antigua. The restaurant moved since I went there and you can also stay in, I think thats the name anyway! The best option to rent a kayak is at El Paredon Surf Camp for 40 GTQ (5 USD) for three hours. Here are the activities we recommend you check out: Perhaps the best thing to do in El Paredon is to go surfing. El Paredon Surf Camp is the surf camp that I went with when I was here, and they were super cool and very reasonably priced. This means any day of the week, you can use the 100q you pay for entry towards food and drink. Dont get me wrong though, people still want to party here. ), Your Guide to Exploring Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Keep in mind parties, surf, and chilling in pools are pretty much the main things to do here and not much else. I spent 4 days earlier this month on the volcanic black sands of El Paredon and so if youre looking for an insight into what to expect, where to stay and the best things to do in El Paredon Guatemala dont move an inch. El Paredon is more for backpackers, and though it is a little bit smaller, more of the locals speak English. 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!). If youre looking to enhance your trip to the Pacific Coast, one of the best things to do in El Paredon is.. get local! This is a very small beach town, dont just show up! El Paredon, Guatemala, is a small and sleepy surf town. Bring a towel and your camera and enjoy the show that light ups the sky. This means, from November to April. El Paredon Guatemala surf spot is also suitable for intermediate surfers. Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. They are a local Not For Profit company who have done some great work in the local community building schools and libraries. Bring all the cash you might need and try booking the hotels mentioned above online so you dont have to use cash! There can be a strong current and if you go too far out it might pull you in. I went to all of them, and the first two were my favorite only because you pay, and have it can go towards a tab. Depending how many people you have, this isnt too much more expensive than the shuttle and is more convenient. When you arrive here it feels so remote but that is why I fell in love with this place. This actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise as whilst wandering down the beach I stumbled upon Casa Macano Surf-Yoga. When you picture a beach, you probably imagine white-sand and turquoise waters. With these amazing Guatemalan cooking experiences, youll get a chance to go to a local familys kitchen and learn how to prepare authentic Guatemalan dishes. They have shared rooms and private rooms (no air conditioning though!) 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH. Unlike other countries, Guatemala does not experience four seasons. Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. If youre planning to visit El Paredon and know your dates, all Id say is make a reservation/book your accommodation ahead of time. Thank you for reading my guide about El Paredon in Guatemala! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Its location couldnt be any more central or conveniently located on the beachfront. It is nice to walk along the water to see the other parts of the area and to truly see how remote you are. 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. There is also an unexpected sight to behold here in the form of a Thai restaurant, Soul Food Kitchen . Read below for more weather and travel details. Nowhere is 100% safe, all of the time. Between the hours of 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. You can book transport in Guatemala with them here and Guatemalan tours with them here. Afterwards, enjoy the food with the local family! If you would like to do watersports in El Paredon but dont want to surf, why not try stand-up paddleboarding? 3av 3-25, El Paredon, Sipacate, Escuintla, 05021 Fully refundable Reserve now, pay when you stay $89 per night Feb 20 - Feb 21 0.49 mi from city center Swell Surf & Lifestyle Hotel 1 Avenida, Sipacate, Escuintla $66 per night Feb 20 - Feb 21 0.44 mi from city center 4.7/5 Exceptional! The streets of El Paredn, Guatemala / Paredon Surf Club Facebook Page The beach is fronted by a line of small hotels and hostels. Local experiences are why we travel! Keep in mind that these services do not operate on the coast, so they wont be an option for your return. Yes, you should! Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This small beach town is a hidden gem in Guatemala full of unique and entertaining experiences. Its a wild feeling and very unique. This makes El Paredon one of the best places in Guatemala to go surfing. You can take these tours with them, and many of the accommodations I mention below also offer these tours through them. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. A lot smaller than Id imagined. There are a few other things to do besides chilling and surfing in El Paredon! Not many people will be swimming because of the rip currents and the big waves that rip through here. 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. Their mission is to create locally-driven projects that ensure the educational and environmental development of El Paredn and neighbouring communities. It is the lowest . We mostly ate at our hostel (Cocori) and they had amazing food. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do. The seafood there is a must-try. El Paredon is located near the Sipacate-Naranjo National Park of mangrove forests. You dont really think about Guatemala having an amazing beach scene but it does. El Paredon is a quiet Pacific coastal town well-known for surfing and features a long, wild, unspoiled volcanic beach. That means you can use all 150q on drinks and food all day while using their facilities. Surf This is easily the most popular activity that people come to El Paredon to partake in. I would recommend coming here and getting a class instead of going alone unless you have a decent amount of experience. I am certainly no stranger to adventure, outward and within. They are a Guatemalann owned company that have painstakingly brought together all of the transport and tour options in one easy-to-use website. Between the hours of 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. As of Oct 07, 2019 there are travel warnings for Guatemala; exercise a high degree of caution. However, if you want to take on some of the waves with a board, it is a great place! Choose your slice of paradise! That means if you book or make a purchase through the links, we will earn a small commission atno extra cost to you! 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. Where are your favourite things to do in El Paredon, Guatemala? based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Thanks for stopping by my blog! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Please see myDisclosurefor more details. On this tour, you take a little boat into the mangroves with a local guide. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. Many visitors will flock towards the sand to try to catch the last light of the day. Many hotels here give this advise as well.