Guatemala guide

The Complete Guide To Guatemala

by Alessia Horwich on Apr 27, 2009

Why Guatemala?
This chunk of Central America, wedged beneath Mexico and washed by both the Atlantic and Pacific, is scenically beautiful, rich in history – and very cheap. Guatemala is the only Central American country where indigenous Indian people are in the majority, and their culture is vividly conveyed in their bright, hand-woven textiles. Before the Spanish Conquest, the Mayan civilisation was arguably the most advanced in the Americas. It began to crumble before Columbus arrived, but bequeathed an array of exquisite cities, which are still being uncovered from within the thick jungle in the north.
The place to start your exploration – not least because this is where international flights arrive – is Guatemala City, a sprawling metropolis shouldered by three volcanoes: Fuego, Agua and Pacaya. A couple of the capital's museums are fascinating, particularly the Popol Vuh Archaeological Museum (00 502 23 38 78 96; popolvuh.ufm.edu.gt). The...Read More >>