Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología

Guatemala City


This museum has the country's biggest collection of ancient Maya artifacts, but explanatory information is very sparse. There's a great wealth of monumental stone sculpture, including Classic-period stelae from Tikal, Uaxactún and Piedras Negras; a superb throne from Piedras Negras; and animal representations from Preclassic Kaminaljuyú.

Also here are rare wooden lintels from temples at Tikal and El Zotz, and a room with beautiful jade necklaces and masks. Don't miss the large-scale model of Tikal. The ethnology section has displays on the languages, costumes, dances, masks and homes of Guatemala's indigenous peoples.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Guatemala City attractions

1. Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno

0.05 MILES

Here you’ll find a collection of 20th-century Guatemalan art including works by well-known Guatemalan artists such as Carlos Mérida, Carlos Valente and…

3. Museo de los Niños

0.14 MILES

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…

4. La Aurora Zoo

0.26 MILES

This is not badly kept as far as zoos in this part of the world go, and the lovely, parklike grounds alone are worth the admission fee.

5. Torre del Reformador

1.36 MILES

A spectacularly strange medium-scale reproduction of the Eiffel Tower, plonked down in the middle of Zona 9.

6. Jardín Botánico

1.61 MILES

The Universidad de San Carlos has a large, lush botanical garden on the northern edge of Zona 10. The admission includes the university's Museo de…

7. Museo de Historia Natural

1.66 MILES

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…

8. Museo Ixchel

1.76 MILES

This museum is named for the Maya goddess of the moon, women, reproduction and textiles. Photographs and exhibits of indigenous costumes and other crafts…