Guatemala is a small country with 13,000.000
inhabitants, Located in Central América, it has 108,899 Km2 and
coastlines in both
the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, its altitude
ranges from 0 to 4290 m. giving it a unique range of
Landscapes, climates and
ecosystems. 55% 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.
During
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
Central 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 signed a treaty,
ratifying the Timber rights and in exchange, the British
promised to build a Highway between Guatemala City and Puerto
Barrios on the Caribbean Sea, they never did that, insted they extended the boundaries south to the Sarstún River,
14,000 Km2. more,
violating all the International agreements and laws, 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,
always willing to attend our visitors, The second City in Guatemala is
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
(1.800,000 in 2008), 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
Guatemala 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, as
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 modernest 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.
There are
several Thematic and water parks as well, the best are
Xetulul
and Xocomil in Retalhuleu, (Western Pacific Lowlands),
two of
the several IRTRA (Private Sector Workers Institute) Amusement Parks and
declared the best in Latin America, it is also the largest Hotel Complex
(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 in the world, according to BBC,
but for the Natural Wonders and countless Thing to do that this Country
has. You can go Tubing in
rivers while exploring Caves or
bird watching, 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.
