The Pacific Slope
At the archaeological site of Monte Alto, on the outskirts of La Democracia, huge basalt heads and pot-bellied sculptures have been discovered, probably…
Must-see attractions in Guatemala
Greater Astronomical Complex (Plaza F)
El Petén
To the northwest of the site stands one of Yaxhá's most ancient constructions, the Greater Astronomical Complex (Plaza F). The arrangement includes an…
El Petén
About a 20-minute walk to the northwest of the airstrip are Grupo B and Grupo A, the latter featuring the more formidable structures around the city's…
Museo de Paleontología, Arqueología y Geología Ingeniero Roberto Woolfolk Saravia
Central & Eastern Guatemala
This small, out-of-the-way museum is filled with prehistoric skeletons – some reconstructed and rather menacing-looking. Most of the bones of three giant…
The Pacific Slope
Monumento 21, a copy of which is in the Museo Cultura Cotzumalguapa, still stands with three other fine sculpted stones in the Finca Bilbao cane fields to…
Panajachel
Pana's cultural center started life as one of the first hotels on the lake, built by a Swedish countess in 1948. Now it holds a radio station, Japanese…
The Pacific Slope
Facing La Democracia's main plaza – along with the expected church and palacio municipal (city hall) – is this small modern museum that houses some…
Alta & Baja Verapaz
These caves go for more than 1km into the earth, although chances are you won't get taken that far. A river runs through the cave (you have to wade…
Guatemala City
The university's small yet packed Museo de Historia Natural is at the same site as the Universidad de San Carlos' botanical garden, which is also included…
Guatemala City
Facing Parque Central, this cathedral was constructed between 1782 and 1815 (the towers were finished in 1867). It has survived earthquake and fire,…
Tikal
The larger of Tikal’s two museums is in the visitors center. It houses a number of carved stones from the ruins. The photographs taken by pioneer…
Tikal
Complejo Q and Complejo R, about 300m north of the Gran Plaza, are very Late Classic twin-pyramid complexes with stelae and altars standing before the…
Antigua
This double-decker structure on the north side of the park dates from the 18th century. Besides town offices, the palace houses the Museo del Libro…
Quetzaltenango
Rising incongruously from an island in the middle of traffic-choked 4a Calle, this temple was erected by dictator Estrada Cabrera to honor the Roman…
Antigua
It was the Maya who discovered the culinary uses of the cacao bean, which later became a form of currency for the Aztec empire. These are a few of the…
Quiché
The church is home to the icon of Christ of Golgotha, which is the focus of a huge pilgrimage on the second Friday of Lent – one of the biggest…
Cobán
This forested 82-hectare national park, right in town, has ponds, BBQ and picnic areas, children's play areas, a lookout point and kilometers of trails…
Panajachel
The colonial-era church is the heart of old Panajachel. Its extremely broad stone facade, with four tiers of windows between double columns, resembles a…
Guatemala City
Guatemala City's central plaza is an excellent starting point from which to begin your journey to other Zona 1 sights. Parque Central and the adjoining…
Antigua
The church is not open to the public, but the partially destroyed facade with its multiple carved columns is a marvel. What we see today is what's left of…
Western Highlands
Todos Santos' museum is on a hilly rise on the eastern edge of town. The small but fascinating collection of outfits and masks, traditional kitchen…
El Petén
The imposing Palacio A-XVIII affords the most panoramic view of the site from its summit. It's located on a path leading back to the village from behind…
Quetzaltenango
The church that lends its name to the neighborhood west of the center was built four centuries ago on a rise to avoid Xela's periodic flooding. Check out…
Guatemala
The museum is mostly a showcase for the work of painter Julián Gabriel, whose canvasses go beyond the usual scenes of daily life to portray an apocalyptic…
Antigua
Originally built as a shrine to house the image of Saint Joseph, this church stood completed for just 11 years before the 1773 earthquake laid it low. Its…
Tikal
Excavation has hardly even begun on the mass of masonry just west of the temple, known collectively as the Acrópolis del Sur (South Acropolis). The…
El Petén
One of several temples located in Grupo E, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the airstrip, between the Catholic and Evangelical churches on the right side…
Western Highlands
This yellow church is uphill from the main plaza, at the top of the hill. It was built on the site of an old Maya temple – Maya ceremonies, with plenty of…
El Petén
One of several temples located in Grupo E, a 10- to 15-minute walk from the airstrip, between the Catholic and Evangelical churches on the right side…
Guatemala
Two blocks south of the main plaza, this attractive old house contains the studio and gallery of a prominent Comalapa painter, Iván Gabriel. The artist's…
Guatemala City
Almost opposite the zoo entrance is this hands-on affair that is a sure success if you have kids to keep happy. The fun ranges from a giant jigsaw-map of…
Quetzaltenango
The ornately carved facade of the Iglesia del Espíritu Santo marks the site of the original 1532 construction, which was pulverized by the quakes of 1853…
El Petén
A trail from the ticket booth leads down to the lakeshore and the new Interpretive Center, which displays ceramic pieces, musical instruments and jewelry…
El Petén
This is the tallest and possibly the oldest of a set of temples at Grupo E. Archaeologists date the structure to around 400 BC. Standing north of the…
Ermita de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Cobán
The Ermita de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, a chapel dedicated to Cobán's patron saint, is 150m west of the bottom of the stairs leading to the Templo El…
Western Highlands
Zunil has a particularly striking old church. Its ornate yellow facade, with eight pairs of serpentine columns, is echoed inside by a richly carved gilt…
Iglesia de la Escuela de Cristo
Antigua
Within this remarkably well-preserved church is a life-size Christ figure, who is borne around town during Antigua's enormous Semana Santa processions…
El Petén
This is the middle of three temples that together form an astronomical observatory at Grupo E. Viewed from Templo E-VII-Sub, the sun sets behind Templo E…
Western Highlands
Also known as the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Huehue's neoclassical cathedral was built of adobe and stone in the mid-19th century, possibly atop…
The Pacific Slope
This cable car heads out over the lakeshore then pretty much straight up the hillside. It's a half-hour ride with some stunning views of the surrounding…
