Hobbitenango
When my mom, sister, and I visited Antigua, Guatemala, one of the top things we wanted to see was Hobbitenango. It was our last day in Guatemala so we had gone to some ruins that morning, got an incredible lunch, then decided to finish the trip with Hobbitenango.
Me, falling apart at the top
We ordered an Uber, which told us to pay him cash outside of the app because Uber drivers won’t drive up there… This is false. Do not fall for that. Did we do it anyway? Yep.
We paid about $20 to go up the mountain, which at one point, we rolled backwards down a cliff… Our driver was BARRELLING up this mountain and I legitimately felt like I was being throttled into space. My chest was hurting from the rapid ascent, I was getting tunnel vision, and borderline a panic attack thinking I was either going to pass out from the altitude or from the driver careening us off the mountain.
When you finally make it up the mountain (what should take about 25 minutes and took us about 12….), you’ll come to a field with billboards. I literally rolled out of the car and onto the ground and was lying down flat on the ground trying to catch my breath. You have to find your way to the ticket counter, which we found a little difficult to find. Could be because it is actually tucked away or because I thought I was dying. (I have since come to the realization that I am VERY sensitive to air pressure changes/altitude). It has an elevation of 7,800 feet… Which is very high for a girl from Memphis, TN with an elevation of 338 feet.
It costs $7 to enter, and you have to take another bus up to the tippy top of the mountain about another 10 minutes. Again, I lied flat on the gravel and was trying to get a good breath and slow down my heart rate. My sister had rolled her ankle right before Hobbitenango and my mom was just emotionally unwell the entire trip. We.Were.A.Mess.
Once you enter Hobbitenango, it really is beautiful. There is SO MUCH to do there. They have:
a giant swing over the mountainside
lots of hobbit homes
a dozen photo spots
archery
mini golf
a hotel
a restaurant and a bar
axe throwing
a market
It was a great time even though we were torn up to shreds physically, mentally, and emotionally. Would I go again? Maybe, if someone I was with REALLY wanted to go. I did have a great time and it was such a unique experience! And for $7? Absolutely.