Planning Your Time in La Antigua, The Old Guatemala
Its name means “the old Guatemala,” and this is in fact what it is. The former capital of Guatemala was destroyed by earthquakes in 1773. Rather than rebuild, the country’s aristocracy opted for a fresh start in the neighboring Valley of the Hermitage, the current site of Guatemala City. And so, b
Guatemala's Land Mammals
Guatemala’s list of native land mammals is impressive, with a large variety of exotic cats, primates, and other furry creatures. The largest of Guatemala’s cats is the jaguar (Panthera onca), found in lowland parts of Petén, Izabal, and the Verapaces. Referred to as tigre by locals, it is known to
Outdoor Sports in Guatemala
Whether you’re an enthusiastic hiker or cyclist, an avid rock-climber or sport-fisher, Guatemala’s great outdoors has a treat in store for you. While some activities such as rock climbing are relatively new and others like sailfishing are long established, Guatemala is definitely suite
Etiquette and Customs in Guatemala
You’ll find most Guatemalans are warm and friendly. In many instances, they will be very curious about you as a foreigner, particularly in areas that are still getting accustomed to a growing presence of gringo travelers. Urban and rural settings have varying degrees of formality, though politenes
Petén and the Maya Biosphere Reserve
Guatemala’s northernmost department conjures images of a remote wilderness, dense forests, and lost Mayan cities.
Lake Petén Itzá. Photo © Al Argueta.
Today, that image is only partly true, as much of the Ohio-sized Petén has been cleared by settlers for subsistence agriculture and cattle ranching
Guatemala's Pre-Colonial Mayan Inhabitants
Guatemala’s history is complicated and fascinating, though it often reads like a tragic novel. A basic understanding of its history is a crucial element for the well-informed traveler hoping to get the most out of a visit to this mystifying land of culture and contrasts.
More than half of Guatemal
Hiking and Biking Antigua's Volcanoes
Antigua’s setting is spectacular, flanked on its southern extreme by the towering 3,750-meter (12,325-foot) Agua Volcano. The colossal 4,235-meter (13,044-foot) Acatenango and active Fuego Volcanoes lie to the west. The surrounding hillsides provide wonderful views of the valley and the volc
Exploring Chichicastenango in Guatemala
At Chichi, tourism became voyeurism. There was always so much going on—the crowded, noisy market, the rituals on the steps of Santo Tomás, a ceremonial dance outside El Calvario chapel, the explosion of firecrackers in the morning, a procession—that it was easy to think it all a show put on for th
Things to Do at Lake Amatitlán
Amatitlán lies 30 kilometers south of Guatemala City on the road to the Pacific Coast. The lake is in the process of being rescued from what would have been certain ecological death caused by wastewater from nearby industry and uncontrolled urban growth. A new sewage treatment plant now filters th
Tips on Staying in Guatemala on a Budget
Options for accommodations in Guatemala vary from the backpacker’s basic $3-a-night room in cheap, blue-light hotels or hostels to ultraswanky boutique hotels and five-star international chain hotels and resorts. It’s possible to tour the country entirely on either end of the budget spectrum. Ther
Guatemala's Biosphere Reserves
Guatemala has more than 90 protected areas encompassing about 28 percent of the country’s total land area. Among the different types of protected areas are biosphere reserves, national parks, biotopes, natural monuments, wildlife refuges, and private nature reserves. Several of these are encompass
Guatemala City Golfing
Fans of golf will find some excellent golf courses in and around the city; those within private country clubs are usually still open to visitors. You can enjoy a round of golf surrounded by the country’s spectacular mountain scenery as you play on narrow, sloping fairways lined with pine trees and
Iximché, Guatemala's Most Accessible Highland Mayan Site
Faced with the increasingly belligerent expansionist aims of their K’iche’ rivals, the Kaqchikel moved their capital from present-day Chichicastenango to the more easily defended site of Iximché, surrounded on three sides by ravines, sometime around AD 1470. Like many other Mayan sites, it bore st
Sights in Guatemala City's Zona 10
Zona 10 is home to Guatemala City’s most pleasant commercial district, a beautiful example of 19th century architecture, and two excellent museums–one a definite must-see for anyone with even a passing interest in Mayan culture.
Avenida La Reforma
Running between 1a Calle and 20 Calle, Aveni
Religious Sights in Antigua, Guatemala
Antigua is fascinating and easily manageable, as most everything you might want to see and do lies within a radius of a few miles.
Arco de Santa Catalina. Photo © Al Argueta.
Arco de Santa Catalina
Looking south through the archway, you’ll find some nice framing for an unobstructed view of Agua Vo
The Ruins of Takalik Abaj, Guatemala
The site of Takalik Abaj (7am-5pm daily, $3.50), meaning “standing stones,” is particularly interesting because it reveals elements of Olmec influence in early Mayan culture. It made headlines as recently as 2002 with the discovery of an intact royal burial tomb thought to be that of the site’s la
Doing business & staying in touch while in Guatemala
Guatemala: Doing business & staying in touch
Guatemala Weather, Climate and Geography
Guatemala Weather, climate and geography
Guatemala History, Language and Culture
Guatemala History, Language and Culture
Guatemala Travel Guide and Travel Information
Guatemala Travel Guide
