Guatemala

General Information:

Many among us backpackers have chosen Central America as their travel destination out of many reasons: Magical Caribbean beaches, the great Latin food and atmosphere, the nice people we have heard of, the Indigenous cultures and ruins and so much more.
While traveling in these marvelous countries, you always get your favorite spots, and Guatemala will probably have many of these.
Guatemala is without a doubt the country for ones who are interested in Culture and seeking the more authentic parts of Central America (tough sometimes the line between authentic and touristic is crossed). It is less westernized, with more Indigenous type of characters out in the streets, getting the imagination of how things really were back in the days of the great prosperous civilizations who dominated this fabulous region.

 

If you thought theses civilizations were eliminated centuries ago you may be surprised – there are still many ethnic groups and communities, speaking lots of different dialects and wearing the traditional clothes – a visit in one of the markets can serve as an educational glimpse over these ethnic groups.

Guatemala is Central America's largest and most populous country (If not counting Mexico as part of Central America).
The Nature in its beauty formed astonishing sights including spectacular lakes, majestic volcanoes, towering mountains, lush rain forests, powerful rivers, various ecosystems, etc.
There is a fine mix between Nature and Archeology as many archeological sites are inside the rain forests or some other overwhelming places out in the Nature.

Many cities and towns have a colonial Spanish feel and because of Guatemala's varied climate, it is never a bad time to come and explore most of the country.
The diversity of Guatemala makes it ideally suitable for large number of travelers from all over the globe, who arrive each year to enjoy a different experience at one of the most special and beautiful countries in the world.

 

Capital City: Guatemala City.

 

Borders:

• North - Mexico (Frontera Corozal crossing a river or La Mesilla).
• North East - Belize (Melchor de Mencos or by ferries at Livingston or Puerto Barrios).
• Southeast - El Salvador (Anguiatu or San Cristobal or La Hachadura).
• East - Honduras (Copan Ruinas or El Chinchado).

 

Language: Spanish is the official language but Indigenous dialects are widely spoken.  In the tourist centers people speak also English.

 

Currency: Guatemalan Quetzal.

 

 

Useful Information:

 

Weather: Guatemala is large so its topography ranges and so does the weather.
It is more related to altitude than the seasons in Guatemala.
In areas lower than 1,000 meters (like the areas of Tikal and the Pacific coast), it is hot and humid. Most of the country (like the areas of Guatemala City, Antigua and Lake Atitlan) lies in altitude of 1,000-2,000 meters so the weather is moderate. Areas higher than 2,000 meters (like Xela or other areas up in the mountains) are cool and it might get even freezing.

Generally, in the rainy season is between May and October it doesn't rain all the time, but whenever it rains (often in the afternoons and evenings), the showers can last for few hours. The dry season between October and May, is also not completely dry as it happens to be raining for few days a month.

 

Transportation: Except the Pan-Americana and the roads connecting the major cities, most of the roads are not paved so sometimes a small distance can take hours. Don't count on the buses timetables. Mostly, there is no large variety at the level of the buses: the "chicken buses" which are old US school buses are being used everywhere, and just on the major roads connecting the large cities, you can find an air-conditioned bus.

There are few international airports in Guatemala, the main ones for backpackers are:

1. La Aurora international Airport in Guatemala City.
2. Mundo Maya International Airport closer to Tikal.

 

Health: It is recommended to have vaccinations of: hepatitis A+B, typhoid fever.
Consider taking mosquito repellent with you.

 

Money & Costs:

Hostel – 3-7$ per night.

Meal – 2-3$ at local restaurants with typical food.

Transport is usually cheap.