Guatemala Guide
Things not to miss
1 Antigua
• The graceful former capital, with an incredible legacy of colonial architecture, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most elegant cities in the Americas.
2 The Ixil region
• The Guatemalan highlands at their most bewitching: the colour, costume and scenery of this deeply traditional Maya region are astonishing.
3 Todos Santos Cuchumatán
• A fascinating highland Maya town, home to one of the finest textile traditions in Latin America, and hosts a legendary fiesta, with a rip-roaring horse race.
4 Tikal
• This unmatched Maya site has it all: monumental temples and palaces set in a tropical forest alive with screaming howler monkeys and chattering parakeets.
5 Studying Spanish
• Guatemala has dozens of excellent language schools that offer one-on-one tuition and home-stay packages at rock-bottom rates.
6 Río Dulce
• Cruise up the jungle-cloaked gorges and estuaries of Guatemala's "sweet river" by boat, and marvel at the scenery and birdlife.
7 Chichicastenango
• For souvenir hunters, this twice-weekly highland market is unsurpassed.
8 National Archeological Museum
• Guatemala City's Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología contains a wonderful collection of Maya artistry and breathtakingly carved monuments from many remote Petén sites.
9 Volcán de Pacaya
• Trek up for an unforgettable encounter with the lava-oozing cone of Pacaya, one of Central America's most active volcanoes.
10 Lívingston
• Tuck into tapado (coconut and fish soup) or grilled conch in the Garífuna village of Lívingston.
11 Yaxhá
• This massive Maya site, superbly positioned on the banks of Lago de Yaxhá has dozens of large temples and is currently the subject of extensive archeological excavations.
12 Quiriguá
• Small but fascinating Maya site, with towering, beautifully carved stelae.
13 Fuentes Georginas
• A stunning natural spa, with steaming open-air pools fringed by a dense foliage of ferns, perched halfway up a volcano near Quetzaltenango.
14 Lago de Atitlán
• Encircled by three volcanoes, the awesome crater lake of Lago de Atitlán was famously described by Aldous Huxley as "the most beautiful lake in the world".
15 Monterrico
• A rich nature reserve and village on the Pacific coast, with a sweeping beach where three species of sea turtle nest, including the giant leatherback.
16 Chicken buses
• Garishly painted and outrageously uncomfortable, there's never a dull journey aboard Guatemala's iconic fume-belching camionetas.
17 Highland hiking
• Explore the beguiling high trails that crisscross the granite mountains above the traditional Mam village of Todos Santos Cuchumatán.
18 Coffee
• Sample some of the world's finest single estate roasts in Cobán, the easy-going capital of Alta Verapaz.
19 Semuc Champey
• Explore the exquisite turquoise pools and river system around Semuc Champey, a natural limestone bridge over the Río Cahabón.
20 San Francisco el Alto
• A highland market par excellence – there's nothing much to buy, but plenty to experience.