Guatemala Travel Guide
Travel to Guatemala - Mayan Markets, Erupting Volcanoes and Lost Cities
- Ratings:
- 3.79 out of 5 (68 votes)
-
Reviews:
-
1
Add your review
A visit to Guatemala is awash with colour, vibrancy and intrigue, where welcoming locals greet you with a warm smile and great pride in their country and culture.
From white sandy Caribbean beaches, explore wildlife-rich rivers running deep through tropical jungle that hide countless Lost Cities, including the incredible ruins of Tikal, El Mirador and Ceibal in El Peten in the north.
The cooler highlands are home to the beautiful colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua and many colourful market towns, such as Chichicastenango and Solola, which lie close to Lake Atitlan and are overlooked by foreboding peaks. Further afield, impressive volcanoes ooze glutinous red lava down their dark flanks - one of which, Pacaya Volcano, can be visited on a half-day walk.
Rich Mayan traditions still exist in many highland villages, including Santiago and Nebaj, in the Ixil Triangle, Garífuna culture remains strong in Caribbean towns like Livingstone. The bustling hub of Guatemala city has its urban charms but is a world away from the remote black sands of the Pacific beaches, where those venturing off the beaten track can explore the Biotopo Monterico-Hawaii Reserve by boat or find a waterside hammock, lay back and watch the surf come in.
Travellers looking for adventure will not be disappointed. Guatemala has a whole range of activities to offer from hiking to the summit of the San Pedro volcano, parascending over Lake Atitlan, zip-lining through the jungle, horse riding in the Los Cuchumatanes mountains, or spotting wildlife including the elusive manatee and Guatemala’s National Bird, the Quetzal, in one of Guatemala's many National Parks.
Guatemala is often described as being Classic Central America. A fascinating country of great contrasts, it is one which people return to again and again. And don’t forget to leave some space in your bag when you pack – you’ll need it to fit in all the Guatemalan crafts and you’ll want to bring back home!
Map of Guatemala
Areas of Guatemala
Places to Visit in Guatemala
Guatemala Reviews
-
Posted on:
-
Thursday, 15th January 2009
- Rating
I just came back from a three week trip to eternally sunny Guatemala, Central America. I love to bike, hike and paddle so those are the activities that I sought out while I was there. I went straight from the airport as many travelers do to the Spanish colonial city of Antigua. It was beautiful and had any and all services that a traveler would ever want. The cobblestone streets and manicured public parks were handsome and I'm sure the architecture and the museums were impressive but I really couldn't be bothered as my agenda was as much adventure as possible in my limited time.
Speaking no Spanish I went for the nicest most professional adventure tours operators that I could find. I looked around and was most impressed with Old Town Outfitters. They made it possible for me to cram as much experience into my limited time as humanly possible. I started my adventure with bike rides first, around the towns of the valley to get a lay of the land then, along the surrounding ridges through cloud forests and down technical single track trails.
The people I met on the streets and in the fields were among the nicest and most open people I've ever met anywhere in the world and I have been around. With just enough Spanish to be polite and say hi I was treated like a long lost friend by everyone I came across. The small towns and natural areas were really the highlight of my experience because of the niceness of the people that I encountered there.
I also found time to climb three volcanoes, Pacaya, San Pedro and Acatenango. I went on bike trips at the Lake Atitlán and in another mountain range called the Cuchumatanes. I paddled kayaks in the mangrove canals of the Pacific Coast and over Rio Dulce from Lake Izabal to the Caribbean Sea. All this was made possible with my new and hopefully lasting friends at Old Town Outfitters.
Guatemala is a land of wonder for the adventure traveler. I'm sure it has something for anyone traveling on any agenda but it's nature areas are like non other in the world.
Sullivan Ross
College Station, TX
-
Posted by:
-
mrchuii
-
Posted at:
-
20:40
Guatemala Travel Guide