Al Argueta: There are scheduled shuttle services linking La Antigua (just 40 minutes from Guatemala City) and Monterrico. You may be able to arrange a private shuttle from Guatemala City to Monterrico with Gray Line Tours. Although it looks close on a map, there's really no benefit in flying in to San Salvador for a trip to Monterrico, as you'd probably lose any time you'd make up with the closer distance negotiating secondary roads and border crossings. A four-lane toll road leads south from Guatemala City to Puerto Quetzal. From there, it's just a short hop east to Iztapa and Monterrico along a good road; a journey totaling about 2 hours from Guatemala City. Shuttle services and luxury buses connect San Salvador to Guatemala City and La Antigua.

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St Louis, Mo.: I'm heading to Guatemala in December and am wondering if Guatemala is one of those countries that prefers the US dollar to any others. Should I make sure to bring small bills and plenty of cash?

Al Argueta: Curiously, Guatemala is not one of those countries preferring the U.S. dollar. Your best bet is to bring cash or travelers checks and exchange currency as you need it. Even in cosmopolitan Guatemala City, paying with U.S. dollars is generally frowned upon; in remote mountain villages this would be even more so. An exception to this would be travel agencies quoting rates for transfers and the like in U.S. dollars and eagerly accepting them as a form of payment.

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Sausalito, Calif.: Hi. Can you recommend an intensive Spanish language school in Guatemala? I will be going for 2 weeks in January 2008 and would prefer to learn in Antigua. I am a rank beginner and only have 2 weeks, but am a fast learner (speak French and Italian) so I need one-on-one instruction.

Additional facts: I am 64, female, move slowly due to arthritis in my knees, would love to stay with a professor or a family not too far from the school (mobility issues). Positive facts: I really want to learn to speak Spanish and am willing to concentrate all day and not have any social life.

Thanks so much for considering my question.
--Geraldine

Al Argueta: Hi, Geraldine. I recommend going to 123teachme.com where you can research language schools based on your specific needs and even see ratings from past students.

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Valrico, Fla.: We will be going to Guate in December and staying in Guate City. What is the closest location to go zip-lining in a rain forest atmosphere?

Al Argueta: Technically, there are no rainforests near Guatemala City, though there are some nice patches of jungle on the volcanic slopes. On the slopes of Pacaya Volcano, the very fun Parque Natural Canopy Calderas has a six-platform-zipline through the cloud forest and camping on the shores of a volcanic caldera.

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Champaign, Ill.: My girlfriend and I are both American Indians, and we'd like to travel to Guatemala in order to meet indigenous peoples and learn about their particular histories and lifeways, as well as compare notes from our own experiences. We also have a deep interest in indigenous cooperative economics, and would love to learn about fair trade coffee work and things like that down there, and maybe make some contacts so that we can direct American Indians to buy from particular Guatemalan indigenous groups. I know this sounds like "work" compared to the sorts of questions you get, but this sort of thing is what we feel is important.

Of course, we'd also like to try out some surfing maybe, or jungle-trekking and homestays or sustainable B&B's, especially if we can help the economy of indigenous people down there by doing so.

Thanks!
--Tol

Al Argueta: A few organizations come to mind. Corazon del Bosque is a Mayan-run ecotourism initiative in the Guatemalan highlands that might be able to point you in the right direction. Also check out Asociación Ak'Tenamit, a non-profit Mayan grass roots organization working to reduce poverty in the rain forests of eastern Guatemala's Izabal region through education, health care and income generation programs. In Quetzaltenango, EntreMundos works with several grass roots organizations and NGOs to connect them with potential volunteers. They're a great resource.

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Portland, Ore.: Is there going to be a military conflict in the near future? When I was in La Antigua in April, I met a US soldier there for 6 month Spanish immersion who said he was one of 600 US soldiers studying with no papers to return to the US. Locals told me the US intends to battle the Colombian drug cartels in Guat before the drugs get into Mexico. If so, will the action be only in the countryside so the cities will be safe?

Al Argueta: This is all just part of the U.S. government's war on drugs but I can assure you there is no foreseeable military conflict in Guatemala's future. The country just recently held the sixth free and fair elections since a return to democratic rule in 1985. What locals told you probably concerned DEA operations in tandem with with local law enforcement to annihilate clandestine landing strips in remote jungle outposts. This is happening in countries all over Latin America. Guatemala also hosts a sizeable population of U.S. military personnel visiting the country on periodic humanitarian missions.

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New York, N.Y.: I've noticed you are suggesting to bring travelers checks and cash to exchange while in Guatemala. I normally just use an ATM card when I travel. Are ATMs readily available in Guatemala? I hate to lose money on exchange rates and the hassle of exchanging money (but do know it's far more secure). Thanks!

Al Argueta: Yes, ATMs are readily available throughout much of Guatemala. I tend to just hit the ATM up for cash whenever I'm traveling in Guatemala.

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San Diego, Calif.: We plan to visit Chichicastenango but can't be there on Thursday or Sunday. What is it like on non-market days?

Al Argueta: There's not much to see on non-market days, as the market is pretty much what this town is all about. Still, it's worth a look around and it's actually kind of nice to see the town without the presence of large tour buses choking its narrow streets. Some of the shops offering handicrafts should still be open on non-market days so you'll at least be able to do some shopping. You can also go peak into the church of Santo Tomas.

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Lakewood, Colo.: My tour company is offering an optional tour to Tikal for the sunrise "experience." I know it will certainly be less crowded--is this option worth the added expense of $40.00 US?

Al Argueta: The sunrise from the top of Tikal's temple IV is certainly breathtaking, as the wildlife comes alive and you can hear its chorus from the surrounding rainforest. At the same time. be advised you may not see the actual sun, as mornings in Tikal tend to be foggy with dense mist coming of the forest canopy. Still, it's pretty magical.

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Al Argueta: That's all the time we have. Thanks so much for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed this chat and found it helpful. You can find answers to many of your unanswered questions (as well as in-depth coverage of questions posed here) in Moon Guatemala. I've tried my best to make it user-friendly and packed with the sort of information today's traveler would find useful. Think of it as the words and advice of a trusted friend intimately acquainted with Guatemala and sensitive to the needs of U.S. travelers that you can take along with you for the ride. Those of you traveling with limited time and wanting to hit some of the highlights will find the suggested itineraries very helpful. They include The Best of Guatemala, Adventure Hiking, Mayans Past and Present, Bird-watcher's Delight and Living it Up. You can pick up Moon Guatemala online on amazon.com at 32 percent off the cover price.

I also blog on the amazon product page to make periodic updates to information found in the book such as the recent admission fee changes at Tikal National Park.

Finally, if you're in Austin, I'll be at Barnes & Noble at the Arboretum on Saturday, November 17 for a Guatemala slide show and book signing starting at 2 p.m. See you there!