Introduction
Guatemala is a country in Central America that borders Mexico (to the north and west), Belize (northeast), the Caribbean (east), and Honduras and El Salvador (southeast). Guatemala became an independent company (Spain previously ruled them) in 1821 and joined the Mexican Empire. Following its independence, the country was ruled by a series of dictators. In the late 20th century, Guatemala had a 36-year-long civil war and since then, the country has had great economic growth and a successful democracy government.
Beaches
Guatemala has beaches on two coasts – the Pacific and the Caribbean. While many of Guatemala’s most popular attractions are found inland, if you’ve got time, you’ll want to make sure you take a trip to the coast. Take a day or two to explore the road less traveled and take a trip to one of Guatemala’s many beaches. Monterrico beach is on Guatemala’s Pacific Coast and is probably the most popular beach in the country. The black volcanic sand and strong current doesn’t make Monterrico a picture-perfect beach, but that’s part of the reason why it’s so popular. Monterrico isn’t very crowded and is very accessible for travelers.
Things to Do
Guatemala travel isn’t very common. If you tell most blue-blooded American’s that you are heading to Guatemala for a vacation, they’ll likely give you a really strange look. Central American – and Guatemala in particular – is far off the beaten path for most American travelers, but it is slowly starting to gain popularity. One of Guatemala’s best tourist attractions is Tikal. Tikal is a large area of Mayan ruins that will keep you busy for days. Spend some time walking through the Mayan ruins … you won’t be sorry. You may also want to go visit Maximon, the evil saint town of Santiago near Lake Atitlan. Maximon is a drinking and smoking saint, so while you visit you can pay homage to him by bringing some booze and Cuban cigars. And finally, as you travel from Guatemala City to the rest of the country, make sure you travel in style … in a Chicken bus. Chicken buses are the cheapest way to travel and you’ll get a real, Guatemalan experience.
Eating and Drinking
Most of Guatemala’s food is influenced by its Mayan and Spanish ancestors, but you’ll also be able to find other international foods like Chinese, American and even some vegetarian dishes. You’ll find that corn, beans, rice, cheese and tortillas are the backbone of most Guatemalan dishes. And, just a word for the wise, if you ever order a roast chicken … don’t be surprised if the feet are still attached. Because Guatemala borders Mexico, you’ll find all your favorite Mexican dishes – like nachos, enchiladas and tamales – for a fraction of the cost. Chinese restaurants and fried chicken stands are very common on the streets of Guatemala cities.
Shopping
Before you start shopping in Guatemala, you need to know a little something about the currency. Guatemala uses the Quetzal (the name comes from the national bird). Mayans considered the Resplendent Quetzal bird to be “God of the Air”. The Quetzal comes in 100 centavo division and works with the U.S. dollar. At most modern establishments you’ll be able to pay for your goods and services with credit cards.
Shopping in Guatemala City is very different from shopping in the smaller towns and villages across the country. In Guatemala City you won’t find the same colorful and festive markets you would find elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find some really awesome rafts and clothing items. Bargaining is very common at most marketplaces, so don’t expect to pay the original asking price.
