Rediscovering Guatemala After 25 Years

In July, I traveled back to Guatemala for the first time in 25 years. My wife, our kids, and I spent a couple of weeks in the capital while I attended a few meetings at the US embassy, hosted a coding hackathon to connect with local developers, and explored the city a little bit.

I finally got to hug my family again. That moment alone was worth the trip. But being back in my country after so long brought a mix of emotions. There is a lot of change and progress, and there is also a kind of charm that never fades. The tech scene is growing fast and I’ll share more about that soon, but I also noticed a few everyday things that caught me by surprise.

Simple things that surprised me

Even in big supermarkets like La Torre, I couldn’t find a few things that are easy to grab here in Minnesota.

100% cacao powder

Most cacao products I saw were heavily processed or blended with sugar. My guess is that pure cacao isn’t in high demand for the average shopper, so stores stock the sweeter options that sell faster.

Pure vanilla extract

Almost everything labeled “vanilla” was flavored syrup or imitation. It might be that importing the real thing is expensive, and most people simply use what’s available and familiar to them.

Maple syrup

I realized this is one of those things I take for granted living in Minnesota and being so close to Canada. Maple syrup isn’t really part of the local food culture in Guatemala, so it’s probably seen as a specialty item rather than a kitchen staple.

Raw honey

I eventually found some on the coast from a man who collects honey from wild hives and also from a couple of small pharmacies. Their honey was thick, rich, and delicious. I guess local honey like that mostly circulates through farmers markets or small towns, not big grocery chains.

Life in the city, 25 years later

Uber is fast and cheap, and I would skip traditional taxis. Uber Eats works surprisingly well throughout Guatemala City and even in other large cities.

Most Airbnbs in the city do not have air conditioning, but the weather is mild enough that you don’t really need it, even for someone like me who’s used to the Minnesota cold.

Setting up local bank accounts and cell service was easier than I expected. I opened a bank account and got a phone line from Claro in just a few minutes at each place.

Change of pace in Sipacate

After the city, we spent two weeks in Sipacate, the small fishing town where I grew up. Seeing it again after 25 years was something I’ll never forget.
The dirt roads I used to walk barefoot are now paved, and almost everyone rides a motorcycle or a tuk tuk instead of walking or pedaling to get around. Some of my old neighbors and friends are still there, and catching up with them felt both familiar and surreal.

Life in Sipacate moves slower, and I mean that in the best way. Mornings start with roosters and ocean air instead of car horns. The food is fresh and simple. Fish caught that morning, coconuts cut open on the beach, fruit from a stand down the road.

It reminded me of what life felt like before things got fast. Being back where I grew up grounded me in a way the city couldn’t. It felt like coming full circle.

By the way, I drank more coconut water in those two weeks in Sipacate than I have in years.

What’s next?

I’m heading back to Guatemala in a couple of days, this time by myself. I’ll be documenting more of the trip, the travel, the work, and the people, on TikTok and Instagram.

If you’ve ever gone back to the place you were born after a long time away, you know the feeling. Everything feels familiar and new at once.

This trip reminded me how much there is to rediscover and how good it feels to reconnect with where you came from.

More soon.