A new flight is launching from San Francisco to this underrated Latin American country

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History will be made for Californians this summer looking to escape hordes of tourists, sure to invade their iconic city.

While the streets of Chinatown and the vendors of Fisherman’s Wharf are flooded with selfie-takers, that’s always the cue for San Franciscans to hop on the BART and head to SFO.

Being home to one of America’s most internationally connected airports, it’s almost overwhelming to choose a destination, but we at Travel Off Path believe the latest route announcement revealed is a no-brainer…

Of course, you can travel to Cancun and many other notable locations with itineraries, but summer is the perfect time to let your adventurous side shine.

As one of Latin America’s most diverse destinations with kaleidoscopic villages, dazzling volcanic backdrops and virtually undiscovered beach hideaways, travelers looking to experience more than waking up early to reserve a pool lounger should head to Guatemala for their next vacation.

Why visit Guatemala?

Call us crazy, but Guatemala is perhaps the best alternative to Mexico.

Think about it: it’s right next door, has a very similar kitchen, and in many cases is even more affordable than ours amigos south of the border.

Of course you can say that the Caribbean is also a great alternative, but guess what: Guatemala has a Caribbean coastline with unique Garifuna culture.

That begs the question: what not Guatemala has?

Well, safety is the only question mark. In fact, the US Embassy has one safety warning in January, but from a tourist perspective nothing serious.

(If you’ve been there recently, vote below!)

The bustling capital, Guatemala City, has long been seen as something to skip by travelers because there isn’t much to see and it has a vague atmosphere, with many preferring nearby Antigua.

This beautiful colonial city is a destination in itself and a perfect gateway to some of the country’s most amazing natural beauty.

Take it from me: If you’re not too chicken to ride a “chicken bus,” you’ll feel like a local.

Between Antigua, volcanic hikes, and compelling off-the-trail towns like Quetzaltenango (popular among Americans honing their Spanish skills), Guatemala should not be overlooked.

Best of all, it still clings to its ‘hidden gem’ status, so you won’t have to deal with crowds every season.

The only direct route from San Francisco to “Guate”

It looks like you don’t even have to search through SFO’s laundry list of flight options. You just assume there is a flight.

That, and the fact that Oakland and San Jose are close too…

But this time, SFO gets all the credit (not that Oakland ever wins a PR battle).

This week, the popular Latin American airline Avianca announced that it will soon have a monopoly on this The only direct route from the bay to Guatemala.

According to The points man, This groundbreaking route will operate regularly throughout the summer from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City.

In other words, it will be that way initially seasonal to test the waters.

Just in time to burn through your well-deserved PTO, you can cash it out June 1 to August 31.

From SFO, the flight departs at 7:45 AM and arrives at 2:15 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Conversely, the flight from GUA departs at 1:20 AM and arrives at 6:25 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

However, there is one caveat.

Avianca also serves San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL). Their SFO-SAL route will no longer be a nonstop flight.

Essentially, the new SFO-GUA route now serves as a pit stop. The same plane will fly further, which will affect travelers to El Salvador more than those traveling to Guatemala.

What to expect on board Avianca

If you don’t know, Avianca is a Bogotá, Colombia-based airline and is highly regarded as a member of the Star Alliance and is certified as a 3-star airline by SkyTrax.

While passenger ratings could be better, Avianca has an impressive safety track record, with a near-perfect rating of 6/7, according to Airline ratings.

On board, travelers can expect the following amenities:

• Free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks
• Meals on board and alcoholic drinks available for purchase
• USB power ports
• Streaming entertainment to personal devices

Wifi is a big maybe. The latest from Avianca update suggests that its fleet of A320 aircraft is gradually being equipped with Wi-Fi.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.

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