×

Licenses

(191 ratings)

Joel - Tour Guide in Antigua Guatemala

Hi, I'm Joel, and I'm passionate about Guatemalan culture. Our training as tour guides takes several years, and we love sharing the knowledge we've gained, as well as the wonderful things our country offers, so that every traveler from around the world leaves with great memories and a positive experience during their visit. Art, history, architecture, photography, and gastronomy are all part of my interests and training when it comes to Guatemala. Likewise, I try to learn something new every day to share with each traveler on our next tour.

About the guide

Tours delivered on GuruWalk: 697
Guide on GuruWalk since: 2021
Languages: English

1 Tour of Joel

Ratings (191)

Ricardo
(1 Rating) Ensenada
Verified booking
Travelled in group - May 2026

Muchas gracias a Joel, el recorrido fue muy agradable, siempre atento a nuestras prefuntas y necesidades, con excelente actitud. Lo recomiendo.

Brandon
(1 Rating) San Francisco
Verified booking
Travelled alone - May 2026

I scheduled a tour with Jorge, and though no one else showed up, he still carried out the tour with just the two of us. The tour itself was entertaining and very informative.

jessieann
(1 Rating) Whitehorse
Verified booking
Travelled in couple - May 2026

100% recommend going with Joel, he takes smaller groups than some of the other guides so you are more involved in the experience! Got a great history of city & the Maya culture/traditions. He showed us all the highlights of the town both historical and modern & gave tips on what was worth your time/money to go back and explore in more detail. Food & Bar recommendations as well :) :)

Zipporah
(1 Rating) Vancouver
Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2026

First of all, our guide was NOT Joel like the booking described. We were never informed that it wouldn’t be Joel or to look for someone else. And that’s not a safe practice at all, especially for female travelers. Next, the guide kept making comments about my friend’s body that made her uncomfortable. Why did he feel the need to comment on her appearance and physique? Second red flag. Thirdly, at the end of the tour, he was aggressive and manipulative about the tip. I take responsibility for not informing my friend that it was a free tour that suggested tips, and I didn’t see the suggested tip amount. When we tried to tip him at the end, it wasn’t enough for him. He refused to take the money unless we gave him the recommended amount. He kept pushing to get the tip he desired and wouldn’t take any less. Final red flag. Overall, I wouldn’t work with this guide again. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation for both of us.

Response from Joel
Hello Zipporah, Thank you for your feedback. I want to address a few points directly. First, we do not tolerate any type of inappropriate insinuations or comments. The majority of people who book our tours are women, and this is the first time we’ve encountered an issue of this nature. Regarding payment, our communication is very clear: this is our profession and we are not funded by the government or an NGO. We invest our own resources to provide this service. Because of that, a minimum contribution is suggested at the end of the tour. If a guest does not agree with this, booking and cancellation are always free. We send a reminder before the tour and provide detailed information in advance so there are no surprises. As for Hugo, he is a very professional, knowledgeable, and respectful guide with years of experience. I can confidently say he is not the type of guide you described. I personally make sure to send the right information and assign qualified guides so every guest has a good experience when I cannot host the tour myself. We take these matters seriously and appreciate you bringing your concerns to our attention. Best regards Joel
Kate
(1 Rating) Sydney
Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2026

Hugo is friendly, very engaging and knowledgeable. Throughly enjoyable. Highly recommended. One of the best walking tours we have been on.

Destinations where Joel offers tours

Licenses

(191 ratings)

Explore
Bookings
Messages