La Laguna Chikabal (Sunday)

Our adventure began and then almost ended within forty minutes. We asked at least ten people for directions and then waited for a bus in the ¨correct¨ spot without seeing one for twenty minutes (which is rare). Turning home we asked an eleventh person, and our luck turned around. In an hour we were at the base of La Distancia and the beginning of our hike as no pick ups had passed yet.

We walked up the angelic farming community that was decorated with clothes drying on every roof, fence, and line. Walking up we also had a view of all the small towns nestled in valleys below lush green hills and mountains whose peaks were adorned with clouds. A pick up truck then roared behind us so we hitched a ride in the back to cut off a mile or two. After a bumpy ride we were at the trail head and on our way. On our way at a very slow and steady pace that is, as the trail seemed like practically a 90 degree angle. We staggered our way up and came to the view point eventually which was just magnificent. It is a old crater from Volcan Chikabal that then somehow filled with water in the past. Fog sweeps over it frequently too, creating a eerie but magical feel. We then moved on to descend 600 stairs down the side of the foliage covered crater. At the edge of the lake there are crosses and flowers on stakes coming out of the water as it is a sacred Mayan site.

Just as we decided we should leave to ensure a ride back to Xela it started raining and within five minutes it started pouring. We were drenched in minutes and only had one concern: to keep our cameras dry. This was only slightly possible if we were to run. We hustled it out down the steep muddy slope that now had a river running through it with little ability to stop if necessary. We made it to the base of the hike and huddled under an aluminum roof shelter ringing out shirts, hair, camera cases, etc. Our luck got better though, as the same commendable family that gave us a ride up in the back offered us a ride down this time in the car despite there being eleven people in total. With all eleven stuffed in the inside of the truck they also then extended the offer back to Xela. Gladly accepting I rode back with a women I did not know on my lap and Zoe on the gear shift for an hour. We stepped out of the car in Xela exactly where we needed to be and walked home a few blocks shaking and shivering. Sadly, showers here are cold for the most part but I made due by cozzying into bed for a while.