Guatemala tourist information with details about
travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with
insider tips and hand-selected Guatemala links, by dedicated editors and visitors to
TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.
The capital of Guatemala is in the south central part of the country;
in a valley in the volcanic highlands.
Countries neighbouring Guatemala are: Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
In 1523, Guatemala was discovered by Cortes' lieutenant, Alvarado;
seeking precious metals to finance the Spanish war effort in Europe.
Some silver was found at Huehetenango, but little else, so few
conquistadors stayed and the indigenous people survived in larger numbers than elsewhere.
Over half the population of Guatemala today is pure Indian;
descendants from the great Maya Civilisation.
Weather in Guatemala
View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around
Guatemala.
Escuintla
Weather, Flores
Weather, Guatemala
City Weather, Huehuetenango
Weather, Mazatenango
Weather, Puerto
Barrios Weather, Quetzaltenango
Weather, Zacapa
Weather.
Guatemala City became the country's third capital in 1776, after
Antigua was almost completely destroyed by the 1773 earthquake.
Guatemala City also suffered a series of devastating earthquakes in
1917-1918 and much of the city was rebuilt. Another serious earthquake, in 1976, severely
damaged northern parts of the city.
Places of interest include the National Palace and the cathedral
(partially reconstructed after damage in 1976). There's also a relief map of Guatemala in
Minerva Park.
Accommodation in Guatemala City
Hotels
in Guatemala City:
Find hotels in Guatemala City with special online rates.
Noteworthy Mayan ruins near Guatemala City can be found at Lake
Amatitlán.
Tikal
In the lowlands of northern Guatemala, Tikal is a major attraction as
many Mayan ruins of the 3rd and 4th centuries have been excavated.
The area is one of the largest Mayan ceremonial centres and is
believed to have sustained a population of 50,000 until it was abandoned, for unknown
reasons, in the 10th century.
MayaQuest:
Interactive discovery of lost civilisations in the rainforest.
Mayan Traditions:
Written by the school children of Lo de en Medio, and other villages in the Rio Dulce
region of Guatemala, this short article covers: The Planting of the Maize; Making of the
Tamal, a food made from maize; Typical Costumes; and The Dance of the Deer.
Modern Mayan Lives:
Offers a brief history to the Mayans, and an insight into the situation today.
By the sixteenth century, Antigua was a major centre. The
Spaniards set about building churches, and converting the Indians to Catholicism.
Antigua became the second capital of Guatemala after Ciudad Vieja was
destroyed by flood and volcanic activity in 1541.
Antigua itself was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in
1773, and the capital was moved to Guatemala City.
Study Abroad:
Antigua is one of the primary locations for learning Spanish in Central America. The
colonial architecture and clear mountain air are a perfect environment for study.
Accommodation in Antigua
Hotels
in Antigua:
Find hotels in Antigua with special online rates.
2-3 hours drive north-west of Guatemala City, Chichicastenango is
one of the most authentic of places in the Americas.
Tourists head for the markets on Sundays and Thursdays, but on nowhere
near the same scale as Otavalo, in Ecuador.
Airlines and Airports:
The Guatemalan airline, Aviateca, provides domestic and international services, and
several other airlines provide international flights.
Guatemala
Photostory:
Colourful festivals in Guatemala.
Mayapan Tours:
Mayan culture tours from 4 to 19 days combining Guatemala, Honduras
and Belize. Customise your own special journey from volcano
climbing to staying with farming families.
Quetzalventures:
Seven, twelve and twenty-one day tours to Guatemala and Honduras;
traditional tours, adventure tours and budget tours.
Books
on Guatemala Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Guatemala.
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