It’s safe to say I had no idea to what extent I’d be getting myself into today. I woke up and was ready to go in time to make it back to Xaman ATV Tours today for my ATV adventure tour. Seeing as though I had no idea we would be doing ATVs yesterday for the Village Tour I expected this to be more extreme. Hessler welcomed me and asked me if I was ready and I told him I guess. Even though we were hitting some of the same places today he said this would be much different and it was.

     Our 1st ride to Tzununa Waterfall felt like it was almost an hour (definitely at least 40 minutes) and there were off roads. Now I’m no stranger to ATVs and I’ve driven them in some hard conditions (the hardest and most tiring is still Cabo, Mexico) but this is up there after Mexico because we went through dirt, mud and over rocks. By the end of the 1st ride I was already exhausted. Then if you could’ve seen the hike Hessler had us do to get tona waterfall…it was cute and all but had I known that’s what we were going to see I probably would’ve passed. That hike up through the mountain forest had no real trail with rocks and streams; I felt like I was not prepared for that today.

     It was difficult, at one point my foot slipped into the stream (so much for staying dry-my other foot eventually got wet too) and at one point a spider bit Hessler. All of this definitely had me thinking, “See, we shouldn’t even be up here, let’s hurry up and get out of here.” Even though going up was a challenge due to the conditions I was already dreading having to go back down (it’s usually easier for me to hike up in crazy conditions versus down). I’ll admit the waterfall was cute once we got to our destination but again I could’ve passed on it. Thank goodness I had a walking stick that he gave me before we began as it was needed and half broken by the time I was done.

     Once back down I was about done, I was nervous to see what we’d be doing at the next 2 stops. I was just happy to be done with that and still tired from it but I had to hop back on the ATV and go to the next place. (Doing ATVs today made me not like it as much; I think it was a bit too much yesterday and today with the distances and all). At the next place in San Juan at the Trailhead to Mirador Kaqasiiwaan I saw steps and immediately got a flashback to the Manitou Incline I did in Colorado earlier this year. I looked at Hessler and shook my head, I couldn’t believe he expected me to climb steps after what we just did and it was starting to rain.

     Although tired and not really wanting to hike anything else, I was here so I felt a need to seize the moment (carpe diem as they say). It’s funny though he had me thinking we had a lot of steps to climb but it actually was much less than I thought. Once at the top the artwork was beautiful on the wooden ground (all hand painted). So many dogs up here too (which wasn’t too surprising seeing as though a dog hiked up a volcano with us the last time I was in Guatemala) but one tapped the back of my hand with it’s nose and scared the mess out of me. I feel for them here, I really do, it makes me sad. The dogs in the U.S. don’t know how good they’ve got it.

     There were some vendors selling food, drinks and souvenirs as well. There were many different points to go to throughout to get a good photo of the lake and surrounding towns. I rang a big bell that was up there and took a photo near some statues. This was worth the hike up there for sure and was less intense by far than the 1st one. As we were leaving it seemed to now be getting sunny and I almost took off the poncho as I was getting hot but in seeing how just in that day as we went from place to place how the weather changed I kept it on.

     At the last stop which was Mirador Plaza Maravilla was another nicely colored lookout with artwork by Deigo Gonzalez. There was a hummingbird, flowers and butterflies and a nice cafe where we stopped to grab drinks. By now it was really raining (normal rain) so after spending time here we went back to the office as the tour was over. Hessler convinced me to do the Indian Nose Tour with them tomorrow at 4am for the Sunrise Hike because he said he’d give me a discount since I’ve already done tours with them. Although I had this reserved with another company (Matt the Geologist) Hessler’s price was much cheaper and he would come and pick me up from the Airbnb (because I told him I by myself would not be coming to the office at 4am). With that being said, I told him I’d see him tomorrow again and I’m to be outside and ready by 3:55am.

     Exhausted and tired was an understatement, I had a ziplining tour scheduled with another company at 3pm and immediately knew I was not going and would try to rebook (which I did to tomorrow at 9am). With my feet still wet and my sleeves partially wet (long sleeve shirt), I just wanted to grab some food and go back to the Airbnb which is exactly what I did. Once back in the room, I got out of my wet clothes and washed up and put some lounge clothes on. While I ate I partied to the music of the party boat that was pulling into the dock nearby.

     I’ll have to go to bed early tonight to make sure I’m up and ready in time and will do ziplining right afterward. I do at some point probably right after ziplining want to take the ferry boat across to Panajachel. I won’t stay long but I feel like I can’t come to Lake Atitlán and not get on a boat. I’m sure I’ll be tired but my day should still end early or at least coincide with everyday I’ve been here so far.