Hi there! I finally made my way back to Guatemala, just in time for my one-year anniversary. I had been away for over two months, and thankfully, the trip back was smoother than the outbound journey through Cancun. My route took me to Atlanta, where I had a 12-hour layover. I considered meeting up with a few bloggers there, but having no transportation, and the layover spanning from 8 PM to 8 AM, it felt too complicated to head out for dinner and then return to the airport so early on my own.
When I arrived in Atlanta, I needed to print my boarding pass for the Atlanta-Guatemala flight. The Delta representative asked if I had a return ticket to France. That surprised me. I knew you might be denied boarding in Paris if you go to the U.S. with a one-way ticket, but I thought as long as you left the U.S., your next destination didn’t matter much, especially if it was a smaller country like Guatemala. She informed me I needed a visa and a return ticket. I showed her my various stamps and explained that I always enter Guatemala with a one-way ticket and then buy a return ticket. I also mentioned that EU citizens get 90 days on arrival. However, she insisted, mentioning that if I were denied entry, Delta would face a fine, so I had to buy a ticket out of Guatemala.
She told me that any cheap e-ticket could be refunded within 24 hours of purchase, but when I asked for a written confirmation, she declined. She showed me Delta’s website, which stated that most e-tickets were refundable but didn’t specify which ones. I refused to buy an expensive one-way ticket to Paris without assurance it would be refundable, especially since I could end up stuck in Guatemala without my money. I questioned why I was even allowed to board in Paris, to which she responded that it was a mistake and I shouldn’t have been.
Our conversation ended with her suggesting that if I was denied boarding, I would have to fly back to France at my own expense. Frustrated, I argued why I should pay for their mistake. She finally called someone in New York and then handed me my boarding pass without further explanation, wishing me a nice flight through clenched teeth. Relieved, I didn’t press for more answers.
Coming back to Guatemala, I had a few concerns. We started renting out our house on Airbnb, which was going really well, but a couple was due to arrive in early November. I wanted to ensure the house was pristine before they arrived. However, my boyfriend had several tasks to handle in Guatemala City, and I worried we wouldn’t make it back in time.
In our absence, there was significant rainfall. Previously, a small storm in March had damaged our boat, and this time, it rained heavily for days. The handyman and maid were concerned about the rising lake levels. They moved the water pump from the shore as it was getting close to being submerged. Now, my boyfriend has to reconnect it, which involves buying and installing new pipes and electric wires. In the meantime, we don’t have running water, nor will our Airbnb guests, hence the urgency to fix it quickly.
Currently, the deck is almost in the water, but we’re lucky compared to neighbors whose decks are fully submerged. The water has risen about a meter, and the beach has disappeared. The French bowls field has partly fallen into the water, and the pump, moved to a higher ground, is working intermittently.
On the land development front, things have progressed well. We left a lawyer in charge of bureaucratic processes, and he got most of the plots approved by the cadaster—over 90 out of 100 plots. The remaining plots, being near the shore, must go through a separate process involving a concession to the state and can only be leased. Despite this, those plots will remain as green areas, possibly with amenities for camping or small commercial buildings, and will stay within the condo property.
The 90+ plots need to go through the Register of Property next. This involves registering the land to our name with an approved map from the cadaster, detailing the division of plots and public areas. Our lawyer is handling this delicate task, and we hope it goes through smoothly without mistakes, which could cause delays. This final step involves additional fees, estimated between $3,000 and $4,000, after already spending around $1,500 for the cadaster process. We hope to complete this in the next 3-4 months and start selling the plots afterward.
We received offers to buy the whole property for more than our investment but decided to wait. With proper titles, the plots’ value will increase, alleviating potential buyers from the cumbersome process we went through.
A lot has happened in the past year, and I’ll share photo updates when things settle a bit. As for the water issue, it’s almost resolved. If you’re considering renting a room near Tikal, Guatemala, feel free to reach out for details. Thanks!
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