Worry not about being unplugged while touring the coffee plantations around La Antigua Guatemala. In fact, soon you will have 4G connectivity while learning and collecting your coffee berries in and around the coffee plantations because cellular antennas and towers are popping up everywhere. One more thing to notice in this picture is the fact … Read more
Often times I wonder why Guatemalans have this absurd fascination with the chicken buses, or camionetas as we call them here. I mean, we also have modern-looking buses and even double-decker buses with bus attendants and bathrooms in Guatemala. However, the majority of the public transportation still rides on top of these retired school buses … Read more
Even a drain cover from Finca Filadelfia coffee plantation looks interesting and appealing to the eye, at least to my eye, how about to your eye?
I have said it before and I am repeating again here, both Panchoy and Almolonga valleys are surrounded by three volcanoes and mountain ranges which served as funnels during the rainy season collecting tremendous amounts of water; much more than can be consumed by all the trees and plants on the hills around La Antigua … Read more
The recently anointed “abuelito” to my first born, took us three (my girlfriend, my daughter, and I) to Finca Filadelfia where we enjoyed a tour of the plantation and had a taste of the most delicious coffee we have ever had. Our tour guide, Josué, was kind and knowledgeable, taking us through the history of … Read more
Volcanic soil, the perfect amount rain and sunshine and shadow, temperate weather, 5,000 to 6,500 feet altitude above sea level and to start with the best possible coffee berries. That’s all, give or take. Any other suggestions or things that I might have overlooked?
Green should be the color that identifies Guatemala more than any other. When you’re flying into Guatemala you know you have arrived when your see the green vegetation and the volcanic chain that crosses the country from border to border. Just look at all the different shades of green found at a simple entrance for … Read more
If you live in or around Antigua Guatemala you get used to coffee farms, coffee lots and coffee orchards and cupolas very fast. Here I was able to get both on the same shot. This photo was taken on the back end of the San Cristobal El Bajo church. Have you visited San Cristóbal El … Read more
I was told once that in Guatemala if they are lucky coffee plantations can harvest twice a year. But, most of the time, there’s only one harvest season, which begins in February or March. Do you know when is the other harvesting season in Guatemala?
This photograph was taken at one of the newest gated residential developments within the San Pedro Las Huertas, one of the villages of La Antigua Guatemala. Slowly but surely, fincas cafetaleras, coffee plantations, are becoming gated residential communities. Well, maybe not so slow. In ten years I have seen many new gated residential communities pop … Read more
Just yesterday, Zach was asking what is your favorite viewing spot of the Antigua Guatemala area? Well, I don’t have just one. Obviously I like the views from Cerro de la Cruz, Finca Filadelfia and Santo Domingo del Cerro. Nevertheless, I finding the views from the road that takes you to El Hato village quite … Read more
This staircase leads to coffee heaven, also known as the tostaduría, the roasting room. Or maybe not. I guess you will have to find out for yourself. 😉
It’s so easy to take interesting photographs around La Antigua Guatemala; you just have to walk with your eyes wide open. For instance, repetition is one such approach which is easily found around La Antigua Guatemala in the forms columns, arches, windows, doors, et-cetera. Well, today I bring you lines; one prominent line from a … Read more
Besides the Canopy Zip Lines tours you can find at Finca Filadelfia, in Antigua Guatemala, there are all kinds of activities to do there. For one, you can take a coffee tour to learn all the processes that take the coffee bean from the tree all the way to the cup. You can also dine … Read more
So what makes La Antigua Guatemala the best coffee in the world? To get the best cup of coffee of the world, one must start with the right altitude; somewhere above 1,500 meters above the sea level; add lots of fertile volcanic soil; mix in plenty of rain (about six months); stable temperate weather (about 75˚ F / 25˚ C); once you have the above, make sure you plant the best possible Arabica coffee.