The accomplishments of the ancient Maya – seen in their magnificent ruins, complex calendars and intricate writing system are complemented by the cultural richness of the contemporary Maya. You’ll find markets selling everything from livestock to the justly-famous textiles. And, beautiful colonial architecture and the natural beauty of jungles, snow-capped volcanoes, and abundant flora and fauna offer ample photo opportunities.
Places of Interest
Antigua
World renown for its colonial beauty, Antigua has its own personality…tourists learning Spanish, locals selling crafts, monumental and picturesque ruins of churches and monasteries remain from the last earthquake. There are good restaurants, art galleries, bars, a theater and library. It is multicultural, multilingual, and still a real place.
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Guatemala City
This is Guatemala’s capital and most important city – but most visitors use it as a transit point. Built in the late 18th century after Antigua was nearly destroyed by an earthquake, the city has good museums and restaurants.
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El Petén & Tikal
Northern Guatemala stretches between Mexico and Belize for the most part covered by a jungle rich in wildlife – and the ruins of the great Classic Maya cities. Tikal is the most famous, but there are several sites worth visiting to learn different aspects of the Maya culture that was so advanced. Yaxhá, though smaller than Tikal, was important in its own right and home to about 40,000 people. The jungle dominates much of this site, giving a special atmosphere to explorations.
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Lago Atitlán & Chichicastenango
Surely one of the world's most beautiful lakes, Lago Atitlán is framed by volcanoes and surrounded by 12 villages. Local inhabitants, Tzutuhil or Cakchiquel Maya, fish from dugout canoes, cut reeds to make mats, farm, tend coffee farms, make ceramics and weave. There's a crafts market in Santiago Atitlán which draws tourists daily. Other activities include hiking, birdwatching, and horseback riding. Chichicastenango is famous for its twice-weekly market.
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Rio Dulce & Livingston
Livingston is a fishing community of Garifuna people along the Caribbean coast. The Garifuna (also in Belize and Honduras) are descendants of the African slaves and Carib Indians who formed a distinct language and culture – and they are known for their music. The UN has recently recognized their language, dance and music as one of 19 masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage in the world. The boat ride between Livingston and Rio Dulce, twenty miles upriver, offers scenic beauty and flora and fauna. You’ll see snowy white egrets and long-necked herons, pelicans, kingfishers, cormorants, and Jesus Christ birds walking on water lilies. Kekchi Maya live in thatched-roof huts along the shore, and fishermen ply the waters in their dugout canoes, or Cayucos. After the town of Rio Dulce the river becomes Lago Izabal, Guatemala’s largest lake, and dotted with resorts.
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