Introducing Guatemala
Travel advisory: Criminal activity is a problem in parts of Guatemala. Check the latest news and advice before travelling on sites like Safe Travel.
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Guatemala is a magical place. If you’re into the Maya, the mountains, the markets or a million other things, you’re bound to be captivated. People come and they stay. Or they leave and return. There's almost too much going on here, and even the shortest trip takes you completely different places, with new challenges and surprises. Students of Spanish flock to Antigua, a gorgeous town nestled between three volcanoes, while those travelers seeking more off-the-beaten-track destinations might head to lesser known places like Lago de Izabal or Nebaj, a Maya village hidden in a remote fold of the Cuchumatanes mountains. And sooner or later, just about everyone ends up in the Highlands – Lago de Atitlán being an irresistable drawcard...
Guatemala's Maya heritage is everywhere. El Petén's remote archaeological sites are unmissable; the fascinating town of Chichicastenango adheres to pre-Hispanic beliefs and rituals even now. Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, on the other hand, provides a glimpse into the mysterious Pipil culture, with some interesting carved stone heads and relief scenes to be found in fields and fincas (plantations) around town.
Sure, Guatemala’s got its problems (most visible in its sprawling capital, Guatemala City), but it isn’t the scary place your mother fears it is. Travel here, once dangerous and uncomfortable, is now characterized by ease – you can do pretty much whatever you want, and will only be limited by your imagination.
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- Explore the best of Guatemala and Mexico in 13 days
- Search for paradise on a Mayan Encounter
Last updated: Jan 19, 2012
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Ask Lonely Planet: where should I go for a holiday with volunteering?
18 October 2011
In this excerpt from the November 2011 issue of Lonely Planet Magazine, our travel editors advise a reader where to...
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17 April 2011
Over ice and iron girders, shinnying up temples and scaling rainforest trees – tackle the world’s most worthwhile ways to...
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Update for travellers: post-earthquake Japan
11 March 2011
A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan on Friday, March 11, causing a tsunami that has resulted...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Retire in Guatemala?
by chefhagan 15 September 2011
Tim, the top 1%? Wow, it doesn't feel that way and BTW I did notice your Avatar. I have lived here in Guatemala for nearly 15 years and…
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RE: Central America Itinerary - For 6 months+
by SoloHobo 15 September 2011
The normal route, from people starting with a cheap flight to Cancun, is to explore the Yucatan, then head to Belize, then to Guatamala…
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RE: Retire in Guatemala?
by thekingfish 15 September 2011
braxman, You are correct. I meant to say $500.00 per month. He saves a little each month for travel and gets some unbelievable deals…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Guatemala
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Guatemala
Things to do
- All things to do (399)
- Activities (73)
- Entertainment (63)
- Restaurants (126)
- Shopping (30)
- Sights (90)
- Tours (17)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Guatemala
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1 Tilapita
Put in some serious hammock time in this idyllic little beach town
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2 Quetzaltenango
Study Spanish, climb volcanoes, dine fine and catch some live music in Guatemala’s second city
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3 Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
Discover the links between the ancient Olmec and Mayan cultures at remote hilltop sites
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4 Monterrico
Catch a wave, cruise the mangroves and save a turtle at Guatemala’s coastal playground
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5 Chichicastenango
Hunt down a bargain at Central America’s biggest and oldest market
Fast Facts about Guatemala
- Area 108,890 sq km (smaller than the US state of Louisiana, a bit bigger than England)
- ATMs Plentiful
- Budget US$15-30 per day
- Capital Guatemala City
- Costs Budget hotel in Guatemala City US$10, bottle of beer US$2, 3hr bus ride US$3, set lunch US$3
- Country code 502
- Electricity 115V to 125V, 60 Hz; US-type plugs
- Famous for Maya sites
- Head of state President Álvaro Colom
- Languages Spanish, Maya
- Money US$1 = Q7.90 (quetzals); US dollars readily accepted
- Phrases De huevos (cool), papichulo (handsome man), Chapin (Guatemalan)
- Population 13.1 million
- Time GMT minus 6 hours, minus 5 hours in daylight savings
- Traveler's checks Cashed at major banks (ATMs are easier)
- Visas North American and most EU citizens need only a valid passport
Our favourite Guatemala Blogs (beta)
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Quetzals the Hard Way – Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 8 February 2012
Spotting quetzals during our time at Ranchito del Quetzal was eerily easy. All we had to do was get out of bed at first light and stumble down to the restaurant where as many as 10 quetzals at a time dutifully came out to greet us. However, our next attempt to see these technicolor birds, at Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, was much harder work right from the get-go. Getting to Chelemhá First there was the matter of getting to the privately owned and run Chelemhá Cloud Forest Reserve, a 400 acre (172 hectare) chunk of land in the Yalijux Mountains in the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala.
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Quetzals the Easy Way – Biotopo de Quetzal, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 6 February 2012
The quetzal is Guatemala’s national bird and their money is named after it. It’s also one of the most impossible looking species on the planet. The bird has iridescent feathers that change from bright green to dark blue to nearly black as the light shifts. Its overall color scheme includes an eye-popping mix of neon green, red, blue, yellow and white. The feathers on its tiny head are like a fluffy mohawk. Strange finger-like feathers seem to wrap around from its back toward the front of its chest as if to hug the bird.
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So Much More Than Semana Santa – Antigua, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 1 February 2012
Antigua, Guatemala is best known as the town that hosts one of the world’s biggest and most colorful religious festivals. Holy week, or Semana Santa in Spanish, is celebrated with elaborately made and profoundly temporary street carpets called alfombras and lots of somber and elaborate processions in which hundreds of the devout carry enormous floats (called andas) through the cobble stone streets all in an effort recreate the persecution, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a word, Semana Santa in Antigua is epic and you should experience it if you can.
