Introducing Guatemala
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...
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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: Apr 2, 2012
Tips & articles
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World’s best festivals: Semana Santa
21 March 2012
In an excerpt from Lonely Planet’s A Year of Festivals we look at the best ways to celebrate Semana Santa,...
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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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10 best things to climb
17 April 2011
Over ice and iron girders, shinnying up temples and scaling rainforest trees – tackle the world’s most worthwhile ways to...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Not sure if Backpacking/Travelling is the right thing to do
by LaPanterrra 27 May 2012
Hello! I have a bit of a problem I was hoping you guys could offer me your advice on! I'm a 23 yr old uni graduate who is starting…
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RE: is Antigua wheelchair friendly?
by uulwalker 27 May 2012
I wouldn't say that Antigua is wheelchair-friendly in how it's built, but Guatemala as a whole is definitely wheelchair-friendly in terms…
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RE: Where to go in Guatemala?
by lorenzo622 27 May 2012
Since you mentioned that you're considering El Salvador, note that there are two pre-Colombian sites in the Western part of the country,…
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Guatemala
Things to do
- All things to do (415)
- Activities (89)
- 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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Photoblog: Visit Guatemala from the sky
Blog: Nono in Guatemala - 23 May 2012
Since January, I have been working for an French travel agency named Quetzal Motivo. We're doing incentive tours for clients from France & Belgium. Incentive means money and means traveling in a different way from the other tourists. In Guatemala, the fastest way to travel from a point to another point is by helicopter and I had the opportunity to go with a group to Chichicastenango and the Lake Atitlan by helicopter from Antigua.
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Solo Travel Destination: Guatemala
Blog: Solo Traveler - 8 May 2012
In spite of the travel challenges, this Solo Travel Society member is sure that you will fall in love with the culture, landscapes, cuisine and people of Guatemala.
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Photo of the Day: Semana Santa – Antigua, Guatemala
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 7 April 2012
We spent last Easter in Antigua, Guatemala (along with about 200,000 other people) in the middle of one of the largest and most extravagant Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations in The Americas. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday the cobble stone streets and historic churches of this colonial gem of a town are taken over by dozens of processions take place during all hours of the day and night featuring enormous wooden floats carried by up to 100 people at a time.
