Guatemala 🇬🇹

Capital City of Guatemala:
Guatemala City

Population (2018):
17 Millions

Official language:
Spanish, Mayan Languages

Best time to visit Guatemala

November through to May (the dry season).

Top things to see

• Lost temples above the jungle canopy at Tikal, the country’s formost Mayan ruin.
• The chic city of Antigua, with its Spanish-era convents, ruins and sushi bars.
• Sunrise from atop Volcán Tajumulco, the highest point in central America.
• The rugged route from Huehuetenango to Cobán, which teeters through highland coffee plantations.
• Quema del Diablo, burning the devil.

Top things to do

• Barter for Mayan textiles at the Chichicastenango market.
• Boat the lush Rio Dulce to the Garifuna settlement of Livingston.
• Finesse your bar talk by studying at a Spanish language school in Antigua.
• Soak in the cool emerald pools of Semuc Champey.
• Board the breaks at Sipacate, the country’s largely undiscovered surf capital.
• Spend the day in a hammock in Santa Cruz la Laguna.

Tradional Guatemalan Food

• Tortilla (thin grilled corn pancakes)
• Frijoles (black beans)
• Tapado (a Caribbean ragout with seafood, plantains, vegetables and coconut milk)
• drink coffee or hot chocolate
• Zacapa rum

Most popular Festivals in Guatemala

• March or April: Semana Santa/ Holy Week in Antigua.
• Last week of July: Festival Folklórico de Cobán/ Cobán Folkloric Festival.
• September 15th: Día de la Independencia/ Independence Day.
• November 1st and 2nd: Día de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead in Santiago and Sumpango Sacatepéquez.
• December 13th-21st : Feria de Santo Tomás/ Feast of St. Thomas in Chichicastenango.