Amazing Guatemala

Guatemala is a Central American country located south of Mexico. It offers visitors volcanoes, rainforests, and ancient Mayan sites. Guatemala City the capital of Guatemala is known for its Mayan history. It is located at a high altitude and surrounded by volcanoes.

Parque Central the city’s central plaza is a great place to begin your travels to other Zona 1 sites. During the daytime, both Parque Central and the adjoining Parque Centenario are great places to people-watch, enjoy the sun, and buy ice cream from the ice cream vendors.

Palacio Nacional de la Cultura is located o the north side of Parque Central. This is an impressive presidential palace that was built between 1936 and 1943. This is the third palace to stand on this site. It was constructed in different styles like Spanish Renaissance and neo-Classical. Today it is a museum and some ceremonial events are held here. Visitors can get a guided tour also available in English. You’ll see gleaming brass, polished wood, carved stone, and frescoed arches. There is an optimal mural of Guatemalan history by Alberto Galvez Suarez above the main staircase. In the reception hall is a two-ton gold, bronze, and Bohemian-crystal chandelier. In the banqueting hall, you can see stained-glass panels. There is an interesting view of the city from the presidential balcony.

In the western courtyard, the Patio de la Paz is a monument depicting two hands and stands where Guatemala’s Peace Accords were signed in 1996. At 11 AM each day a military guard changes the rose held in the hands. The rose from the previous day is tossed among the women spectators.

Museo Miraflores is an impressive modern museum sandwiched between two shopping malls, a few kilometers out of the city. Downstairs you’ll find objects that were found at Kaminaljuyu (an ancient Mayan city). There are trade route maps that show the importance of the site. Upstairs are displays of textiles and indigenous clothing that have been separated by region from around the country. There are signs in both English and Spanish. Out back is a lovely grassy area with paths to walk and benches to sit on.

Parque Arqueologico Kaminaljuyu here you’ll find remnants of one of the first important cities in the Maya region. The park is located 4km west of the city center. From about 400 BC to AD 100 ancient Kaminaljuyu had thousands of residents and many temples. There are large-scale carvings and this ancient city had a literate elite before anywhere else in the Maya world. It fell into ruin under the hands of invaders from Teotihuacan in central Mexico. Today you can just see a small portion of the ancient city and a good many of the remnants consist of grassy mounds. To the left of the entrance is La Acropolis, where you can explore excavations of a ball court and talud-tablero buildings from AD 450 to 550. Across the road are two burial statues from the late pre-Classic era.

Museo Ixchel was named for the Maya goddess of the moon, women, reproduction, and textiles. There are photos and exhibits of indigenous costumes and other crafts that show the traditional arts. Guided tours are available in English or Spanish. There is also a section for children, a cafe, a shop, and a library.

Catedral Metropolitana faces Parque Central and was constructed between `782 and 1815. In 1867 the towers were completed. It is a lovely building that has survived many earthquakes.

Casa MIMA is a museum and cultural center dating from the late 1800s. The owners of the house were collectors who collected items of French neo-Rococo, Chinese, and art deco as well as indigenous artifacts. It has been set up as a functioning house that is filled with curios and furniture spanning the centuries.

Museo Nacional de Arte is home to a collection of 20th-century Guatemalan art that includes the artworks of well-known Guatemalan artists like Carlos Merida, Carlos Valente, and Humberto Gavarito.

La Aurora Zoo is a large zoological park and one of the best zoos in Central America. It was established in 1924. It is divided into different regions of the world. In the Africa section, you can see zebras, lions, buffalos, and three species of Asian monkeys like the howlers. Other sections are Asia, America, and Oceania. You can stroll through the landscaped gardens and relax in the shade of the trees. There are games for children and a small theater. You can enjoy dining at the restaurants.

Jardin Botanico is a large and lush botanic garden on the northern edge of Zona 10. It was the first botanic garden in Central America and is the only one in Guatemala. Here you can find over 1,400 varieties of local and exotic plants among them many endangered species. All the exhibits are labeled in their common name in Spanish and scientific name in Latin.

Torre del Reformador is a medium-scale reproduction of the Eiffel Tower sitting in the middle of Zone 9.

Traveling in Guatemala

Tikal a well-preserved ruined city can be found in the humid jungles of northern Guatemala, near the Belize border. It was occupied between 600 BC and AD 900. Here you can see over 3,000 structures from pyramids to temples to plazas and an acropolis. For over a thousand years it was one of the most important urban Mayan centers. Today it is one of the largest Mayan archeological sites of its time period still in existence. You can see steep pyramids rising above the jungle and see birds, monkeys, and other wildlife. The ruins are encompassed by the Tikal National Park a biosphere reserve that protects the rainforest and wildlife habitat.

Antigua is one of the highlights in Guatemala. It sits surrounded by volcanoes. You can see cobbled streets and old colonial buildings. The city offers museums for visitors and lovely old convents to explore. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lake Atitlan is a lovely lake that sits at 1,538 meters above sea level and is surrounded by hills and volcanoes. It was formed in a volcanic crater. Along its shore are quaint villages.

The main entry point is the city of Panajachel. Its main street is lined by vendors selling all kinds of goods. Boats line up here to take visitors to the village by the lake.

Quetzaltenango is the second-largest city in Guatemala and is the commercial center of southwestern Guatemala. It is also referred to as Xela.

The town’s major sites are the Parque Centro America and the buildings that surround it. Its cathedral dates from the 19th century. Many visitors come here to study Spanish.

You can take hikes in the nearby mountains and walk up Volcan Tajumulco, the highest peak in Central America. It is also a base for excursions to the nearby villages that have hot springs and sell handicrafts.

Semuc Champey lies deep in the jungle. Here a 300-meter limestone shelf creates natural pools in the river. There are great for swimming. All around is a dense forest with a variety of wildlife.

The Lanquin Caves located northeast of Coban are deep limestone caverns. There is an underground river with lagoons and unusual rock formations. Thousands of bats make their home here and make a nightly mass exodus from the cave to feed in the nearby forest. The part of the cave that can be toured has rugged walkways and low lighting.