GENERAL TOURIST INFORMATION
GUATEMALA.. A MULTIPLE DESTINATION
Guatemala is a "relatively"
small country.. but 30 miles from point A to point B are not what you
are used to, what in north America or Europe may take 20 minutes to
drive, in Guatemala may take a couple of hours and in some jungle treks
like El Mirador... days; Its surface area is only 108,889 square Km. And
has a very diverse topography which in turn contributes to the different
micro-climates, yet never really suffer any extreme temperatures. Its
beaches are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean in its North Eastern part, and
by the Pacific Ocean in its Southern part, it takes only 7 hours to
drive from one Ocean to the other. It has 13 million inhabitants and the
55% of the population are descendants of the Mayas, speaking 23
different languages. Touristicly speaking, it is a very rich and
versatile destination, and it has been grouped here into 7 different
routes. As an orientation we present a brief summary of these routes,
and hope this will be of assistance to plan your trip in this
marvelous and complex land. Before we proceed, there's one thing you
must never forget to bring when you venture out to Guatemala -
cellphones or any means of mobile communication. Ideally you should
bring one of those mobile phone UK types with global roaming so you can call anyone, anywhere.
It's easy to get lost in a foreign land, so best be prepared for the
worst if you can.
If this is your first trip to
Guatemala and you do want to see the most important places, we recommend you to see this sample itinerary
and save some reading:
Click
here
Route 1
Guatemala City Historical Center and Colonial
Guatemala:
The present Capital City
(1,500m.s.n.m) was founded towards the end of the XVIII century and has
been inhabited since 600 B.C. by the Kaminal Juyu Mayas where according
to the book of Mormon Jesus Christ walked once. , Actually keeps the
architectural and urban characteristics of Spanish cities in its
fundation. Here, is the Central Plaza, the National Palace or Palace of
Culture also can be appreciated the Metropolitan Cathedral with their
colonial art museum the Trade Portal where the El Portalito bar (Che´s
Guevara favorite) and the Parque Centenario where Central American liberty was
signed.
The layout and colonial stile buildings of the historical center of town
and the older boroughs is octagonal or like a Checkerboard. many museums, the best prices and variety
of handcrafts
from all over the country are found at the huge central market, also at the
central plaza on Sundays you can really experience the multi ethnicity
of the country as no where else, you can see the young Indian women who works in the
city showing their best original and expensive handmade FIESTA typical dresses to
attracts the boys attentions,
You can visit the remains of the pre-classic Kaminal Juyu ruins
and the fantastic Miraflores museum, Kaminal Juyu is the ONLY Mayan center
known located over 1000
Meters over the sea level and did specializes in the making and exportation
of
obsidian flints to all Mesoamerica.
the worl´s only 1905 giant Guatemala relieve map at the
Minerva park, Embassies and consulates where
to register your passport (recommended) are located here, a botanical
garden and a fairly complete zoo can be found in the city. The new part
of the city the so call Zona Viva is full of modern buildings, night clubs and shopping centers that looks
just as any commercial mall area of the US full of standard looking
hotels.
Is worth to visit or stay at the Historic Center to really
appreciate the Guatemalan culture this is the real Zona Viva or the real
alive part of town where you can find the real Guatemala as well as
LIVING HISTORICAL CHURCHES, lots of museums, shops and their heavy populated street markets lost
within the churches that have most
colonial images brought from Antigua during the city move, 22 different
construction styles coexisting as well as the huge Underground Central Market
.. you have to see Guatemala city to really understand the country´s
history and our actual culture and please do not miss the church of La
Merced @ 11 Ave and 7th Calle it is really a unique jewel.
Close to the Capital, only 50 Km (2 hours drive due to traffic) away
is one the best conserved cities in all of America, La Antigua
Guatemala, which was founded in the XVI century and partially destroyed
by the earthquakes of 1773 and 1976. This is a city that is best
explored on foot in order to see all the architectural jewels remains it
contains; Church ruins and very few are still working but the streets
are full of beautiful houses now converted into shops, bars and
restaurants, fine hotels and volcano views, everything is tourist
oriented.
Learn more about
Guatemala City
Learn more about Antigua
Route 2 Highlands, the last Mayas territory.
The Living Native Highland is
located to the North East of the Capital. This is where you will find
the Indigenous Guatemala, The Cities of Totonicapan, Santa Cruz del Quiche, Panajachel , Tecpan ,
Quetzaltenango,
Chiantla and many others. In them the best handicrafts of each area, folklore, traditions, the famous Indian Market and Patron
Saint Fiestas. The remnants of the
pre-Columbian cities like Iximche, Utatlan, Zaculeu, etc. Beautiful
landscapes, the Atitlan Lake and the towns
that surround it, and magnificent religious constructions of the
colonial era, typified by the churches where
you will see Christian religious practices be commingled with Mayan rites, and perhaps the best of all, to share with
Indians of different ethnic groups and admire their huipiles, cortes,
tocados, shawls and weavings. Each Ethnic
group dresses differently with very bright color textiles.
Route 3 The Maya Adventure
The best of the Mayan ruins is
located in the department of PETEN, where you can get to by a Commercial
flight or if you have
more time, by the highway driving yourself or in a comfortable bus.
At a distance of only 63 km from the Santa Elena Airport is, Tikal
National Park, where one of the most important and best
conserved Maya Cities, is located. This city
was inhabited from 800 BC to 900 AD Construction
of up to 210 ft. Will surprise you as you go through the jungle; this
park also has a magnificent museum which must
be visited. Furthermore you can travel to
other ruins like Yaxha, Aguateca, Piedras Negras, Uaxantun, Ceibal etc.
If you plan to stay more than a day, which we
recommend, is to navigate the Rio la Pasion (Passion River) and appreciate
thel tropical rainforest with huge Mahogany and cedar trees, Orchids,
bromeliads and ferns, as well as an impressive
fauna of parrots, toucans, crocodiles, turtles, monkeys etc. You
will also see lakes like Peten Itza and Petexbatun, the first with the
Flores Island and the second surrounded by late
classic ceremonial centers of the Mayas. All
kinds of lodging facilities are available as well as tours of the major
Maya cities.
Route 4 The Caribbean
The particular interest of this
route is that it is very complete. Located in the department of Izabal
it has attractions like the Quirigua National
Park, which is well known by its Stelaes and their incredible Zoomorphs
, natural attractions like the
Rio Dulce, Lake Izabal, Cerro San Gil, the beaches near Livingston like
playa blanca, Punta de Manabique, Cocoli and Punta de Palma,
the beautiful 7 altares cascades , etc. It
also has attractions of the colonial period like the San Felipe Castle,
the town of Livingston, of the Negro-Caribbeans
in Guatemala, known as Garifunas very happy and friendly people. The main
population center in Izabal is Puerto Barrios, which has a fine airport
; Izabal is 298 Km from the Capital, on the
Atlantic highway. The area has all type of hotels particularly the
Resort Hotels that have wonderful facilities and offer
you equipment for Water Sports and you can fly there.
We highly recommend a tour through
Rio Dulce and a visit to the Chocon Machacas Biotopo where the Manatee may
be found in its natural habitat. The finca Paraiso with their very unique
medicinal hot spring water falls, the river Polochic basin and many off
the beaten track spots can be found by the adventure traveler.
Route 5 Natural Paradise
Geographically this area belongs
to the central zone of the country. Here the best preserved areas of the
county can be found and also the richest in
bio-diversity at 200 Kms. from the Capital on Las Verapaces highway. Among
the towns to visit, is Coban, where magnificent
work in silver can be purchased and one of the main attractions is the Orchid
Greenhouse where more than 60,000 plants are kept. The
Cahabon River and the Semuc Champey Pools should be seen; The Lankin and
the sacred Candelaria caves known to the Mayas as the entrance to
Xibalaba (the underworld ) as well as the Lachua
National Park a lake that many believe was formed by a meteorite
impact. These are places for Nature lovers, since you can camp,
hike, take splendid photographs, do white
water rafting, visit coffee farms and get to know indigenous people who
still maintain their beliefs, traditions and
folklore alive along with their forest and the Maya´s sacred and most beautiful
bird of the world, the Quetzal bird or feathered serpent. Salama is 95 kilometers from Coban, famous for leather and
clay handicrafts. In this area the Quetzal Biotopo
should be visited. This is a protected area which has been used as a
model for other countries.
Route 6 Guatemala waiting for
be discovered:
The tourist should travel to the
eastern region of the country, one of the most productive zones. It is
recommended to start the tour at San Agustin Acasacuastlan, which is
outstanding for its baroque, XVI century church and for its textiles
and palm handicrafts, It also has Mayan remains a site call Guaitan, home of the most sophisticated
Maya Jade carvings
ever made and the biggest jade mining operation in the country.
Afterwards visit Zacapa, famous for its cheese and cheese bread and its nearby thermal waters. Afterwards,
travel on to Esquipulas where 1.5 million Guatemalans, Mexicans and
Central Americans make their pilgrimages to honor the image of the Black
Christ. This city recently became world famous
because the Peace Talk began here, as well as the signing of the first
set of Peace Accords that lead the road to the cease of hostilities in
1999. The Ipala volcano located in Chiquimula is unique for the
outstanding lake contained in the crater of this extinct and easy
to climb beautiful colossus. As
far as natural enchantment is concerned the Ixpaco and Ayarza Lagoons
should be visited, both medicinal with a high sulfur
content in their water. At the border where
the three countries El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala meet. The El
Trifinio, Tri-national Park was
instituted and is made up of 12,000 protected acres of the Merendon
Mountain Range. This is
a sub-tropical rainforest which is the dominant ecosystem of the area.
Route 7 The Pacific Coast
South of the Capital on the
western side the San Jose, Iztapa and Monterrico beaches are the most
famous. They are all connected by the
Chiquimulilla Canal, most of which can be toured by outboard, to enjoy
the marvelous landscape of mangrove swamps, a
great variety of flora and fauna, particularly birds. Another
activity altogether is the sport Fishing, which can be done throughout
the year and which has become known well
during the last few years because the fantastic Marlin fishing. Inland further
west, visit Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, an area with the very best sugar
plantations and mills as well as cattle ranchs. This zone is rich in Archeological remains of
early Olmecas. Abaj
Takalik and the Democracia Park famous for the huge stone heads, should
be visited. The advantage of this route is
that if you continue west, you can visit other large towns like
Mazatenango and Retalhuleu, and connect to
Quetzaltenango or lake Atitlan area and begin a new route.
ON THE ROAD:
Check the route to your
destinations and do not worry about gas station, there are many, just
try to be over 1/4 of the tank. Many stations do have convenience stores
with plenty of everything and ATM's.
The highways on the central and eastern
highlands are kind of narrow and have many curves, so always drive
defensively and keep your eyes open in the curves for buses passing.
On some of the highways at higher altitude, you may run into dense
fog.
The Atlantic highway may be dangerous due to heavy traffic and fast
driving.
To plan your trips get help from the time and distance maps.
LODGING:
Guatemala has a wide variety of
lodging possibilities, so check our list.
There is a wide range of prices, depending on the zone visited. We at
Guatemalaweb can
handle recommendations and reservations to the most tourist accepted
hotels
WORKING HOURS:
Both government and private
offices generally open at 8:00 am. Shops generally open between 9:30 and
10:00 am. In the country’s interior
everything generally starts working at 8:00 am. Government offices
generally close at 4:00 p.m. The municipality
at 5:00 p.m. and private offices at 6:00 p.m. and shops, depending on
their location, between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m.
The times to eat are: Breakfast
between 6:00 and 8:00 am.
Lunch 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.
Dinner 6:00 and 9:00pm
FOOD:
Guatemala dishes are easy to
find in the Capital city.. There are dishes from specific regions that
reflect the true Guatemalan cuisine. Some of
these are: Sweet or
Salty tamales, Jocon which is chicken in a green sauce mainly of
coriander and green tomatoes; Pepian, beef stew
with vegetables and a sauce based on a roasted seed, sesame and guaque
peppers; Subanik is chicken, pork and steak
accompanied by rice and guacamole , which is avocado mixed with onion,
salt and oregano. Look for restaurants with
Mayan names or ask where to get them at you hotel, international food
fast food chains and the famous Campero Chicken are easy finds.
Occasionally hotels serve typical
dishes on specific days. In the interior it is easier to find them,
generally the food is spicy but not as much as
Mexican food. As for desserts we recommend:
Arroz con Leche (Rice cooked with sweetened milk and cinnamon sticks),
Torrejas, Sweetened papaya dessert, and
Chancletas, which are made of breaded Guisquil and raisins, beaked, do
not miss the popular Rellenitos de Platano.
ELECTRICITY, WATER, TELEPHONE
AND POSTAL SERVICE.
The Electricity, which you will
usually find, is 110 volts AC and 60 Hz.. The most used power outlets
are the two rectangular prong type. If your
equipment has three or round prongs, an adapter must be used; some of
the hotels will let you borrow one but will be better to bring your own. The
water you will find in hotels, in general in the Capital and
departmental capital, is safe to wash your tooth but not to drink due to your particular micro flora we
strongly recommend you to drink bottled water only. Both
telephone and postal services can be find in larger towns in the
interior. The postal service requires postage stamps
both for local and international mail. Local pre-paid intenational telephone cards
are available in
many stores and phone companies in Guatemala.
CURRENCY, BANKS AND CREDIT
CARDS:
The currency in Guatemala is the
QUETZAL, named after the National Bird. Coins are in denominations of
one , fifty, ten five and the rare one cents
as well as One Quetzal, and the bills in, one, five, ten,
twenty, fifty, and one hundred Quetzales. Also
differ by their color and the printed figure. The
exchange rate may vary according to the currency market, but is very
easy to consult it, in any Bank Branch or in the
newspapers. You really don't need to exchange for Quetzales in advance
outside of the country and suffer the low exchange rate, bring a few $1
and $5 bills to pay for the taxis and change at the Airport bank that is open
almost all day the rate here is ok, also be careful to bring only neat US bills since old or
broken ones are often not accepted.
The Banks are private and the
majority have branches in all of the country, the capital city and
departmental capitals you will find international services but in small towns only savings and checking
services. With regard to credit cards, these have generalized use in
formal business and restaurants major international credit cards
are widely accepted but VISA is preferred, ATM,s are everywhere. See the ATM section in this web site for national locations,
in general you will find them at banks and gas stations.
The banks generally opens 9:00
am to 6:00 p.m. .
To travel in the interior of the
country we recommend you carry some small US cash and Quetzals. The majority of the
mid prices and up hotels in the
interior will accept credit cards some will add a 7 to 10% surcharge and
VERY IMPORTANT: AMEX travelers checks are the ONLY ones accepted
in the country
mostly at banks and
at very few hotels. The best exchange rates is usually found in
Guatemala City AMEX office.
