A serene sunrise hike in a tropical country is magical by itself, but one lucky traveler had the hike of a lifetime after a pack of friendly and protective street dogs joined him on his adventure.
TikTok travel guru @george.in.the.mountains was embarking on the famous Indian Nose hike in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, before sunrise on June 10 when he met his first furry friend. Many beloved community dogs live happily on the streets in this area, where they are known to befriend travelers, and this time would prove no different!
One by one, more excited dogs joined the parade up the mountain. By the time the sun rose above the town just before 6 AM, George and his pack looked like they jumped straight out of a movie. The scene was simply magical!
@george.in.the.mountains I am part of the pack now #dogs #travel #guatemala
Who knew that being adopted by a pack of street dogs would be so rewarding? Whether they preferred bonding with George or simply taking in the view, there’s no doubt in my mind that these happy dogs knew what they were doing. They have been on this hike before, and they know how to win over a new friend!
“Dogs were like, ‘Follow us. We know a spot,'” one viewer commented. No kidding! Nobody knows the ins and outs of the Indian Nose hike like these local dogs, and for them, this is just a dose of daily exercise.
Another commenter felt simply awestruck by the magical dog encounter, writing, “It’s wild that someone’s out there climbing a mountain with stray dogs to watch the sunrise, while I’m over here debating how to word an email requesting pens and post-its because budgets are tight. Life is weird but absolutely beautiful!”
Canine Guardians in Guatemala
Since meeting my husband, whose family is from Guatemala, I’ve learned so much about this beautiful country. Although we haven’t traveled there yet, we’ve heard so many magical ‘tails’ about the canine guardians around Lake Atitlan and the nearby volcanoes.
“A local Mayan bone doctor told me that the lake is filled with animal guardians/protectors,” one person commented. “He said it’s the Nahuales/spirit in animal form.” There are so many moving stories about these four-legged protectors, but nothing is more incredible than witnessing their bond for yourself. George is so lucky!
@george.in.the.mountains The best morning surprise #travel #dog #volcano #wildcamping
Just a few days before summiting the Indian Nose hike, George met several other dogs on Acatenango Volcano. This time, he came prepared with a bag of dog food, so everyone could be nourished on their adventure. How magical!
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