Our trip to El Paredon started in a van with its muffler tied on with rope.

We were heading from San Pedro, on Lake Atitlán, to Guatemala’s Pacific coast. After exploring the lake towns, including San Juan and San Marcos, we were trading mountain views for the ocean.

First, though, we had to get there.

A van held together with optimism

Every time the first van went over a bump, the muffler scraped the ground. Eventually, the driver had to stop because it was about to rip off.

Fortunately for us, our route involved transferring to another van to reach El Paredon. We weren’t stuck with that vehicle for the rest of the journey. Some of the other passengers weren’t so fortunate.

There are travel days you remember because of the scenery. This one had a little extra going on underneath the vehicle.

The heat arrived before we did

Part of our route involved a brief ferry ride along the river. We were able to step out of the van and take some pictures.

That was also our introduction to the heat.

The van was air-conditioned, so stepping outside was a fairly abrupt change. It was around 90°F, with heavy humidity. The heat hit us in the face like a wave, and I couldn’t walk more than a block without being drenched in sweat.

The ferry gave us a chance to look around and break up the drive. It also made it clear that walking around El Paredon would feel very different from walking around Lake Atitlán.

We were thankful for the pool

Once we arrived, we took in the view of the thatched roofs and checked into our Airbnb. It had a nice pool, which turned out to be one of the most useful features of the place.

We spent a fair bit of time in it.

The heat shaped our experience of El Paredon as much as the beach did. Even a short walk left me sweating, so having somewhere to cool off made a difference. If I were choosing accommodation for another visit, a pool would be high on the list.

The Pacific was the highlight

The Pacific Ocean was the reason we came, and it did not disappoint.

I spent time floating in the water and taking in the sunset. After the van transfers and the heat, this was the part of the trip that made the journey worthwhile: being in the ocean as the light changed over the beach.

The black sand was another memorable part of the setting, although it came with a practical drawback. During the day, it was far too hot to walk on barefoot.

We spoke with a man who was hobbling back to his hotel after trying it. He had blisters on his feet. That was enough of a warning for me.

The beach at sunset was a much more appealing proposition.

Would we go back?

El Paredon was interesting, but it wasn’t a place we left eager to revisit.

For us, the visit revolved around the beach and the pool. The ocean delivered, and I’m glad we got to see the sunset there. But the heat was oppressive, and we didn’t find enough else to draw us out and keep us exploring.

That’s a different experience from our time around Lake Atitlán, where we spent more time walking through towns, looking at murals, and browsing handicrafts. In El Paredon, even walking a block could feel like enough.

If your idea of a good stop is spending time at the beach and cooling off by a pool, our reasons for moving on might not matter much to you. For us, though, the sunset was the highlight, and the heat was what defined the rest of the visit.

Next time we’re in Guatemala, we’ll try a different beach.

Exploring more of Guatemala? Read about our visit to San Marcos la Laguna: leafy footpaths, lunch at Lush, and a steep climb to spectacular lake views.