With a relatively small land mass and around 14 million people,
Guatemala is a representative democracy that is a fantastic
destination if you're looking for somewhere to go in Central
America. The country is primarily mountainous, but there is some
coastline and also some lowlands. The major cities are found in
the highlands and Pacific coast, which is where most people
travel - or at least use as their base of operations when
exploring Guatemala.
The thing you'll want to remember when thinking about going here
is what you're wanting to do when you get there. For example,
Guatemala City is home to most of the art, culture and museums
in the country. If you're a history buff or want to learn more
about Guatemala, this should be your base of operations. On the
other hand, if you're wanting to experience the beauty of the
mountain, you'll want to go to a city like Coban. If you like
the beach, Puerto Quetzal may be the destination for you. As you
can see, even though it's a small country, there are different
places you can go to experience different things.
There is plenty of art and culture to see anywhere you go in
Guatemala, but the highlands of Guatemala are one of the most
beautiful places in the world - or at least Central America.
Another thing you should pay attention to is the fact that
Spanish is spoken in some places, but there are many (over 20)
different Mayan dialects that are spoken throughout the country.
Generally, when you're in a big city you'll be okay if you know
Spanish really well or have a good local guide. Luckily, they
aren't hard to find in the country.
If you like food (who doesn't) you'll be happy to hear that each
of the 22 departments (or divisions) of Guatemala has a distinct
style of food that is preferred. Most are based on traditional
Mayan cooking and involve corn, beans, and chiles. Quite a bit
of Guatemalan culture revolves around food, with certain foods
being eaten on certain days - holidays and non-holidays alike.
This can be a boon for the traveler who likes to try traditional
local cuisines from around the world.
Fun Guatemala Facts
* Guatemala was one of the first places in the new world to be
influenced by European music
* Guatemala is a mix of Catholic, Protestant and Mayan belief
systems.
* The country is the first home of the Maya people throughout
Central and South America
* Guatemala City is the largest city in all of Central America
The Highlands of Guatemala
There's not much more to Guatemala than the highlands, but the
mountains are what made (and continue to make) the people of
this region so special and unique. It takes a special type of
person to want to visit Guatemala, but there are actually quite
a few who would get something out of a trip to this country if
they opened their minds a little. If it's not the beautiful
scenery, it's sure to be the fantastic food found all over. A
trip to Guatemala is for those who are looking for something a
little different and want to really taste Central America.
