Guatemala is one of the most visited countries in Central America. Its natural wealth (only 2% of its surface is urbanized), its mystical culture and its pleasant climate are some of the reasons why this country attracts so many tourists from all over the world.

In the past, Guatemala was home to one of the most captivating civilizations in history: the Mayan, and that is why this country is so interesting from a cultural point of view. This was the case until the 16th century, when the Spanish colonizers conquered the region. In Mayan language, Guatemala means “place of many trees”, which can give us an idea of its natural wealth.

Guatemala today

It is quite difficult, if not impossible, to summarize Guatemala in just one place, but probably the national park of Tikal is its best known place. Tikal, which was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979, is one of the largest urban centers of the Mayan civilization. It is located in the jungle of Petén, in the northern part of the country, and it is a mixture of jungle and Mayan temples that makes Tikal a very special place. The pyramids were built between the 3rd  and 9th centuries and its architecture is really advanced for the time. In addition, these pyramids are quite large and if you get to the top you can enjoy breathtaking views of the jungle, like nowhere else.

Other popular places

Tikal is not the only worthwhile place in Guatemala and here are a few more examples 

  • Atlitan lake, in the southwest of the country, is a truly special place, surrounded by beautiful villages, impressive volcanoes and magical sunsets. 

 

  • Livingston, known as the Guatemalan Caribbean, with a beautiful bay and a very particular culture.

 

  • Santo Tomás Chichicastenango, a very popular place thanks to its local market that every Sunday attracts people from all over the country.

 

  • Semuc Champey,in the north of the country, an oasis in the middle of the jungle with beautiful waterfalls and very close to the town of Lanquin where there are some impressive caves.

 

The Weather

As if that were not enough, Guatemala is also very famous for its good climate. As mentioned before, Guatemala lives in a constant spring with minimum temperatures ranging between 12 and 16 degrees, and maximum temperatures between 22 and 29 degrees. This makes of Guatemala an amazing place to visited almost any time of the year, except in October, when it is the cyclone and hurricane season.