Guatemala

A UNESCO World Heritage colonial city surrounded by volcanoes, with cobblestone streets, baroque churches, and some of Central America's best coffee and chocolate.

Aldous Huxley called it "the most beautiful lake in the world." Three volcanoes ring a 1,562m caldera, and twelve Maya villages dot the shoreline — each Kaqchikel or Tz'utujil with its own character. Panajachel for transit, San Pedro for backpacker partying and Spanish school, San Marcos for yoga and cliff jumps, Santiago for traditional culture and the Maximón shrine, San Juan for textile co-ops and coffee. Lanchas (boats) shuttle between them.