El Paredon on Guatemala's Pacific coast

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 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 pull over because it was about to rip off.

Luckily for us, our route included a transfer to another van to reach El Paredon, so we weren't stuck with that one for the whole ride. Some of the other passengers weren't so lucky.

Most travel days I remember for the scenery. This one I remember for what was going on under the van.

The heat arrived before we did

Part of the route was a short ferry ride along the river, and we got 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 an 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 broke up the drive and gave us a chance to look around. It also made it obvious that walking around El Paredon was going to feel a lot different from walking around Lake Atitlán.

We were thankful for the pool

Once we arrived, we took in the thatched roofs and checked into our Airbnb. It had a nice pool, which turned out to be one of the most useful things about the place. We spent a fair bit of time in it.

In El Paredon, the heat mattered as much as the beach did. Even a short walk left me sweating, so having somewhere to cool off made a real difference. If I were picking a place to stay on 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 held up its end of the deal.

I spent time floating in the water and watching the sunset. After the van transfers and the heat, being in the ocean while the light changed over the beach made the trip worth it.

The black sand was memorable too, but it had a practical drawback. During the day it was far too hot to walk on barefoot.

We talked with a man who was hobbling back to his hotel after trying it. He had blisters on his feet, which was all the warning I needed.

The beach at sunset was a much better idea.

Would we go back?

El Paredon was interesting, but we didn't leave in any hurry to come back.

For us, the visit came down to 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 get us out exploring.

Around Lake Atitlán we spent our time walking through towns, looking at murals, and browsing handicrafts. In El Paredon, walking a single block could feel like enough.

If you're coming to surf, our reasons for moving on probably won't matter much. For us, the sunset was the best part, and the heat set the tone for everything else.

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

Getting to El Paredon

Shared shuttles are the way in, about 4 hours from Lake Atitlán and 2 to 3.5 hours from Antigua. In September 2026, Living in Guatemala (opens in a new tab) found fares of $30 to $35 per person from the lake and $18 to $25 from Antigua, with no evening departures in either direction, so plan on leaving by about 2pm. Along Dusty Roads (opens in a new tab) doesn't recommend public transport from the lake.

FAQ

Is El Paredon worth it?
It's worth it if all you want to do is surf. Otherwise, probably not.

How hot is it?
It was around 90°F with heavy humidity, and the black sand was too hot to walk on barefoot during the day. Go to the beach early or at sunset, and get a place with a pool. Dry season runs roughly November to April (Where in the World is Nina (opens in a new tab)).

Can you swim?
I floated around at sunset, but go carefully. Wikivoyage (opens in a new tab) says signs warn about strong rip tides and the town charges Q300 if you need rescuing (checked October 2026), and Nina's guide says there are no lifeguards.

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, or browse all of our Guatemala travel posts.