Home / Fruit trees / Forest / Mammals / Fish-Amphibious / Reptiles / Landscape / Birds / Trees
Petén Maya Sites / Highlands Sites / Pacific Lowlands Sites / Nature / Present Guatemala / Maya Culture / Maya Caves

Present day Guatemala

Fuente: Comisión de Oficialización de los Idiomas Indígenas de Guatemala
Language Map Road map

 Guatemala is a small country with 13,000.000 inhabitants, Located in Central América, it has 108,899  Km2 and coastlines in both tMale Quetzal, K'uk'in Maya, Guatemala's National Bird and the name of its currency, Here in an Aguacatillo tree, its main food source. in the Cloud Forest, its Habitathe Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, its altitude ranges from 0 to 4290 m. giving it a unique range of Landscapes, climates and ecosystems. 55%Coral Reef, Caribbean sea, in Izabal of the population is Indigenous belonging to one of 22 Maya descending ethnic groups, each with its own language, and the Xinca that are not Maya related, 35% are Mestizo, and 15 % is European descendents, the African community is small and resides mainly in the Caribbean. The largest Virgin Tropical Rain Forest in Mesoamerica, is in Petén, cradle of the Ancients Maya. Its Living Culture give all the right to name this land "Soul of the Earth", and in its little towns You will find out why  Guatemala is the most colorful country in the world.

Rabinal dancers
The Rabinal Ach
í, a UNESCO Oral Masterpiece

During the colonial times (1540-1821), Guatemala City was the Capitol city of the Capitanía General de Guatemala, that included Chiapas, Tabasco, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, being also the main economy in Sepalau Lagoons (4), Chisec, Alta VerapazCentral America, up to date. With the independence, the provinces fought wars between them in order to gain independence, finalizing the República de Centro América on 1847, Belize was an special case, during the colonial era, Spain granted a permit to England to explode woodland in 8,000  Km2., from the Río Hondo or Blue  river to the Sibún river, after independence, Guatemala and the British Empire sign a treaty, ratifying the Timber rights  and  in exchange, the British promise to build a Highway between Guatemala City and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean Sea, they never did that, and extend the boundaries south to the Sarstún River 14,000 Km2. more, violating all the international agreements, thus, Belice is now an independent Country and Guatemala has elevated its demands to an International courts, that are still pending of a sentence.

Guatemala is a Unique country that has the rural side and the modern one
, as in Guatemala City, with more the 3,000.000 inhabitants, where you can find any modern commodity, mix with the special smile of their citizens, Ripe Cofee cherriesalways willing to attend our visitors, The second City in Guatemala isReformador Tower, Zone 9, Guatemala City Quetzaltenango on the Western Highlands with more than 300,000 inhabitants, mainly Man and Ki'ch'e. Guatemala main products are: Coffee, corn, tobacco bananas, beans, cardamom; cattle, sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber and tourism. Its GDP estimated for 2004 was $56.5 billion making it the largest economy in Central América.

See this excellent link about today's Guatemalan Mystique   Mesoweb report by Allen Christenson


Tourism is rapidly growing (1.600,000 in 2006), due to the diverse amenities that Guatemala has to offer yearound, such as the Holly Week
(Easter), that is a unique experience all over Guatemala, but specially in Antigua Guatemala, Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City. Another exclusive of Paragliding in Lake AtitlánGuatemala are the Pacific Coral reefs one of the few in América, that are being protected since 1997, as well as the Caribbean ones. The Sail Fish fishing in the Guatemala Pacific is described as the best in the world and each year a new record in captures and releases is set. Whale watching in the pacific from December to April is growing in popularity, as well as dolphins and whale sharks watching year round. The Landscape is really something spectacular and has sights, adventures and places for every taste. The biodiversity (Wild Life and Plants) in Guatemala is among the 10 best in the world. Bird watching is among the richest in the world, going from the Large Harpy Eagle to the colorful Hummingbirds, asVolcanic Chain, Agua Volcano well as the resplendent Quetzal, in the Cloud Forest. Both International Airports are being remodeling,  "La Aurora" in Guatemala City is now the largest and most modern in Central América, and the "Mundo Maya" in Petén, has now a modern terminal 4 times larger than before. Around 100 cruises visit both coast in Guatemala each year, and there is a wide range of tours from the ports to sites of interest in the country.

For complete Birding experience visit Cayaya Birding, Guatemala.

IRTRA Xetulul, German, French and Italian PlazasThere are Thematic parks and water parks as well, the best are Xetulul and Xocomil in Retalhuleu, (Western Pacific Lowlands), one of the Private Sector Workers Institute Amusement Parks (IRTRA) and declared the best in Latin America, it is also the largest Hotel ComplexPalo Volador in Chichicastenango, Quiché (669 rooms) in Central America with 6 different style Hostels and several restaurants and Disco Bars. We invite You to visit Us, not only for being the First Cultural destination of the world, according to BBC, but for the Natural Wonders and countless Thing to do that this Country has.   You can go Tubing in Cahabón river gorge at Semuc Champeyrivers while  exploring Caves or watch birds, Rafting can be done in the pacific lowlands (Coyolate and Naranjo rivers class II-III) on the eastern highlands in The Motagua river II-III and the Cahabón river III-IV, in Alta Verapaz, the best season is from June to October,  the Sail Fish season is from November to April. On December 2, 2006, a new world record in liberations, with 1663 in 4 days, was set, (including 660 in one day among 90 fisherman from all over the world),  during the 66th. International Light Tackle Tournament Association (ILTTA), confirming Guatemala's Pacific Ocean as the world's Sail Fish fishing capitol of the world,  since this tournament is held in Guatemala, every year a new world record is set. The distances between the different amenities, goes in your favor so you can make the most of your time while in Guatemala.

Río Dulce Gorge, Izabal Pelicans in Las lisas  beach, Pacific Usumacinta Gorge IRTRA, Xocomil, Nest of Serpents
Monja Blanca, Lycastes Virginalis, Guatemala's National Flower
Lake Atitlán
Creek in Izabal
Xtreme in Lake Amatitlán
Rafting in Cahabón
Playa Blanca, Caribbean in Livingstone Izabal
Haas Avocado, the most popular in the world, developed in Alta verapaz, Guatemala
Manatee reserve in Chocón river, Río Dulce, Izabal
Sword Fish in the Pacific, Guatemala is Number 1 in the world, for fishing this sp.
Spyder Monkey at Ixpanpajul Private reserve, Petén
Fuego Volcano,  view from Escuintla
Tubbing in The Candelaria river, going into  the Candelaria Caves
El Boquerón near Nebaj, Quiché
Ceiba, Sacre tree for the maya and Guatemala's national Tree.
Agua and Fuego Volcanoes, view from Amatitlán Lake, near Guatemala city
Maximón in Itzapa, Chimaltenango
Semuc Champey, Alta Verapaz
Waterfall in Huehuetenango
Río Dulce, piers
Tatasirire Waterfalls, private reserve in Jalapa
Baja Verapaz, forests
Dorado fishing, Pacific
Lake Izabal
Canoping in Calderas Lagoon, in Pacaya Volcano, near Guatemala City
Adventure in Lake Atitlán, Sololá
Cahabón river, Semuc Champey
Current low flow eruption, Pacaya volcano
Sail fishing in the pacific.
Caves, near Esquipulas, Chiquimula
Pizotes in Tikal
Panajachel, Atitlán, sunset
El Torito, Traditional dance

Locations of visitors to this page