During my recent stay in Antigua, Guatemala, one of the first activities I booked was a coffee farm tour organised by De La Gente. Whether you're a coffee lover or just want to learn more about it, the half-day tour is a great way to learn more about how coffee is grown and meet some of the farmers whose dedication makes it all possible.
The tiny, rainbow-hued Isla de Flores was my final destination in Guatemala. I spent two days there: enough time to explore the island’s architecture, take a boat trip on Lake Petén and visit Tikal, the spectacular Mayan archaeological site.
As 2025 draws to a close, I'm looking back on my travel highlights of the year. I travelled to three new countries (Latvia, Guatemala and Belize) and one new island (Mallorca) in 2025. I also enjoyed return visits to destinations like Cannes, the Gorges du Verdon, Cambridge and Windsor. These are the moments and experiences from my 2025 travels that stayed with me — and might just inspire your next trip.
I'm taking a break from my Guatemala and Belize blogs to pick out some of my favourite specialty coffee shops, restaurants, bars and individual dishes from all those I visited for the first time in 2025, in London and on my travels around the world.
I knew I'd find great specialty coffee in Antigua. But I wasn't sure what to expect from the cafes in Lake Atitlán, another of Guatemala's main coffee growing regions. I needn't have worried: I found at least one excellent coffee shop in each town I visited, many of them serving coffee grown, processed and roasted locally.
After my epic volcano hike, it was time to relax and Guatemala's beautiful Lake Atitlán region was the perfect place for it! I spent three days exploring the small lakeside towns by foot, shopping for handwoven textiles, admiring the street art and enjoying volcano-fringed sunsets. Here's my guide for making the most of your time in Lake Atitlán.