Guatemala Travel: What You Need to Know
Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala. The city has excellent museums such as the Popol Vuh Museum, and the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, which have very nice collections of archaeological items from the pre-Hispanic Mayan world, as well as the famous Tikal mask from mayan history. Recreational activities include hiking volcanoes (Agua and Pacaya), swimming in several recreational facilities, as well as water sports in Lago de Atitlán (lake).
Puerto Quetzal, on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, gives access to Guatemala City, the capital, beaches and some significant historical sites. Magnificent buildings of the colonial period remain at Antigua, the colonial capital, located near Guatemala City. Guatemala was the center of the old Mayan civilization, and many sites from the classic Mayan period (3rd-10th century AD) have been excavated and studied. The largest of these is Tikal in the northern lowlands, where some 3,000 structures, including tall temple pyramids as well as plazas and monuments, cover an area of about 6 sq miles. Thought to have sustained a population of 50,000 at its peak, it was abandoned for unknown reasons at the end of the 10th century.
Guatemala’s Puerto Izabal is a natural paradise offering breathtaking scenery of mountains, lakes, volcanoes and flora and fauna. Guatemala offers the recourses of a mainland port with some of the most spectacular archaeological sites of the Mayan world including Tikal, Quirigua & Copan.
Santo Tomas De Castilla in Guatemala is located on a small stretch of Caribbean coast virtually untouched by man. Do not miss Tikal, the largest and most impressive of all classic Mayan sites with over 500 excavated structures.
Known as the UNESCO “Heritage of Humanity” visit the ruins at Tikal where huge Mayan temples rise above the jungle canopy, and noisy monkeys and colorful birds are abundant in the surrounding rainforest.
Puerto Barrios, city in eastern Guatemala, capital of Izabal Department, on the Bay of Amatique (an arm of the Caribbean Sea). The leading port of Guatemala and the northern terminus of the railroad from the capital, Puerto Barrios lies near an area of extensive banana plantations, and bananas, coffee, chicle, fruits, and tropical woods are exported. It is known for its beaches and fishing facilities.
Important Travel notice: What travelers need to keep in mind is that Guatemala is a poor country and we recommend traveling in groups or with a reputable company so that you can enjoy all the country has to offer safely. It’s also important to stick to the major tourist destinations and not venture of on your own. For added protection, a security escort may be booked for tourist groups through the INGUAT, the Guatemalan tourist institute. Though the vast majority of travelers who venture off the beaten trail enjoy their trips without incident, keep in mind that the problems that do occur generally happen away from large groups or well-traveled areas.
Popular Guatemala trips: Colors of Guatemala, Guatemala with Tikal, Atitlan and Antigua or the Belize and Tikal Adventure.
