And if this El Paredontravel guide doesnt, drop me a comment below and Ill update it for you! In this post, I am going to go through how to get from Antigua to the beach El Paredon, where to stay in El Paredon, what to eat and a few not-to-miss things to do. Its better if you drive there or take a shuttle. Weather is perfect this time of year in El Paredon to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The surf here in winter, when the waves are at their best, are of decent size. Be aware that the streets arent always well-maintained. I'm Nina, and I've been climbing volcanos, basking on exotic beaches, and dabbling in new cultures since 2011. El Paredon is located near the Sipacate-Naranjo National Park of mangrove forests. Between the hours of 6 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. Just keep in mind there are no Ubers in El Paredon to bring you back to Antigua. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Receive top travel tips, news and adventure ideas! Most of them are hostels and the accommodations can be very rustic (i.e. Displayed data is calculated, Overall travel experience by time of year. based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Now, it is one of the most popular destinations for many tourists. All rights reserved. Message your host / accommodation ahead of time to arrange. Theres a bar and a restaurant if youre not a guest so you can always enjoy Driftwood without staying here. Unfortunately, I didnt confirm a booking before I went and ended up wandering down the beach looking for somewhere to stay! El Paredon, Guatemala, is a small and sleepy surf town. El Paredon, Guatemala Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. La Choza Chula is a popular organization that empowers communities to build sustainable futures. I dont think Ive ever travelled to a place where you can enjoy both sunrise and sunset from the same spot on the same day! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This article may contain affiliate / compensated links. Nowhere is 100% safe, all of the time. Like, Im not joking here, this sand is crazy. Our last night was on a Friday and we met multiple people coming from Guatemala City for the weekend. It is possible to go straight from San Pedro La Laguna instead of meeting in Panajachel but this isnt suggested. You will definitely want to wear shoes while walking on the beach, or risk burning your feet. Dont come here with the wrong idea. The Surf House is a super cool place to stay (on the beachfront!) This is a popular place to take a kayak or paddleboard to explore this area which is called the mangroves. So dont expect too much in terms of anything really! The weather in El Paredon was great every single day I was there. One of those times we stopped at Zicatela and we loved it. Average temperatures in El Paredon vary very little. Many hotels here give this advise as well. Theres not really too much to do in El Paredon, considering its a tiny beach town made up of just one paved road and several small dirt roads. Surfing or learning to surf is one of the best things to do in El Paredon and with it being such a small beach town, ocean time is one of the only things to do! 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. Although it had only just opened and was still a work in progress you can see the potential. I stayed here for 4 nights back in March and it was a nice way to end our time in Guatemala. If youre looking to experience an off-the-beaten path destination in Guatemala, look no further than El Paredon. World Traveler, Travel Blogger, Photographer. If you're looking to experience an off-the-beaten path destination in Guatemala, look no further than El Paredon. Jokes aside - El Paredon is pretty safe. Hey, I am Sean Lau! If you just speak to someone at our accommodation they will organize lessons for you. See more information on their website here. Welcome to our guide to El Paredon, Guatemala! Thank you for all the info about el paredon, in my next trip to guatemala, Ill defininetly go visit that beautiful place. Rent a board and surf! You can organize many of the activities mentioned above (like seeing the turtles or a boat tour) through La Choza Chula, a local social enterprise in El Paredon that benefits the community directly. For 120 quezales($15), I had a private one-hour lesson with Bagley. Each year, during the months of September and December, the owners of Driftwood Surfer Hostel take care of The El Paredon Turtle Hatchery. Fro. There are very few places to eat and not many hotels either. El Paredon is an off-the-beaten-path destination located about a 2.5 hour drive from Antigua. About 10 days before I visited El Paredon, there seemed to be reasonable availability on Airbnb / Booking.com but 6 days before? If youre not an early riser the sunset is for you! If you leave from San Pedro, the shuttle will first go to Antigua then El Paredon whereas leaving from Panajachel is a straight shot. Highs range from 94.6F (34.8C) and 89.3F (31.8C) with similar temperatures in the later months. When I visited I was super lucky to stumble upon the place as it wasnt online at all back then. This activity is one of my personal favorites. Many visitors will flock towards the sand to try to catch the last light of the day. Located a little bit more inland than the rest (a 5-minute walk to the beach) it is a nice place to relax and get away from the beachfront party vibes. El Paredon is more for backpackers, and though it is a little bit smaller, more of the locals speak English. Day passes are available if you want to use their pool and arent a guest. If you are staying for a few days you can negotiate a reduced rate for multiple lessons. Read More: What Should You Pack For Guatemala? So which spots have the best day passes? Many hotels offer classes and equipment at affordable prices, so you dont have to worry about being inexperienced. I started Claires Itchy Feet to inspire women to pack their bags and travel more. El Paredon may not be at the top of everyones bucket lists for Guatemala but its certainly one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala and, if you have time, I highly recommend checking it out. It is so hot that most people dont bask on the sandy beach during the day. Im pretty sure we have all had travel plans messed up because of COVID and not all insurers covered this. The cost of the shuttle is Q90 (about $12) each way to and from Antigua, and there are usually two departures daily. With no plans to stop anytime soon Im always looking for my next adventure be it attempting to surf or climbing a volcano Ill try (almost) anything once! A lot smaller than Id imagined. Its the most affordable way to eat and 2. you get the local experience. Because of this, it is advised to try to book well in advance if you want a specific place to stay. See average monthly temperatures below. If you are looking for a romantic and unique experience in El Paredon, then consider horseback riding along the beach. The best thing about El Paredon is that there are always waves to surf. WiFi is meh and not offered at every accomodation. The beaches in Guatemala arent necessarily well-known, and most wont put these spots on their itinerary while exploring the country. Nina helps people like you move around the world while making money. Take a tour with La Choza Chula. This is easily the most popular activity that people come to El Paredon to partake in. a beach hut with no air conditioning.) If you have a portable one then that is even better! El Paredon is my favorite beach in Guatemala and just a short ride from Antigua. Yes, you should! Posted on Published: December 21, 2021- Last updated: March 12, 2022. There are some other cool activities in this area that you can do if those arent your thing. The Mellow hostel is a little bit pricier when compared to the other options in the area but for good reason. See the exact locations of these spots on theGuatemala Google Map Legend. The least humid month is March (65.2% relative humidity), and the most humid month is October (80.3%). El Paredon is the most gorgeous little surf townon the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Just be careful when swimming in the ocean. Black sand beaches are very common in Guatemala, which makes them exotic. So take my advice if you are going to El Paredon, book to stay at Casa Macano Surf-Yoga! Please see myDisclosurefor more details. However, the beach really comes to life when sunset approaches. The dorm rooms arent bunk beds which I see as a huge plus. Make friends with the local dogs, roll out a towel, cover yourself in suncream and read your book! Described as one of the Top 10 Surf Destinations in the World by The Guardian, this little fishing village is only around 2 hours from the well-known colonial city of Antigua.It boasts some of the most spectacularly unspoilt stretches of black-sand beach, dusty village roads, and endlessly diverse mangrove forests. Known for its consistent waves, El Paredon is a perfect place to get in and try your hand at surfing. Bring a towel and your camera and enjoy the show that light ups the sky. If you are wanting to visit El Paredon then you must know there isnt a lot to do here. That means if you book or make a purchase through the links, we will earn a small commission atno extra cost to you! Visitors can take in the tropical atmosphere just by walking through the elegantly-designed hotel. Its also located directly on the beach. As you make your way down, you can admire the flora and fauna of the mangroves. There can be a strong current and if you go too far out it might pull you in. This isnt the normal beach destination that you will see in other areas around Central America. From air-conditioned rooms to its beautiful pool and beachside location, there is nothing not to love about Driftwood Surfer. Some people would recommend using the chicken bus, but Guatemalas public transport isnt the most reliable or safe. 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. Cabins and places to camp are offered at affordable prices, and lessons are offered for beginner surfers. This is my complete travel guide to El Paredon, Guatemala. Youll then stop off at a local salt farm where you can see the process of the natural salt extraction here in Guatemala.