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From Guatemala Travel Adventure
| República de Guatemala Republic of Guatemala | |||
| |||
| Motto: El País de la Eterna Primavera (English: "The Land of Eternal Spring") Template:Fact | |||
| National anthem: Himno Nacional de Guatemala | |||
 | |||
| Capital | Guatemala City Template:Coor dm | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Largest city | Guatemala City | ||
| Official language | Spanish | ||
| Government | Presidential republic | ||
| - President | Óscar Berger | ||
| Independence | From Spain | ||
| - Date | September 15, 1821 | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 108,890 km² (106th) 42,042 sq mi | ||
| Population | |||
| - July 2005 est. | 12,800,000 (70th) | ||
| - Density | 134.6/km² (85th) 348.6/sq mi | ||
| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||
| - Total | $62.78 billion (71st) | ||
| - Per capita | $4,155 (116th) | ||
| HDI (2004) | 0.673 (117th) – medium | ||
| Currency | Quetzal (GTQ)
| ||
| Time zone | (UTC -6) | ||
| Internet TLD | .gt | ||
| Calling code | +502
| ||
AdventureHotels.travel
You have entered Adventure Hotels, the internet's biggest and most comprehensive Pacific Rim travel and hotel portal, and growing. We have thirty-nine of the most popular destinations for you to choose from, some covering huge areas. Enjoy a crash course of each destination's history, geography, climate, culture, demographics, and economy. If you are interested in visiting, we walk you through it, from arrival and entry requirements, getting around, special places to visit and recommended things to do, indigenous cuisine, nightlife, safety and health suggestions, and finally, our specialty, we help you find the best value-priced, popular, independently-operated hotel money can buy.
We try to say it like it is, to give you an honest picture of each destination, the good and the bad, no flowery mango sunsets, just reality. If there are things not so great, we want you to know, what to expect and what to be prepared for. If there ever were paradises found, there really are none remaining on the planet. Every location has its inherent problems, from crime and pollution, to ignorance, corruption, big business, and poverty. But there are locations where these factors are less pronounced, scenic places where one can relax, unwind and find peace with nature. Dive into all of our websites, immerse your senses, and just feel the planet around you.
Why Adventure Hotels are better
Unlike other portals who will list any hotel as long as they pay huge commissions with each reservation, all Adventure Hotels pay us a one-time listing fee. We allow you to contact the hotel(s) directly from the hotel website(s), ask questions you want answered, see pictures, get information, negotiate your best deal and make your reservation directly with the hotel. However, not just any hotel can be listed as an Adventure Hotel. In fact, only about 85% of all hotels cannot be listed on our pages. Hotels need to first undergo a very rigorous qualification process, including:
- Pricing: all Adventure Hotels must have average nightly prices under $200, $150 or $100 (depending upon the location), there is no need for you to pay more for fine quality, well-located accommodation. All Guatemala hotels listed on this site are under $100 per night, most far less. There is no reason for you to pay more for quality accommodations min Guatemala.
Hotel's Global Distribution System (GDS), based on greedy middlemen, and your fear and ignorance
- All Adventure hotels listed are independently owned and operated: this means they try harder to satisfy their guests. Often the personal service and advice they offer is worth the price of accommodation alone. Adventure Hotel owners are excited about their hotel and facilities, and it shows. Painstakingly, they not only provide excellent accommodations, facilities and services, but also, an attractive, informative website to proudly display their wonderful hotel on the first page (or two) of the search engines. Adventure Hotels do not rely on others to send them a steady stream of guests like cattle through a feed lot, relying on costly middlemen such their chain hotel central reservation systems, or the Global Distribution System (GDS) like hotels.com, travelocity, expedia, orbitz, etc. making you feel like a statistic (which you are). Our philosophy is simple. If the hotel doesn't rely, atleast in part, on word of mouth, nor have the wherewithall to attract and keep its own guests by providing comfortable, clean, updated accommodations and facilities, and make guests feel welcome and appreciated, then the hotel probably don't have the genuine interest to make your stay an authentic, warm, real, and problem free experience.
- Former guest reviews: all Adventure Hotels listed have survived a series of former guest reviews, guests who lay out the truth (as they see it) and the cream hotels rise to the top positions...don't take our word on it, trust the opinions of former guests!
We've done the work for you
We have taken the work and worry out of finding the best value-priced, well-located, clean, popular, friendly hotels at each location. And with each Adventure Hotel listed, we have included the hotel website for you to click on, read about, see their photos, contact the hotel, ask questions, make any special requests for discounts and services, and negotiate directly with the hotel for the best deal possible. Unlike when you use a middleman, you can hold the hotel accountable if they fail to deliver as promised, and even write a damaging review if they fail to correct the problem. Enjoy the fruits of our labour! All Adventure Hotel destinations are listed at the end of this website, check them out! In the meantime, here's Guatemala!
Welcome to Guatemalahotels.travel
Guatemala covers lushly vegetated, mountainous piece of land, and a culture shock particularly in the rural areas compared to the the modern Western World It has staggering natural, cultural, and historical beauty. Though the amazing Mayan temples and cities in the rainforest have long seen their hay-day, indigenous traditions remain very strong throughout the country of Guatemalan. More than half of the population is native American, meaning it has the strongest rural indigenous culture in Central America. Countering this is a powerful ladino society, very urban and economic in its outlook. The graceful former capital of the country, Antigua, strongly exhibits its colonial past. The natural beauty of Guatemala's conical volcanos, photogenic lakes, dense tropical rainforests and strong indigenous cultural identity make a visit to Guatemala far more and different than one would ever expect, especially being so close to the USA. It's really another world!
Entry Requirements
Guatemala Passport & Visa Requirements
U.S. Passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended stay plus tickets and documents for return or onward travel. No visa required for stay up to three months (that period can be extended for an additional 180 days upon application to Guatemalan immigration). Minors under 18 traveling with a valid U.S. passport need no special permission from their parents to enter or leave Guatemala.
Vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever required if arriving from infected area within 5 days.
Entry requirements for UK nationals, Canadians, Australians, South Africans, New Zealanders, the Irish: you must hold a passport that is valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration office. British Overseas or Dependent Territories Citizens require visas and must have official authorization from the 'Direccion General de Migracion' in Guatemala City.
Note: All visitors must hold a return or onward ticket and documents required for further travel. Sufficient funds are also required.
Crime and Punishment
Do you want the truth or the glossed over tourism version? The following was taken from the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) in a publication from April, 2006.
Guatemala has a developing economy, characterized by wide income disparities. Hotels and other tourist facilities in the principal tourist sites most frequented by visitors from the United States are generally good to excellent. A peace accord, signed in 1996, ended a 36-year armed conflict. Violent crime, however, is a serious concern due to endemic poverty, an abundance of weapons, a legacy of societal violence, and dysfunctional law enforcement and judicial systems.
Violent criminal activity has been a serious problem in all parts of Guatemala for years, including numerous murders, rapes and armed assaults against foreigners. The police force is young, inexperienced and underfunded, while the judicial system is weak, overworked and inefficient. Criminals, sometimes armed with an impressive array of weapons, know that there is little chance they will be caught and punished. The current government has continued efforts to strengthen the police and related public safety entities, however, much still remains to be done. A recent example in the GOG's commitment to improve was their overhaul of the counter-narcotics police unit that followed the US arrest of its top three leaders for complicity in drug trafficking.
The number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens and other foreigners has increased in recent years. Incidents include, but are not limited to, assault, theft, armed robbery, home invasion, carjacking, rape, kidnapping and murder. Criminals generally operate in groups and are considerably confrontational and violent. In spite of regional initiatives to combat them, gangs continue to be a concern in Guatemala City as well as in rural Guatemala. Gang members are often well-armed and they sometimes use massive amounts of force. Emboldened armed robbers have attacked vehicles on main roads in broad daylight. Travel on rural roads always increases the risk of a criminal roadblock or ambush. Widespread narcotics and alien smuggling activities can make remote areas especially dangerous.
Though there is no evidence that Americans are particularly targeted, criminals look for every opportunity to attack. Therefore, all travelers should remain constantly vigilant.
Theft, armed robbery and carjacking seem to be the most common problems encountered by American citizens who visit Guatemala. Violent assaults do occur. The Embassy frequently receives reports of violent crimes committed against Americans. The upscale hotel and restaurant district of Zone 10 in Guatemala City is not immune to daytime assaults, often targeting persons carrying bags that look like they are carrying laptop computers. Highway robberies, sometimes violent, are not uncommon. Some recent reports of highway robberies include accusations that police, or assailants dressed like police, have been involved. A few have included sexual assaults of victims. Home invasions by armed groups in upscale neighborhoods have risen, the culprits enticing a resident to open the door, say for a delivery, or rushing in when family or staff open the door. Guatemala's nationwide homicide rate continues to rise; in 2005 was over 35 per 100,000, with Guatemala City's 2005 homicide rate much higher.
Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are prevalent in major cities and tourist sites, especially the central market and other parts of Zone 1 in Guatemala City. Those who offer no resistance when confronted by armed thieves are usually not hurt. Armed robberies can and do occur simply to steal a cell phone, and they have turned violent. Carjacking and vehicle thefts continue to be a serious problem. Bank robberies, kidnappings and gang-related crimes are of great concern and the rates of these crimes remain high.
In July, 2005 the police got over 800 new police cars and put them on the streets to fight crime. A new tourist security plan was put into effect at the start of 2006, where some police work strictly for the protection of tourists, and apparently, it has been quite effective to this point, as tourist related crimes are down considerably.
Safely Travel
For some very interesting and informative reading about safe travelling, an accumulation of original thoughts and experiences of several worldly travellers, check out the following link, Safely Travel. It was written with the Third World in mind, where travelling disasters are around every corner, and a pre-emptor to what we may all expect someday in the First World as populations increase and desperate people become more brave and sophisticated in their survival techniques. It will make you aware of all sorts of scams, how to check into a hotel, advice for single lady travellers, advice for single men travellers, rip tides, credit card scams, driving in a foreign land, kidnapping, street people, you name it. It is an essential read for anyone travelling!
History of Guatemala
Indigenous people
From the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD, the lowlands of Petén and Izabal regions were inhabited by several indigenous states of Mayan ethnicity. Many K'iche tribal groups were on the central highlands.
The Mayans had a very complex social, political, scientific, religious and artistic organization. They developed a calendar more accurate than the Gregorian calendar or any other used by any civilization in the history of mankind. They domesticated corn, vanilla beans, frijoles (regular beans), chicle (chewing gum), tobacco and chocolate (so now we know who to blame!). They had worked on medicines and several other lesser known tropical rainforest products. Some of their agricultural and irrigational techniques were beyond the Egyptians for the same period.
Their architecture was based on pyramidal shaped bodies with huge staircases and conscious use of the open spaces based on stellar and lunar astronomical observations. Mayan villages grew into towns with central plazas. They created highly artistic hieroglyphic writing making it possible to interpret their history and culture through the passing of time. Their math was centered on the number '20' inspired by the sum of their fingers and toes. Where we are slaves of the time concept, the Mayas made time observation a true religion with a different approach to the universe. They even practised the lost custom of skull deformation that they claimed increased their intelligence and transformed the way they saw the world similar.
Exquisite pottery and ceramics were made and traded. They wrote with indigo on animal skin parchments. Many filed their teeth to get closer to the gods, and their carved figurines had enlarged genitilia revealing the importance of fertility. Slaves were down at the bottom of the heap, often worked to death, or sacrificed then eaten for purification. There were commoners who also toiled the land, nobles who did the basic government work, and high priests who were beyond reproach.
Through our experience with the Mayan culture and the extensive studies of written chronicles, it is believed that the ruling class and their amazing knowledge mysteriously disappeared from Guatemala, but the causes and their combinations make great theoretical debate. They include overpopulation, Mexican immigrations and religion changes. Certainly the change from ceremonial wars to a total war system imposed by the barbarian Mexican Toltecs had a devastating effect. Today we see a mix of Mexican immigrants and the descendants of the remaining agricultural class of Maya inhabitants. There are Olmec, Mayan, Toltec, Pipil, Xinca, Cotzumalhuapan and many other cultures in a very small territory.
European arrival
The name "Goathemala" was given by the Spanish conquistadors, and derives from indigenous words meaning "Land of many trees".
The Spanish failed to conquer the Alta Verapaz area by force, but later succeeded through the workings of the Catholic Church. A few missionaries, most notably Fr. Bartolomé de las Casas, defended the native population from the cruelty of the Spanish army. The church, however, had a policy of burning Mayan texts, and almost all of the pre-Columbian manuscripts were lost. A few survived, however, including: "Popol Vuh", "Anales de los Kakchiqueles", and "Chilam Balam", books that were discovered and preserved by some Spanish missionary friars.
During the colonial period, Guatemala was a Captaincy General (Capitanía General de Goathemala) of Spain, but still part of New Spain (Mexico). It extended from Soconusco region -now in southern Mexico (states of Chiapas, Tabasco) to present day northwest Costa Rica. This region was not as rich in minerals (gold and silver) as Mexico and Peru, and was therefore not considered as important. Its main products were sugarcane, cocoa, blue añil dye, red dye from cochineal insects, and precious woods used in the artwork for churches and palaces in Spain.
Independence
Without permission to trade with countries other than Spain, the frustrated Guatemalan elite declared independence on September 15, 1821. The province of El Salvador convinced the other Guatemalan provinces to join the Mexican Empire, an idea of Agustin Iturbide. But a year later Iturbide was forced to abdicate, his empire collapsed and Guatemala separated from Mexico, losing the regions of Chiapas and Soconusco. In 1823 Guatemala became independent from Mexico. The new Guatemalan Republic included part of Soconusco region, and what are now the countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Its 1.5 million inhabitants were concentrated mostly in urban centers.
The Guatemalan provinces formed the United Provinces of Central America, also called the Central American Federation (Federacion de Estados Centroamericanos). The capital city remained Guatemala City, which is still today the most populous city in Central America.
A politically unstable period followed, aggravated by the collapse of the world market for añil (indigo), the country's main export to Europe, due to the invention of synthetic dyes. This prompted each province to leave the Federation from 1838 to 1840, beginning with Costa Rica. Guatemala became an independent nation.
Ugly modern history
Guatemala has long claimed all or part of the territory of neighboring Belize, formerly part of the Spanish colony, and later occupied by the United Kingdom to be called British Honduras. Guatemala finally recognized Belize's independence in 1991, but their territorial dispute is not resolved. Negotiations are currently underway under the auspices of the Organization of American States to hopefully conclude it.
Recent Guatemalan history is marked by the Cold War between the U.S. and the USSR. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with a small group of Guatemalans, overthrew the freely elected Guatemalan government of Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 after the government expropriated unused land owned by the United Fruit Company, a U.S.-based banana merchant. The CIA codename for the coup was Operation PBSUCCESS, Guatemalas second successful overthrow by a foreign government. The subsequent military rule, beginning with dictator Carlos Castillo Armas, led to over thirty years of civil war that, from 1960, led to the death of an estimated 200,000 Guatemalan civilians.
According to the U.N.sponsored Truth Commission, government forces and paramilitaries backed by the USA were responsible for over 90% of the human rights violations during the war, similar to the Sandanista-Contra War in Nicaragua, and the war in El Salvador. Perhaps the right wasn't so right, if you catch my jist.
During the first ten years, the victims of the state-sponsored terror were primarily students, workers, professionals, and opposition figures of all political tendencies, but in the last years, they were thousands of mostly rural Mayan farmers and non-combatants. More than 450 Mayan villages were destroyed and over one million people became refugees. This is considered one of the worst ethnic cleansings in modern Latin America. In certain areas, such as Baja Verapaz, the Truth Commission considered that the Guatemalan state engaged in an intentional policy of genocide against particular ethnic groups.
From the 1950s to the 1990s (with a suspension of military aid between 1977 and 1982), the US government directly supported Guatemala's army with training, weapons and money. The United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) were sent to Guatemala to transform its army into a "modern counter-insurgency force" and made it the most powerful and sophisticated in Central America. In 1999, then US president Bill Clinton stated that the United States was wrong to have provided support to Guatemalan military forces that took part in the brutal civilian killings. Other CIA involvement included the training of 5,000 Cubans opposed to Fidel Castro and airstrips in its territory for what later became the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion.
In 1982, four Marxist groups formed the guerrilla organization Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity (URNG). A bloody 36-year war ended in 1996 with a peace accord between the guerrillas and the government of President Alvaro Arzu, negotiated by the United Nations. Both sides made major concessions. The army controlled urban centers, while URNG maintained a strong presence in the countryside. Due to the military's use of rampant torture, disappearances, "scorched earth" warfare and many other brutal methods, the country became an outcaste state internationally.
Rebuilding from the ashes
In 1992, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Rigoberta Menchu, an indigenous human rights activist, for her efforts to bring international attention to the government-sponsored genocide against the indigenous population.
Since the peace accord, Guatemala has enjoyed successive democratic elections, most recently in 2003. However, corruption is still rampant at all levels of government. A huge cache of National Police files discovered in December 2005 revealed methods by public security officials to quell unrest of citizens during the Civil War.
Guatemala has made strides over the last three years, still not perfect, but the likelihood of a tourist becoming involved in domestic problems, civil unrest and violence in Guatemala is now very remote.
Politics
Politics of Guatemala takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Guatemala is both head of state and government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress of the Republic. The Judiciary is independent of both the executive and the legislature.
Geography
Guatemala is mountainous, except for the south coastal area and the north vast lowlands of Peten department. Its climate is hot tropical – more temperate in the highlands, and drier in the easternmost departments.
All major cities are in the southern half of the country. Major cities are the capital Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango and Escuintla. The largest lake Lago de Izabal is close to the Caribbean coast.
It should be highlighted that Guatemala’s nature is extensive and unique with eight major ecosystems. This makes it a natural paradise with a wide variety of landscapes, from the tropical low rainforest of Petén, through the mountain cloud forests, volcanos and volcanic lakes of the highlands, to the tropical volcanic black beaches of the Pacific Ocean and the coral Beaches of the Caribbean Sea and cactus semi-desserts in the Oriental part. Therefore it has a vast amount of flora and fauna that makes Guatemala rank very high in biological diversity in Central America.
Called the 'Land of Eternal Spring', the country enjoys a moderated climate throughout the year in most of its territory, with an average temperature of 22C (75F). There are several micro-climates. You will notice they change rapidly as you travel about. Guatemala's location on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean makes it a target for hurricanes, including Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in 2005, which killed more than 1,500 people.
Economy
Aren't you lucky to afford to travel
In Guatemala, the wide gulf between a small, wealthy elite and a large impoverished lower class is very evident. The inequities have worsened in the 20th century, as the population has increased and more resources have been devoted to producing exports. Although a significant middle class has developed in urban areas, some 53 percent of Guatemalans survive on less than one U.S. dollar per day. It is estimated that 26 percent of the population is undernourished. According to 1987 statistics, the top ten percent of the population received 44 percent of the income, and the bottom 10 percent received 0.9 percent.
Poverty affects both urban and rural Guatemalans, but rural residents, including most of the Maya population, generally live under harsher conditions. More than 70 percent of rural residents are classified as living in extreme poverty, compared to 36 percent of urban inhabitants. In the period 1990-1996, an average of 83 percent of Guatemalans had access to sanitation, but this figure was only 74 percent in rural areas. About 54 percent of the population has access to health care, but the majority of doctors are around Guatemala City. Malnutrition affects more than 60 percent of young children.
The agricultural sector accounts for one quarter of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar cane and bananas are the main exports. Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP.
The signing of the peace accords that ended the decades-long Civil War removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to neighboring countries, especially Honduras.
Remaining challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations.
In 2005, despite massive street protests, Guatemala's congress ratified the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) between several the Central American nations and the U.S. However, owing to the extensive damage and economic impacts caused by Hurricane Stan in October 2005, the government is evaluating how it will be possible to implement the mechanisms and stipulations of CAFTA by the starting date sometime in 2007.
Currency, banks and credit cards
The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal, named after the national bird. You really don't need to exchange money for Quetzales in advance outside of Guatemala and get a bad exchange rate. Just bring a few US$1 bills to pay for your taxi, then when you have time, exchange dollars for quetzals in a Guatemala bank where you will get the best exchange rate. 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. In the capital city and departmental capitals they have international services but in small towns, only savings and checking services. Credit cards can be used in larger businesses and restaurants. Most major international credit cards are widely accepted but VISA is preferred. ATM's are everywhere, especially at banks and gas stations. The banking hours are generally 9am to 6pm.
Demographics
According to the CIA World Fact Book, Meszitos, known as Ladinos in Central America, (mixed Amerindian-Spanish, or pure Amerindian but Spanish-speaking) and people of European descent
Though most of Guatemala's population is rural, urbanization is accelerating. Guatemala City (approx. 3 million residents) is expanding at a rapid rate, and Quetzaltenango, the second largest city of 250,000, is growing rapidly as well. Rural-to-urban migration is fueled by a combination of government neglect of the countryside, low farm produce prices, oppressive labor conditions on rural plantations, the high concentration of arable land in the hands of a few wealthy families, and the (often quite unrealistic) perception of higher wages in the city. Generally impoverished farmers move to the outskirts of the city in precarious shanty dwellings on the slopes of ravines.
In 1900, Guatemala had a population of 885,000. Over the course of the twentieth century the population of the country grew by a factor of fourteen. No other western hemisphere country saw such rapid growth. The ever-increasing pattern of emigration to the United States has created Guatemalan communities in California, Illinois, New York and Texas and elsewhere since the 1970's.
Language
Although the official language is Spanish, it is not universally spoken among the indigenous population, or is often spoken as a second language. Twenty one distinct Mayan languages are still spoken, especially in rural areas, plus Garifuna is spoken by a small number of people on the Caribbean coast originating in Africa. The origins of the language Xinca is still unknown.
English is taught in the entire education system of Guatemala, so many people speak it as a second language. English is spoken in the tourist and international business areas.
The Peace Accords signed in December 1996 provided for the translation of some official documents and voting materials into several indigenous languages, and mandate the provision of interpreters in legal cases for non-Spanish speakers. The accord also sanctioned the teaching of bilingual education in Spanish and indigenous languages. It is very rare, however, for Spanish-speaking Guatemalans to learn or speak one or more of the nation's other languages.
Religion
The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, into which many indigenous Guatemalans have incorporated traditional forms of worship, a
The practice of traditional Mayan religion is increasing as a result of cultural protections established in the peace accords. The government is providing altars at every Mayan ruin found in the country so that traditional ceremonies may be performed.
There are Mormons in Guatemala who believe that Kaminal Juyu in Guatemala city and other Maya centers are the places where Kukulkan, Jesus Christ's counterpart, walked among the ancient people making this a holy land of sorts.
Education
The government runs a number of public elementary and secondary schools. These schools are theoretically tuition-free, but the cost of uniforms, books, supplies, and transportation makes them less accessible to the lower classes. Many middle and upper-class children go to excellent private schools. The country also has one public university, the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, and nine private universities, all within Guatemala City.
The Guatemala National Prize in Literature is a one-time only award that recognizes an individual writer's body of work. It has been given annually since 1988 by the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (Ministry of culture and Sports) as an encouragement and thank you to the country's best writers. Guatemala City is home to many of the nation’s libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, which has an extensive collection of Maya artifacts. The Colonial Museum, in Antigua has large exhibits of colonial artwork.
Culture
Start with respect
Remember that Guatemala is a primitive country with a big illiterate population and many old costumes and beliefs are strongly preserved. This is also a country that recently (1999) left behind 36 years of civil war. Its democracy is still in its infancy stage, and people are just learning how to live within it. The Mayas are very friendly people, but like anyone else, they don't enjoy being treated as an object of your touristic amusement. They are real people and their world is very different from our First World conception. Please be respectful with your camera during their religious rites. They are not performing for you, they are communicating with God.
You will find that the ladino people (of Spanish origin) are also quite friendly and helpful, however, they also lack some respect and understanding of the Maya, their fellow Guademalans. It is important to respect and admire the Mayan culture, which in turn, will make the general Guatemalan population also interested in learning, and keeping the Mayan values alive.
The contrast between the modern ways of Guatemala City, the center of Guatemalan cultural activity, and the traditional customs and crafts of the Maya peoples gives Guatemala a colorful and dynamic culture. Spanish colonists gave Guatemala its official language and many architectural and art treasures. Magnificent buildings of the colonial period remain at Antigua, the colonial capital, located about 40 km (about 25 mi) from Guatemala City. Contemporary crafts such as weaving, jewelry making, and ceramics combine indigenous design and color patterns with Spanish technical skills. Throughout Guatemala, the marimba remains the typical Guatemalan musical medium, although it is often challenged now by Mexican ranchera music and internationally popular rock.
The indigenous people of Guatemala have maintained a distinct identity, centered on lands and villages in the western highlands. Many speak a Mayan language rather than Spanish and follow spiritual practices from before the Spanish conquest, sometimes blended with Roman Catholic beliefs. Although most are poor by material standards, their lifestyle is ecologically and spiritually satisfying to them, and they have largely chosen to remain isolated from national life.
There is great variety in Guatemalan lifestyles, marked by differences between ladino and Maya ways and between urban and rural areas. In the capital, European culture and fashions have long been dominant. More recently North American styles in cinema, music, politics, business, even fast-food franchises have become a powerful influence that has reduced traditional Spanish customs. In urban areas, the ladino culture is a mixture of indigenous and Spanish traditions. Ladinos often blend the clothing and musical styles of the two cultures, and eat dishes from both groups: wheat bread and processed foods, or traditional corn tortillas and rice and beans.
Outside Guatemala City, especially in rural areas, more traditional Mayan ways persist. In indigenous communities, most of the women and many men still continue to proudly wear brightly colored native attire. The typical rural family is industrious; men usually work the fields, while women care for the children and weave beautiful textiles with motifs that are unique to each community.
Food
For the local residents, a diet of corn, beans, and a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is standard. Chicken and rice dishes are also common. Beef or pork are less common among the poorer classes, but popular among middle and upper sectors in both town and country.
Dishes in Guatemals City come from specific regions that reflect the true Guatemalan cuisine. Salty, sweet tomales are common in many regions, Some of these are sweet or salty tamales (made from cornmeal with a variety of vegetable and meat fillings wrapped in a banana leaf), Jocon is chicken done in a sauce mainly of green tomatoes and coriander, while Pepian is a beef stew with native vegetables and a roasted sesame seed sauce with guaque peppers. Subanik comes in pork, chicken or beefand comes with rice and guacamole. Guacamole is ripe avocado mixed with onion, oregan and salt. If you need McDonald's or KFC to survive, you'll find them, no problem.
Some central hotels have daily specials of indigenous fare, slightly spicy but delicious. Rice puddingb is a favorite, and torrejas is a sweet papaya dessert. Chancletas, which are made of breaded guisquil and raisins, baked, and you won't be able to avoid the popular Rellenitos de Platano (sweet fried plantain).
Guatemala Tour Companies
There is one tourist guide, and company I would most highly recommend, Rene Sanchinelli, who works out of the 'Posada Belen' Museum Inn. I have read a lot of Rene's writings, and possible Mayan discoveries, and am convinced you couldn't do better. E-mail Rene at mail@guatemalaweb.com
From the splendor of the ancient Mayas to the Spanish colonial towns, from the breathtaking mountains and serene lakes, to the thriving and colorful culture of the authentic indigenous peoples with their markets and unique lifestyle, and the awe-inspiring monuments and ruins of the mysterious Maya civilization, there are few countires in the world that have so much to offer the visitor in so small an area. You can go from the depths of steaming tropical jungles to cool active volcanic peaks, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific in just a matter of hours. Everything from white-water rafting to bird watching, Guatemala offers you a spectacular range of attractions that few countries can match. Click on any of the following tour companies and deal directly with them about your personal itinery and needs.
De Pe a Pa Tours from Antigua
Getting around
There is one thing I want to say, just to make your stay more enjoyable, and less offensive to the people of Guatemala. Never try to pick up or take pictures of children without the parents permission first. This is very important specially in the countryside where a rumors about children being kidnapped for foreign adoption or worse, organ extraction for transplants is very common.
Guatemala is a land of adventure, and quite a culture shock for those used to the First World way of life. For the environmentally conscious, with a lot of time, you can go by the very inexpensive public 'chicken buses', where your driver thinks he is Mario Andretti as he flies around mountain hair-pin turns. There are also first class buses, private shuttles and taxis, escorted tours, domestic flights or even helicopters rides. Any way you choose will need a positive attitude, do not expect perfection, the paved roads are in very good condition but driving yourself is a bit difficult for those who do not have experience driving defensively in Latin America. Let me remind you, life is cheap here!
Private bus service
Transport Guatemala
Car Rental Companies
Notes on Renting a Car in Guatemala: Driving in Guatemala in not easy but very convenient. In Guatemala most cars are stick shift (standard transmission) so be sure to ask for automatic transmission if you only drive automatic when you reserve. I am not sure of the other car rental companies, but with Ahorrent, you can pick up the car at the airport in Guatemala city or Flores or the car can be delivered to your hotel in Guatemala city, Antigua, Flores, Quetzaltenango , Coban or Huehuetenago, if available, at no extra charge. Generally you can leave the car in other towns but there is an extra charge.
Ahorrent Boulevard Liberación 4-83, zona 9 Phone: 2332-0544, 2332-7515 PBX: 2361-5621 Also in: Antigua and Flores
TAbarini (*) RENT A CAR 2a. Calle "A" 7-30, Zona 10 Phone: 23322161, Airport: 23314755 Also in: Antigua, Peten, Coban, Huehuetenango and Xela
AVIS RENT A CAR (*) 12 Calle 2-73, Zona 9 Phone: 2331-2750,2331-2734 Airport: 23310017 Fax: 23324596
BUDGET RENT A CAR Ave. La Reforma, Zona 9 Phone: 23348352/3, 23343865, 23342571, 23325691,23316546 Airport: 23310273 Telex: 6059 BUDGET-GU
DOLLAR RENT A CAR Ave. La Reforma 6-14, Zona 9 Phone: 23341538, 23341541, 23348285/7 Airport: 23317185 Telex: 4116 DOLLAR-GU
Limosinas de Guatemala Reservation Center: 7a. Calle 15-75, Zona 16 Colonia La Montaña Phone: 3232 6677/8 Fax: 2332 6678
Hertz (*) 7a. Ave 14-76, Zona 9 Phone: 23342540/1, 3322242, 3347421, 3315374 Airport: 23311711
National Car Rental 14 Calle 1-42, Zona 10 Phone: 23683057, 23680175, 3371767 Airport: 23318365, 23318218 Fax: 23370221
Limosines and Cars 4a. Ave. 7-01, Zona 10 Phone: 23325719
Domestic flights
INTERTACA Airlines A reliable and fast service within Guatemala and border cities. Convenient itineraries to return the same day, besides connecting flights with the main destinations of GRUPO TACA.
Automated reservations, aircraft with the best technology, air conditioned, leather seats, and the experience, support and maintenance from grupo TACA.
Buying Real Estate
The Land of Eternal Spring
If weather is part of the reason you are looking to move, Guatemala is the place for you.
In the highlands the days are warm and the nights are cool. Typically the daytime temperature will be 78° F.(25° C.) and a night time temperatur of 65° F. (18° C.). There are two seasons in Guatemala the dry season and the rainy season. The rainy season goes from April to October. Then it averages about an hour a day of rain.
Buying & Selling Tips
Mortgages from financial institutions are typically impossible to get. If you are able to get one the interest rates will be very high. You may be able to arrange one through the seller. In general plan on paying for all property in cash.
There are basically two types of title property offered, registered and unregistered. In the larger cities you will find mostly registered, in the rural areas, unregisisterd. All property can be registered and it is best if you buy property that is registered, though at times it may not be necessary.
Typically you will pay a tax on property at the time of sale. In most municipalities you will also pay a yearly property tax, though by most standards the taxes will be considered low.
Companies
Mayan Ruins
Guatemala's Mayan ruins lay testiment to an incredible, long lasting and dynamic culture that flourished between 700 BC and 900 AD. The tall Tical Ruins and Copan into Honduras are certainly the most prominent and photographed of all, however, smaller remains can be found throughout Guatemala. The monuments, created of huge rocks brought up river from the south pay tribute to past rulers and Mayan gods, decribing conquests and dynasties, raids and alliances.
About twenty seven square kilometers in central Tikal of extensive civilization have already been mapped showing some three thousand separate structures and carvings of gigantic sculptures.
The most spectacular structure in probably all of Latin America is Tical's Great Plaza, surrounded by sculpted altars and stelae, ceremonial buildings, administrative and residential palaces, including a ball court. The Temple of the Great Jaguar, erected in 700 AD under the supervision of Ah Cacao, is found on the east end of the Great Plaza measuring nearly fifty meters in height. His tomb was found inside. Temple II rises 37 meters at the west end of the Great Plaza.
Just over the Honduran border lies outstanding Mayan achievement Copan. The royal sculptures directed by a series of kings created the longest known hieroglyphic text, inscribed along a stairway, commemorating Rulers 1 to 15.
Quiriguá is a smaller smaller Mayan city whose acropolis construction started around 550 AD, but heightening in grandeur around 700 AD, corresponding with Cauac Sky's military defeat over Copán's King Uaxaclajuun Ub'Aah K'Awiil or 'Eighteen Rabbit' who was captured and sacrificed in Quiriguá's Grand Plaza. Here you will find the largest rock ever dragged and carved by the Mayans, plus eleven more large stelae and four rocks carved to make animals of mythology.
The archeological site Aguateca in Peten Region by the is Pasion River Ceibal has interesting waterways, archaeological interest and natural beauty.
Worthwhile places to tour
Guatemala City
It is the largest city in Central America. Population estimates for Guatemala City is around three million and growing daily. The city is located at 14°38′N 90°33′W, in a mountain valley in the south central part of the country. Guatemala City is home to many of the nation’s libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, which has an excellent collection of Mayan artifacts.
History
Within the confines of modern Guatemala City is the ancient Maya city of Kaminaljuyu. Kaminaljuyu dates back some nine thousand years and is one of America's greatest archaelogical sites dating from this period. The center of Kaminaljuyu was located a short distance from the older part of Guatemala City. Unfortunately, corresponding to the lack of insite of many in Central America, in the late 20th century, the city grew around the ruins, and in some cases over some of the outlying ruins before they were protected. Perhaps hundreds of temple mounds have been built over with freeways, shopping centers, commerce, luxury hotels and residential areas. The central ceremonial center of Kaminaljuyu was protected by the Guatemalan government and is now a park within the city.
In Spanish colonial times, Guatemala City was a small town. It had a monastery called 'El Carmen', founded in 1629. The capital of Spanish colonial Central America was moved here after an earthquake destroyed the old capital (Antigua Guatemala) in 1775, and resulted in a great expansion of the city.
Features
Guatemala City is the economic, governmental, and cultural capital of the Republic of Guatemala, and functions as the main port of entry into the country with the country's largest international airport, La Aurora International Airport. In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, hotels and shops, the city has a many art galleries and museums (including some fine collections of pre-Columbian art) and continually offers more and more cultural activities.
Guatemala City does not have an efficient public transportation service despite the many proposals and projects for the construction of a mass transportation system. Although the construction of freeways and underpasses by the municipal government, as well as the establishment of the Department of Metropolitan Transit Police PMT, has helped traffic flow in the city, the Guatemalan Metropolitan Area faces a choked and growing transportation problem.
Among the most popular areas for pop culture and shopping as well as entertainment are Majadas, 4° Norte and Pradera Concepción (the largest mall in Central America).
Because of the large congregation in the region, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints constructed the Guatemala City Temple here in 1984.
Antigua
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the City of Antigua is in the central mountains of the country. It is famous for its amazingly-preserved New World Spanish baroque architecture plus several church ruins.
Antigua is the municipal seat for its surrounding municipality and the capital of Sacatepéquez Department.
Population
The city had a peak population of some 60,000 in the 1770s. In 1773, a series of earthquakes destroyed much of the town. The Spanish Crown ordered (1776) the removal of the capital to a safer location, where Guatemala City, the modern capital of Guatemala, now stands. The badly damaged city was ordered abandoned, although not everyone left. Despite significant population growth in the late 20th century, the city reached only half that number in the 1990s.
Antigua Guatemala means the "ancient Guatemala". Founded in 1543 after the nearby town of Ciudad Vieja was destroyed in a flood, Antigua Guatemala was for more than two hundred years the seat of the military governor of the Spanish colony of Guatemala, a large region that included almost all of present-day Central America. The conquistadores named the city La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala ("The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala"). It was known just as Santiago de Guatemala, in honor of their patron saint, Santiago, or St. James.
Antigua today
In Central Park in the heart of the city is a beautiful reconstructed fountain. People enjoy this park from early in the morning to late at night. Nowadays, Antigua is noted for its very elaborate religious celebrations for the Holy Week leading up to Easter.
There are also many Spanish language schools located in Antigua. Because of individualized instruction and reasonable fees, it has become one of the most popular places in Latin America to study Spanish. Students are usually housed with local host families or in local hotels. They can engage many other activities apart from the immersion language courses. Tourists come to see all that Antigua has to offer, including nightlife, bars, restaurants, markets selling Mayan goods, and excursions via shuttles to surrounding sites.
Volcanoes
To the west of the city are a pair of peaks, Acatenango, long inactive, some 3976 meters high, and the Volcán de Fuego or "Volcano of Fire", some 3763 meters high. "Fuego" is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Smoke issues from its top daily, but larger eruptions are rare.
Lago de Atitlán
Renouned as one of the planet's most beautiful lakes, volcanic Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America reaching 320 meters deep, created 84,000 years ago during an eruption. Aldous Huxley wrote that with its embellishments of several immense volcanoes, it is definitely too much of a good thing. Visit it, you'll be amazed! Calm, serene, almost like Lord of the Rings, with little Indian villages surrounding the lake taking their turn each day of the week with their outdoor market.
The surrounding forests of Lake Atitlan, are home to the national bird, the endangered Resplendent Quetzal. The rich volcanic soils also support a healthy industries of coffee, sugar cane, rubber, tea, macadamia nuts, lumber and bananas.
The Region's Geology
Volcanic activity started about eleven million years ago with the uplifting of continental plates, with an estimated four periods of caldera expansion and collapse, the most recent beginning 1.8 million years ago. Considering the planet is 4.5 billion years old, this is considered recent, and well after the extinction of the dinasaurs. Lake Atitlan filles the caldera today, ansd as one flies over the area, several smoking volcanoes can be seen.
Los Chocoyos Eruption (named after a bird that nests in the soft ash) was the last caldera-forming cataclysm ejecting some three hundred cubic kilometers of the planet, and dispersing ash over an area of some 2.4 million mi², from Ecuador to Florida.
After Los Chocoyos, three volcanoes grew, Atitlan on the northern rim, and San Pedro and Tolimán are inside the caldera. The oldest is San Pedro, dormant for 40,000 years, Tolimán hasn't been active since recorded history and Atitlan is the youngster, with it's last big eruption 150 years ago, but more to certainly follow.
In 1976 a 7.5 earthquake hit Guatemala killing nearly 30,000 people, and fracturing the lake bed which caused seepage, and the lake lowered two meters virtually overnight.
Ecological history
The area around the lake became a national park in 1955, yet its beauty was little known on a global basis. Pan Am World Airways was given permission to stock the lake with black bass to attract anglers. Unfortunately, when ever man plays god, devastating results occur. The bas ate two thirds of the indigenous fish, which contributed to the extinction of the an already rare bird called the giant grebe.
Culture
What I really like about Lake Atitlan is that it is surrounded by many Mayan villages. They still practise their traditional customs and wear their colorful outfits. It makes you feel like you are really travelling. The Atitlan Mayan people are pmainly Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil. While the Spanish conquered the Americas, the Kaqchikel
Santiago Atitlán is a well-known lakeside village noted for the worship of the idol Maximón, that was made by the fusing of Mayan gods, Catholic saints and legends of the conquistadors. Maximón lies in effigy each year in a different house. Moving is a grand procession during Easter (Semana Santa).
Panajachel is the largest and most famous of the Lake Atitlan villages,, and gets the lion's share of tourism. It started with many free-wheeling hippies and university students in the 1960s, myself being included in 1974, and though the civil war foreced many foreigners to leave the area, visitor numbers started to boom again in 1996, mant baby boomers returning this time closer to retirement. Unfortunately a lot of the original charm has been plowed over by touristic enterprises,
Guatemalan Civil War
During the Guatemalan civil war, several human rights abuses occured around Lake Atitlan when the Guatemalan government adopted a scorched earth policy. They assumed all indigenous people were supporters of the guerrillas, those fighting against the government and were thus targeted with brutal reprisals. They say 300 Mayan people disappeared during the conflict. This was the time when missionary Stanley Rother from Oklahoma was assasinated, then in 1990, a non-violent march was cut short by government troops, leaving 13 dead. International pressure enticed the Guatemala government to declare Santiago Atitlán a military-free zone, but the massacre's memorial was badly damaged by a mudslide in 2005.
Hurricane
Heavy rains from Hurricane Stan caused extensive damage throughout Guatemala in early October 2005, particularly around Lake Atitlán. A massive landslide buried the lakeside village of Panabaj, causing the death of as many as 1400 residents and leaving 5,000 homeless.
Since then, roads have been reopened and travel to the region has returned to normal.
Petén
Northernmost Petén is Guatemala's largest department taking up about a third of the country with the capital Flores pushing half a million inhabitants.
History
Elaborate architectural structures already began in 500 AD in Petén with El Mirador beinmg the most important Mayan pre-classic site. Cival is another important site here.
Today you can see Tical, Machaquila, Holmul, Naranjo, Piedras Negras, Nakum, Seibal, Yaxha and Uaxactun preserving the amazing history of Petén during the Classic Mayan years.
Then in the sixteenth century the population continues to collapse because of European-brought diseases like smallpox, to which he natives had no natural resistence. Hernán Cortés led ther first expedition through the Petén region in 1524 - 25 and said the area was mostly small hamlets in the thick jungle.
But after Cortés, the Spanish mostly left Petén alone and it wasn't until the end of the 17th century when an expedition from the Yucatán conquered the last Maya state.
Flores, a Spanish town was established on the Tayasal site remaining isolated.
To slow urban blight, the government of Guatemala offered free Petén land to any citizen beginning in the 1960's for a mere $25. The trip along the dirt road took up to 24 hours, so the government soon opened airports at Tical and Flores to bring tourists in, and in the 1970's they finally built a road from Belize to Tikal.
saw the first paved road in Tikal, and since the 1990's many new people have settled in Petén and it now experiences severe deforestation.
Tikal
In the Department of Pelen, Tikal is among the world's travel wonders, many calling Tikal one of the most spiritually powerful spots on earth. The monumental site with its towering pyramids looms out of the thick jungle canopy like stoic sentinels of ancient mysteries.
The charming town of Flores, with its pastel-colored buildings, enjoys a scenic setting on Lake Peten Itza. It is located about half an hour from the entrance of the National Park and serves as a gateway to explore the immediate area.
Izabal
Izabal is one of the twenty two departments that make up the nation of Guatemala.
Izabal is bordered to the north by Belize, to the north east by the Gulf of Honduras, and to the east by Honduras, and by the Guatemalan departments of Petén to the north west, Alta Verapaz to the west, and Zacapa to the south.
The small town of Izabal is on the south shore of the lake. Before the construction of the ports of Livingston and Puerto Barrios in the 19th century this was Guatemala's main Caribbean Sea port and was the original seat of Izabal department. Nowadays, however, Izabal town is a remote village that gets little traffic.
From the area around Lake Izabal, the Department of Izabal stretches along the Río Dulce to the coast of the Caribbean Sea.
The department of Izabal includes the ports of Puert Barrios (the departmental seat), Santo Tomás de Castilla and Livingston. Izabal also includes the Pre-Columbian Maya ruins of Quirigua.
Chichicastenango
Chichicastenango, also known as Santo Tomás Chichicastenango, is a town in the El Quiché department of Guatemala, known for its traditional Maya Indian culture. Chichicastenango serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name.
Chichicastenango is home to what is said to be the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all America, which takes place twice a week. This town has been, since pre-Columbian times, one of the largest trading centers in the Maya area.
The famous handicraft market of Chichicastenango draws not only the K'iche' Maya of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala. They represent many of Guatemala's linguistic groups: Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel, and others (Guatemala has 23 indigenous languages). Each person hawks his or her products in a cacophony of color, dialects, costumes, smoke, and smells.
Early in the day, homemade rockets and firecrackers are set off and continue randomly throughout the day. The smell of incense burning at the 400 year old Church of Santo Tomás (on the steps and in the nave) and fireworks mingle together.
The church was built atop a pre-Columbian platform, and the steps originally leading to a temple of the pre-Hispanic Maya civilization remain venerated. Shamans still use the church for their rituals, burning incense and candles. In special cases, they burn a chicken for the gods. Each of the eighteen stairs that lead up to the church stands for one month of the Maya calendar year.
Other sights in Chichicastenango include native musicians playing in the streets, religious processions, antique and relic stores, the Popul Vuh Museum of Mayan artifacts, and the colorful cemetery.
There is also an ancient stone idol that can be accessed after some exploration. The idol is still in use; offerings of flowers, candles, incense and sugar cane rum are evident. Tourists are asked to stay back and not interfere with any rituals being performed at the idol.
Guatemala hotels
Why these are the best value-priced Guatemalan hotels you will find
From experience of owning five different hotels in both Canada and the Third World (one twice), and having travelled extensively myself, I find guests are always able to get the best rate, the best room and the best service, complete information and no surprises, when they contact a hotel directly to make their reservation... and when they arrive, their welcome will be genuine, warm and unrehearsed.
All Guatemala hotels listed below have average room rates of under $100 per night, but most are much lower. Each listed hotel has also demonstrated its independent approach to welcoming and serving guests, and has risen to the top after a series of former guest reviews.
Along with a brief description of each of our qualified Adventure Hotels, we provide you with a direct link the hotel's own website, so you can contact and deal with the hotel directly. Without a middleman (a chain hotel central reservation system or the GDS) requiring the hotel to pay anywhere from a 10% to 40% commission, you are in the best position to communicate directly with a real person to ask about multi-night and multi-room, child and senior discounts; a quiet room or a top floor room with a view; or to be accommodated close to the pool; extra blankets, towels or pillows; or have them recommend and book a tour or car for you in advance; you can request a romantic bouquet of exotic flowers with a note attached waiting in your room, or a chilled bottle of champagne; or ask questions about the surrounding area, dining, nightlife, laundry services or luggage storage, or a possible early check-in or late check-out. You can't do any of this when you book through a middleman!
Now, confidently make your reservations your way by dealing directly with the hotel, and holding the hotel accountable for what they promised. Though our listed hotels are highly recommended and qualified, if your hotel doesn't live up to your expectations, write an honest and realistic review, and warn others. However, if it meets or surpasses your expectations, be kind and send us a positive review. These hotels depend on YOUR word of mouth, eliminating the costly middlemen, and saving everyone money.
It costs you nothing to enjoy the fruits of our labor, and the savings and advantages are up to you when you deal direct!
The most popular independent Guatemala hotels under $100 (in order)
Guatemala Hotels
Tikal Hotels
- Peten Esplendido - Provides everything for your privileged vacations, incentive groups and meetings, courtesy shuttle between the hotel and Mundo Maya International Airport, 62 guest rooms with A/C, restaurant with international cuisine, with 2 dinning ambients, fresh water pool, international bar by the poolside, pedal boats to enjoy the beauty of Petén Itzá Lake, Internet service for guests, elevator, laundry service & room service.
- Jungle Lodge - The Hotel Posada de la Selva, better known by the English translation of its name - The Jungle Lodge - is family owned and operated by the hospitable Ortis Family. The main thatched building houses the Reception, Bar, Dining Room and Lounge (with an incredible mural on the wall depicting Tikal in it's colorful heyday!). Paved footpaths lead through the beautifully landscaped grounds to the bungalow accommodations. The spacious rooms have two double beds, large private bathrooms with hot water and (limited) electricity. High ceilings keep the rooms cool and each bungalow has its own small porch with lounge chairs.
Antigua Hotels
- Quinta de las Flores - A small family owned hotel in Antigua Guatemala, offering a relaxing experience amid some of the most beautiful gardens in Central America. The baths have become a series of fountains whose sound can be heard throughout the gardens that surround the rooms and 'casitas'. Quinta de las Flores was built on land belonging to the family since the 1850' and the site of seventeen century public baths. In order to offer a genuine Guatemalan experience, special care has been taken with the decoration. Eight double rooms are comfortably furnished with king or twin beds, private bath, fireplace, mini bar and cable TV. Six double new rooms are comfortably furnished with king or full beds, fireplace, cable TV and private balcony. The five 'casitas' provide all the comforts of home. They have living room with fireplace, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. They sleep five. In the restaurant, breakfast is a must, enjoy it in the open dining room overlooking the gardens among the relaxing sound of the colonial fountains. Lush planting surrounds the swimming pool. Here you can sunbathe or relax in a hammock. It's also tempting to have a drink or read a book in the garden living room. The Hotel is nested amid the extensive gardens for which it's recognized. They have been designed to experience a wide varietyof colorful plants and the magnificent views of the volcanoes.
- Casa Florencia Hotel - Let us be your host when you are in Antigua. Casa Florencia offers you personal attention, friendliness and hospitality in a setting where you can view the majestic presence of the volcanoes and the splendor of la Merced Church. We offer 11 nicely decorated rooms with cable T.V., private bath with hot water, closet with safety box. Complimentary morning coffee, high-speed internet, parking. Special rates for extended stay. Comfortable and charming coffee lounge available for our guests. We invite you to live the splendor of the colonial architecture with our cathedrals, palaces, parks and fountains...And to walk our romantic cobbled streets full of enchantment and history. We look forward to providing you an incomparable experience.
- Hotel Aurora, Antigua Guatemala - Hotel Aurora lies in the very heart of Antigua, Guatemala. Antigua is a colonial city that is one of the Heritage of Humanity cultural sites. As the oldest guesthouse in the city, Hotel Antigua is a faithful representative of everything this city has to offer you.For more than 75 years, travelers thirsty for history, adventure, and camaraderie have called this hotel home because of the feelings it invokes. The hotel has a very friendly, family-style atmosphere and is furnished with pieces that are typical to the area and era. There are large pieces of wooden furniture, peaceful breezeways and lush gardens, which all work together to make guests feel cozy and comfortable during their stay.
- Hotel Casa Rustica - Hotel Casa Rustica and Casa Rustica del Parque - two great locations in Antigua Guatemala, 1 block from central park, allowing you to be close to the most important sites & giving you a safe, short walk back home every night. Both are very tranquil locations in the heart of Antigua. We offer a nice, safe and relaxing stay for groups or individuals. Our locations are close to all the sites of beautiful Antigua. Hotel Casa Rustica is just one block from the central plaza and Casa Rustica del Parque is just half a block away and half a block from the central plaza. In Hotel Casa Rustica, we have a Travel Agency, Internet Cafe and a Bar & Cafe with a great selection of coffees, beers, wines and appetizers while watching the large screen plasma TV. We offer internet terminals and Wi-fi, we have a billards table, and you also have full use of the very large kitchen. Hotel Casa Rustica also has an additional garden with a palm tree, flowering trees & setting areas with all surounded by beautiful flowers.
- Casa Encantada, Antigua Guatemala - Casa Encantada, a luxurious hotel in the 16th century Spanish Colonial City of Antigua Guatemala, defines elegant, understated hospitality with the utmost in personal service and a staff conversant in Spanish, French and English. This small boutique hotel offers all of the conveniences required by the international traveler with nine individually decorated guest rooms and a magnificent rooftop suite and terrace with a bar and breakfast dining. Mountains, volcanos, and flower and coffee plantations surround Antigua. The city is a designated World Heritage Site by UNESCO and only a 45-minute drive from Guatemala City International Airport and an hour East of the Pacific coast. The hotel’s central location allows easy access to nearby attractions such as the Central Plaza, the social center of Antigua for residents and visitors alike and surrounded by some of the most exquisite shopping and dining in Central America. Also within walking distance are the markets of the Artisans, the National Museum and an abundance of classically restored ruins, convents and churches. Nearby attractions include the market town of Chichicastenango and the tranquility of Lake Atitlan that are easily accessible by private car or shuttle.
- Posada El Antano - We offer eleven spacious and comfortable rooms decorated with hand-made textiles. All with private bathroom, fireplace, TV/cable, telephone, radio-alarm clock, safety box. Guest Lounge is the best place to have a cup of coffee, read a book, watch TV or rest. As a guest, you are welcome to use our Internet service for a low price. Now, we offer internet wireless too. We are glad to arrange your transportation from Guatemala City to Posada El Antaño or from the hotel to any other destination if you notify us in advance.
- Hotel Casa Azul - Hotel Casa Azul offers you the following services: pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, wonderful enviroment, personalized attention and the privacy you need. Our 14 rooms have TVCable, mini-bar and security boxes.- Here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast while you admire the magnificent view of the volcanoes and the serenity of the ruins of Antigua.
- Candelaria Hotel - Antigua Guatemala Hotel, Candelaria Antigua Hotel, provides great guest rooms, a private atmosphere, acommodations, travel packages and one of the highest levels of comfort and service quality in town. This Hotel in Antigua Guatemala enjoys a unique location, enabling its guest to have a close-up experience with Guatemala´s breathtaking landsacapes. Among the best Antigua hotels, Candelaria Antigua Hotel is located inside the historic area, very near Casa Santo Domingo museums, the Cross in the Hill viewpoint and La Merced Church. 13 Colonial Guest Rooms and 3 Superior Guest Rooms ( Junior Suites ) Has an ambiance and style that mirrors the location's culture and history. Also a private lounge for guests, the Dining Room and the Lobby. A beautiful rooftop terrace with solarium and incredible volcano and valley views.
- Hotel Casa Cristina - Hotel Casa Cristina enjoys a privileged location in the center of the beautiful colonial city La Antigua, Guatemala. Surrounded by impressive volcanoes (Agua, Acatenango and Fuego), Antigua is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the world and only a 45-minute drive from Guatemala's International Airport. Casa Cristina is located half a block from La Merced Church and within walking distance you will find Antigua's Central Park, the Artisan's market, shops, the National Museum, restored ruins, churches and convents, and a wide selection restaurants. Hotel Casa Cristina has 10 individually decorated rooms each with private bath and hot water. Our guest enjoy free water, coffe and tea as well as unlimited internet use. For guest travelling with laptops, a wireless internet connection is available free of charge.
- Posada Don Valentino - All of the rooms here are decorated with your comfort in mind. They are clean and spacious, and each room comes with private bathroom and cable TV. Whether you are looking for a single, double, triple or quadruple room, we have a solution for your needs. Please drop by and take a look, you will not be disappointed, either by our facilities or our prices. There is free purified drinking water, and breakfast is available. Also on site is a travel agency to help you with onward travel or any excursions you might wish to take whilst in Guatemala. Also on site is an Internet Cafe, so you can keep in touch, whilst you are on the move. Posada de Don Valentino is a safe and clean option for you while travelling in Guatemala.
- Hotel Convento - Welcome to the landmark OF Antigua Guatemala at the Hotel Convento las Catalinas. You will be staying in the most famous and popular historic site of Antigua, the Arch. The City of Antigua dates from the 17th century; it was the old capital of Guatemala. You are about to experience a unique piece of history. The Hotel Convento, unique in its class, warmly welcomes all visitors of the world. Our rooms are of colonial design yet offer all of the comforts of modern times. The restaurant offers a fine assortment of international foods, making your stay in Antigua Guatemala a delightful experience. We are located in the heart of the city. You won't miss it, just look for the Arch.
Guatemala City hotels
- Posada Belen Museum Inn - This small bed and breakfast on a quiet side street is exceptional. Posada Belen is located in a fine colonial style home built in 1873 converted into an intimate Museum Inn, centrally located in a quiet street of the historical center of Guatemala City only 2.5 miles from the airport (10-15 Minutes), run by the same family since opened in 1972 to international tourism. Posada Belen was slowly transformed from a colonial style home into a very special inn. Highly recommended in most important travel guides and by former guests/friends, with over 300 authentic registered Mayan artifacts on display as well as unique antique handicrafts plus many primitive paintings makes Posada Belen a true Museum, but most of all we are a clean, safe, centrally located, quiet, moderately priced, with good beds, great food, friendly relaxed atmosphere, and authentic HOME to start, end or organize your journey in Guatemala. We are conveniently located to visit any of the museums in Guatemala city, the relief map, national palace, central market (lowest prices in the country for handcrafts), visit the preclasic Mayan ruins and museum of Kaminal Juyu, dozens of monumental churches , We are blocks away from the bus stations to Tikal, Xela, Antigua, Coban, Chiquimula, Rio Dulce. Etc. Shuttles are also available from the inn door. Guided walking City tour is available, Guatemala city is important if you really want to understand our culture and its history.
- La Casa Grande - This house was built 70 years ago, in the same place where it was a little French palace, which was built by José María Reyna Barrios who was the president of Guatemala (1892-1898); The general Reyna Barrios was a man that traveled a lot. Because of that he put a lot of effort to embellish the country, so he made the Stroll de la Reforma and the Palace de la Reforma but after a year it became a military school and the Militar Hospital. Many of the statues that remain showing the Stroll de la Reforma that was brought here by him including the sources, iron doors and two statues that adorn the gardens of the Hotel La Casa Grande. The president Reyna Barrios was killed in one of the streets of the city, so his wife sold the palace and went to France. With an earthquake the mansion went ruined, and for many years it remained that way. It had many owners until 1937 when it was bought by the Vlamick family, who donated many of the marble pieces to the church of Guadalupe. Then they build an elegant house, and now it has become the Hotel La Casa Grande.
- Hotel Colonial - The Colonial Hotel is right on the heart of the city, where you are offered service, and all the comforts of your peaceful home. First class service, and the very special ambiance of the real colonial period. You can get all this for moderate prices.We are an island in the middle of a dynamic city! Surrounded by banks, government offices, the post office, shopping, etc. And also near beautiful parks and plazas. When you come and live at the Colonial Hotel, noise & traffic are left behind, because with us you shall enjoy perfect privacy, beautiful and spacious bedrooms, hot and cold water, cable TV, coffee shop service, parking and real out of this world attention. When you come to the Colonial Hotel you get everything for very little. You get peace and great service in a very antique atmosphere.
- Quinta Real - All the suites at Hotel Quinta Real Guatemala are beautiful rooms with several areas, especially designed so that you may have a very pleasant stay with us. The architecture and decoration used in our hotel guarantees a refined and discreet luxury, focused on Mexican Neo-colonial art. Every detail has been conceived under the principle of functionality, so that aesthetics and comfort are hand-in-hand, as a Grand Class service should be.
- Hotel San Carlos - The small and luxurious hotel of Guatemala, gives you the most cordial welcome to a world of friendship. Our efficient, kind and personalized service will ensure you a pleasant stay of elegance and distinction. We take care of every detail, in order to assure your trip either by business, pleasure or both develops in a pleasant, comfortable and efficient way. Our reputation is due to a philosophy of service and personalized attention with our guests, we feel honored with your visit and decision to stay with us, uncompromised to assure you the satisfaction you are seeking and deserve. Welcome, we hope to see you soon.
Guatemala woman selling oranges
Panajachel hotels
- Hotel Utz Jay - Near the main area of banks, restaurants, and shopping but on a quiet, tranquil street. Good value, mediocre, but cozy rooms, great service, worth it if you are on a budget. Annoying website however.
- Hotel Dos Mundos - is a full service hotel complete with swimming pool, restaurant, café, bar and conference room. We are locate in Panajachel one block from the shores of Lake Atitlán, considered by many the most beautiful lake in the world. Adorable rooms filled with local handicrafts.
- Hotel Primavera Atitlan - Reasonable priced hotel but their website lacks info about the hotel, it is here because of the low rates and former guest reviews.
- Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel - It is located one hour and a half away from La Antigua and to where we have taken a little piece of La Antigua. Thereafter, you will find the Santander Street, the bustle of it's ambulatory market and the multicolor craftmanship shops will open their doors for you. You will sense the change of the landscape, but the same atmosphere of cordiality, and service that you experienced in La Antigua, there is nothing better than to devote yourself to contemplating the different colors of the lake.
- Rancho Grande Inn - Enjoy Lake Atitlan, the world's most beautiful lake, while staying at Rancho Grande Inn, Pana's best hotel. Rancho Grande Inn offers you individual rooms or bungalows, tastefully decorated by the owner, with fireplace, cable TV, telephone and swimming pool; all set in a beautiful garden.
- San Sebastian Inn - Hotel San Sebastian is located in the heart of Guatemala's famous town Panajachel on Lake Atitlan. Our hotel has for your comfort 6 rooms which all are totally equipped and decorated in an eclectic funky style. There are great views from the patio on the roof and the thermal water heater offers the best shower in town. Prices are affordable and the service is unbeatable.
- Hotel Montana - Come, enjoy the views and relax on the patios. At Hotel Montana, you are getting more than just a place to sleep. We have a longstanding reputation for better service and we are happy to attend to your traveling needs so come and see us in our secluded and quiet corner of Panajachel. At Hotel Montana we have 25 clean and spacious rooms, all facing a beautiful and lush garden. All of the rooms here are decorated with your comfort in mind. Each room comes with a private bathroom and cable TV. Whether you are looking for a single, double, triple or quadruple room, we have a comfortable solution for your needs. Please drop by and take a look, you will not be disappointed, either by our facilities or our prices. All rooms are furnished in traditional Guatemalan style and have a lot of fresh air.
- Hotel Regis Atitlan - Seventy years ago the fortunate few who visited Atitlan had nowhere to stay. To accommodate them, Ernesto Weymann built Hotel Regis. His granddaughter, Maria Mercedez Weymann, owns and runs the hotel today. Over the years the world has gotten smaller and Lake Atitlan has become more accessible, ...and more affordable. But some things never change. Lake Atitlan is still the most beautiful lake in the world! Lake Atitlan, the colorful Mayans who live in villages around the lake, and the famous volcanos that make up the lake's southern shore are as colorful and exotic as ever. Likewise, Hotel Regis has maintained the essence of that bygone era, while adding the amenities the modern traveler expects.
Other places
I became very disappointed in the hotels in the rest of Guatemala, and virtually none are that nice, nor do they make an effort to tell you about themselves, and if they do have a website, their prices are seldom published, as if the price doesn't matter to anyone, go figure. If you want to buy a hotel, here is the perfect opportunity because these hotels make absolutely no effort. Honest, clear, concerned hotel owners would have a hay-day here. Chichicastenango, Quetzaltenango, Coban, Izabel and the rest are ripe for a hotel owner who cares. All these hotels force you to use a middleman portal like travelocity, expedia, hotels.com, etc. to make your reservation, and then the hotel has to pay between a 10% to 40% commission for the convenience of someone else sending them guests. It costs seven times more to get new guests than to keep old ones. As a hotel owner in Costa Rica, I just shake my head.
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About the author
By Jim Nealon, a lifelong friend
Canadian Eric Robinson and I lived in the same residence at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada in 1971. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies (BES), majoring in cultural geography, Eric, always a bundle of energy, backpacked around the world in 1974-75. He travelled mostly overland through thirty two countries, including working his way across the South Pacific on a Danish banana boat. He sent postcards and letters back to our group of friends, and we were always excited to read his amazing stories.
Between operating three different hotels in northern Ontario, he travelled (with his family in the later years) throughout much of the Pacific Rim from Japan to Thailand and Viet Nam, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, many South Pacific Islands, Chile, Peru, Columbia and all of Central America and Mexico between 1978 and 1992, compiling information about Third World Eco-Tourism Marketing for his post-graduate thesis at the University of Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He finally made San Jose, Costa Rica home-base for himself and his two teenage sons in 1995, operating two more successful hotels, the Hemingway Inn in central San Jose, and presently Adventure Inn in the central valley closer to the airport. Over the past twelve years, Eric has founded three non-profit Costa Rica eco-hotel associations, with a total of over fifty independent hotels strategically located throughout the country. Through his writings, the internet and room, tour and car rental reservations, he has properly advised literally thousands of people with their travel plans, and has built up quite a repertoire of questions that he has direct experience with, or has researched and answered, regarding Third World travel.
Eric's interests, other than writing about his world travels, are his family first, photography, his dogs, establishing litter pick up programs for public school kids in San Jose, Costa Rica, and masters swimming, in which he is a world class competitor. His next competition is the World Championships in Perth, Australia in April, 2008.
Eric believes that honesty in marketing has longevity, telling you both the good and the bad. After seeing the
Though he knows he is often preaching to the converted, he suggests your stay and travels should impact minimally and only positively on the indigenous physical, cultural, economic and ecological setting. We all need to observe, listen, understand and empathize rather than see, hear, take pictures and boast. If we prefer the familiar comforts of home, ask ourselves why we are traveling? With this approach, future visitors will equally enjoy the experience of an exotic Third World adventure.
I hope Eric and I will always stay in touch. Sometimes I feel I live vicariously through him. These days we use e-mails and MSN. It is so refreshing to hear his thoughts, covered in humour, from whatever corner of the world he may be reporting from.
