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Guatemala is an extraordinary and fascinating vacation destination only a few hours from the United States. There are UNESCO protected Mayan Temples and interesting archaeological sites, romantic colonial towns, 23 different Indian cultures and languages with exquisite arts and crafts, 33 volcanoes and lush rainforests full of exotic wildlife and birds. Guatemala also has unique luxury accommodations like private villas, jungle lodges and boutique hotels.
The main attractions in Guatemala are:
- La Antigua - an elegant and beautuful colonial town with cobblestone streets
- Lake Atitlan - a spectacular lake surrounded by three volcanoes and indigenous villages
- Tikal - a world famous Mayan Temple site in the middle of the rainforest
- Chichicastenango - a traditional market town with an excellent craft market
- Yaxha - a beautiful and atmospheric site in Yaxha National Park closeto Tikal
- Ceibal / Aguateca and Chiminos Lodge - rainforest exploration, eco lodge and more remote Mayan sites
- Copan / (Honduras) - more remote and lesser visited matkets and Mayan villages deeper in the highland areas
- Rio Dulce - a beautiful river through a jungle canyon to the Caribbean - sailing to Belize possible
Guatemala, a country to the south of Mexico, has a surface area of 108,889 square kilometers, (42,042 square miles). It is located in the tropical zone, and has a range of climates that vary according to the altitude. There are two seasons: the rainy months run from May to October, and the dry ones from November to April. The average temperature is 75 F, with small variations in the lowlands and in the highlands.
Guatemala is a small country with a striking variety of topographic features. Nearly two-thirds of the country is mountainous and volcanic. Parallel to the Pacific lies the Sierra Madre mountain range, with peaks that rise to an elevation of up to 12,000 feet. The 33 volcanoes dominate the landscape, and these, coupled with the lush tropical rain forests to the north, the fertile plains of the south and east, the beautiful lakes, and the wonderful rivers, make this a land of varied contrasts.
To this rich array of contrasts, one must add a major contributing factor to Guatemala's unique brand of beauty: its wealth of traditions, and the strking colors and patterns of the weavings of the Mayans. Noted for its lush colors and intricate design, the cloth is made into blouses called "huipiles", sashes, skirts and headdresses. Every group or town has its own particular native costume. Woven by its women, usually on a stick loom, its patterns feature the traditional symbolism that identifies their history and ancient gods.
Individuals such as Miguel Angel Asturias, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, and Rigoberta Menchú, the Nobel Peace Price recipient, have brought Guatem ala international fame, but the country has given birth to many other great artists in all fields of art.
Easter week in Guatemala is one of the most colorful times to visit the country and to admire the religious and Indian folkloric traditions on display in different regions of Guatemala. The best place to be during Holy Week is La Antigua Guatemala. Other Indian villages with colorful folk traditions are Huehuetenango and Totonicapán, in which the passion of Christ is re-enacted live by a regional council of Indians who restage the events that happened on Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Holy Week in Guatemala represents a conjunction of Catholic beliefs and of pagan Indian rites in the more picturesque regions of our highlands. We invite you to come and admire our beautiful processions and colored sawdust carpets.
We recommend arriving in Guatemala the Friday before Holy Wednesday and to stay for at least one week after Easter Sunday to have time to visit the major archaeological sites in the Petén area, or perhaps you would like to take an extension to visit the beaches in Belize. Please be aware that groups stay at a single village, since only full-week packages are available and from there, all-day excursions are scheduled to the major villages of interest, such as Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlán, etc.
The marimba, which looks like a large xylophone and has a wooden keyboard which produces a unique sound, is the national instrument of Guatemala. Possibly of African origin, the Indians played a simplified version before the coming of the Spaniards. A large modern marimba requires up to nine players.
In the highland region of Cobán, very much in seclusion, lives a bird of rare beauty called the quetzal. If it is kept in captivity, the quetzal dies; hence, it has become the national emblem that symbolizes freedom.
The history of Guatemala can be broken down into three well-defined periods:
1. The period prior to the arrival of the Spaniards is the most interesting. New information is being continually accumulated through the discoveries made of the Mayan culture that flourished between the years 2000 B.C. and 900 A.D. There is Last testimony to the achievements of the Mayans throughout all periods of their rule, such as the Mayan calendar and the numerical system they developed.
2. The second important period in the history of Guatemala is marked by the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado, conqueror of Guatemala, in 1524. In July of that same year, he founded the first capital of the kingdom of Guatemala at Iximché (presently Tecpán). From there, it was moved to Almolonga (now Ciudad Vieja) in 1527 and to La Antigua Guatemala in 1543. The capital of Guatemala was then the seat of government of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, that stretched from Yucatán to Panama.
Agriculture and livestock were the major economic activities and the Captaincy General of Guatemala enjoyed a period of splendor, until its capital was destroyed in 1773 by an earthquake, requiring it to be transferred to Guatemala City, where it has been ever since.
3. The third important period in the history of Guatemala commences with its independence from Spain, on September 15, 1821, when together with other nations of Central America, it became a member of the United Provinces of Central America. Guatemala seceded from this federation in 1839, and was proclaimed a Republic in 1847.
Guatemala has approximately 10 million inhabitants. A large percent belong to 21 thnolinguistic Mayan groups who have retained the cultural traditions they have inherited from their ancestors. There are also mestizo, and the Carribean coast population, which has retained its afrocarribean roots.
Because of its geographical location, Guatemala has a great variety of climates, vegetation and birds and animals in general, and it has more than nineteen ecosystems with their own varieties of flora and fauna. Sometimes these ecosystems are only separated by a river, a valley or a row of trees, but being in the same region, they offer a unique opportunity for interesting sightseeing.
The diversity of the geographic, climatic, cultural and historic features of Guatemala make it ideally suited for a large number of activities and sports.
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