:: Major Attractions

:: Guatemala City

Guatemala City lies tucked into a deep valley where the Agua volcano dominates the horizon. Long since dormant, the volcano looms over one of the most developed and fast-paced cities in Central America. Business, commerce and industry come together effortlessly to form a cosmopolitan and modern metropolis visited by thousands of business and tourist travelers each year.

A combination of colonial architecture, glass skyscrapers and modern shopping malls make a visit to the city full of possibilities.

Walking tours through the downtown area give visitors a chance to see the hustle and bustle of one of the country's busiest sectors. While businesses and street vendors begin another working day, the faithful take their daily walk through the Central Plaza to attend mass in the metropolitan cathedral.

:: Petén

The heart of the Maya World, Guatemala boasts a wealth of archaeological sites, including the incomparably majestic ruins of Tikal, a required stop for every tourist visiting the country. Guatemala's northern department of El Petén is full of Classic Maya ruins, most of which still lie in the grasp of rainforest, awaiting excavation.

Tikal: Featuring the tallest buildings in the Maya World (and perhaps in all of pre-Columbian America), Tikal is a magical place of pyramids, temples, observatories, palaces and ball courts set in 220 square miles of protected rainforest. A short, half-hour flight from Guatemala City, it is visited by tens of thousands of visitors every year, who come to marvel at the achievements of the enigmatic Maya and to see the rainforest species that live around the ruins.

:: Antigua Guatemala

Famed for its colonial architecture and Easter processions, Antigua Guatemala is a quiet, beautiful town nestled in the shadow of three forested volcanoes. It has been named World Cultural Patrimony by UNESCO and is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, offering a truly outstanding variety of elegant restaurants, hotels and specialty shops. Many people come to study in Antigua's many exceptional Spanish schools, which have achieved world renown for the quality of their instruction.

Founded in 1543, Antigua was originally known as the Very Noble and Loyal City of Saint James of the Knights of Guatemala, and was the third capital founded by the Spaniards in Guatemala. The disaster-prone city was rebuilt after each of a dozen earthquakes, and much of what can be seen today was built following the earthquake of 1717.

Spectacularly beautiful, the city's quiet streets today are often occupied by local artists with easels and paint boxes set up, lovingly painting the scene of a volcano framed by a colonial arch. Contemporary Antigua Guatemala is a cosmopolitan center of learning, with a fine library and research institute for visiting archaeologists, a cultural center that hosts films and plays, a dozen language schools, and a biennial arts festival featuring performances of ballet, opera and classical music. It is also the site of annual processions during Easter week, the most beautiful religious celebration in the Americas.

:: Atitlán

Inmersed among spectacular volcanoes and mountains, Atitlán Lake promises to provide an unforgettable experience to the visitor; its unique landscape attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world every year.

Panajachel offers to the tourist a wide variety of hotels, restaurants and other services. Walking by Santander Street, you will be marveled by the abundance of local and country-wide handicrafts offered in small vending posts by both the indigenous inhabitants and resident foreigners, who have made of Panajachel their new home. Atitlán is also known by its painters, who nurture their work with the tradition and landscapes of the region.

All-Around Atitlán Lake, you will find small towns, living samples of Mayan current culture and way of living. Don’t miss the opportunity of taking a Shuttle Boat to Santiago, San Pedro, Santa Catarina Palopó or any of the very typical towns by the lake. In Santiago, you will find Maximón, a sample character of mayan faith and catholic syncretism.

:: Cobán

For many Guatemalans, the mention of the town of Cobán in Alta Verapaz brings to mind striking scenery, misty mountaintops and dramatic cloud forests.

A scenic three and a half hour drive will take you to this town in the heart of Guatemala's countryside. The winding road offers hundreds of picture perfect scenes for the avid photographer. The local vegetation is lush. Tall hard woods and pine forests cover the rolling hills. The clouds hang low in the sky and touch the tops of the hills. The boughs of trees are decorated with barba de viejo, old man's beard, a type of hanging moss.

Cobán was founded by Dominican Friar Bartolome de las Casas and in an effort to populate the new town, indigenous people from eight outlying towns were brought in. To this day, the indigenous of each of the eight districts keep to their original traditions and dress.

Before reaching the charming town of Coban, you'll pass the Biotopo del Quetzal. This reserve offers trails through prime cloud forest habitat that serves as home to the national bird, the resplendent quetzal.

:: Caribbean

Great Lake Izabal, the largest in Guatemala with 590 kms2, is a huge water mirror sorrounded by avocado, mango, mamey and pineapple farms, which perfume the breeze with exotic aromas. From its deep waters flows río Dulce, a river that rushes into the dense jungle. There, it smoothly slides among the selvatic meanders at the rhythm of the birds singing and flapping on the trees. The river follows and expands to form the Golfete where it becomes almost 12 kms wide, dancing with the red manglars full of wildlife, until it merges with Amatique Bay, in the Caribbean Sea.

In the Guatemalan Caribbean, among coconut palm trees that swing seductively upon the soft coast line, you may find the small town of Livingston, with houses full of marine colors and coconut bread. At Livingston, tourists feel the warmness of the sun and the gentle caress of the breeze while sinking their bare feet in sand decorated by shells and broken conches and listening to the candencious songs of the local Garífuna.

From among the palm trees, arises a road that takes us to Siete Altares. There, we will witness and listen to the sound of an amazing ladder of continuous waterfalls, live and crystal clear, in the heart of the jungle. We may swim in its wild, fresh waters, or behind the falling courtains of the river.

:: Pacific Coast

Spectacular black sand beaches, explosive sunsets and warm coastal hospitality await all visitors to Guatemala's Pacific coast. The coastline extends from the border with Mexico down to El Salvador and boasts some of the most impressive seascapes. Volcanoes dot the lowland plain that spreads towards the ocean's blue swells. The area's tropical lowland forests hold an abundance of local wildlife such as iguanas and black-tailed hawks.

This coast is a favorite get-away for city residents who flock to the shores on weekends and holidays. While many of these enjoy the comfort of private homes, there is now an abundance of hotels in the area.

:: Ecotourism

Within Guatemala, visitors will discover some exciting ecotourism opportunities. In many parks, rainforest ecology blends with archaeological monuments, and tourists have the unique opportunity to observe monkeys, toucans and other tropical species from atop a Maya temple! Miles of trails, as well as boats, river rafts, and horses, await adventurous travelers ready to explore Guatemala's biological reserves and parks. The country's most popular ecotourism destinations are the tropical rainforests in the departments of El Petén and Izabal, and the cloud forest reserve of Sierra de las Minas. Other interesting natural areas include the mangrove swamps of Monterrico on the Pacific Coast, and the mountain forests of the western highlands.

Cerro San Gil: Found in the department of Izabal, the Cerro San Gil is an ecological reserve with more than seven miles of tropical rainforest trails. Cerro San Gil is a popular birdwatching spot, where more than 300 species have been identified. A visitors center at the entrance to the reserve orients guests. There is one large cabin with several beds for those who wish to spend the night and head into the forest early in the morning, when the rainforest is at its liveliest.

Monterrico: A wildlife reserve administered by the University of San Carlos, Monterrico offers miles of canals that thread through mangrove swamps, as well as a black, volcanic sand beach where sea turtles nest. The university maintains a small park with iguanas and other animals, and runs a program to rescue and incubate sea turtle eggs. Several hotels in the town of Monterrico provide comfortable rooms. An ideal day here would include an early morning tour of the mangroves, followed by an afternoon of swimming and sunning on the beach.

Sierra de las Minas: The cloud forest reserve of Sierra de las Minas is a magical, mysterious world of ancient trees, orchids, bromeliads and moss, where Resplendent Quetzals, Horned Guans, jaguars and many other rare species thrive. Two or three day hiking trips into the reserve can be arranged, with lodging at a field camp for researchers. Many tours are accompanied by a biologist who can explain the complex ecological relationships of the surrounding forest, where new species of animals and plants are still being discovered.

Visitors can also explore the cloud forest in the Mario Dary Reserve of the Quetzal , where, with luck, they'll catch a glimpse of Guatemala's national bird, symbol of freedom and beauty. (During breeding season, Quetzals are commonly seen early in the morning in the trees of a small hotel next to the reserve entrance.) Well-maintained trails wind through the reserve, where visitors can observe the misty beauty of the cloud forest and admire a spectacular waterfall.

:: Mountaineering

It seems that most of Guatemala, with its tall powerful volcanoes, is trying to touch the sky. The rugged sierras in Guatemala are a climbers dream.

There are two titans: the Tajumulco, the highest volcano in Central América, at 4200 m above sea level; and the Tacaná, reaching 4092 m. Both are in the San Marcos region and do not represent any degree of difficulty to climbers, who can clamber to their summits to watch the dawn of the sunset.

The Tolimán has a twin-peak summitm and reaches 3158 m above sea level. The ascent is technically more challenging and requires six hours. Once on top, you can spend the night, so it´s advisable to take a sleeping bag, warm clothes and enough provisions.

The San Pedro volcano can be climbed relatively easily. If you begin your ascent at the crack of dawn, you will up in the clouds by midday.

The Atitlán volcano, beside the like-named lake, rises to 3860 m above sea level and takes a whole day to reach the top. The effort is rewarded by a wonderful view.

If you want to take home great photos and spend the night in the crater where there´s a hermitage and refuge for 30 people - then make for the Agua (or Hunapú) volcano (3776 m).

Another interesting volcano and one of the most visited, given its proximity to Guatemala City, is Pacaya, standing 2252 m above sea level. Its constant eruptions and lava streams suggest a fearful yet fascinating landscape. Excursion to its angry mountain must be made in a group and with a guide.