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SEE MAP
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Guatemala
General Information & Travel Tips
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Guatemala is a country of great natural beauty and cultural heritage. You will find black beaches, exotic animals, volcanoes, rainforests, rivers and Maya ruins all united in this comparably small country. But Guatemala's richness also lies on the cultural diversity of its people and its culture is in many ways a reflection of this racial diversity, the Mayas and the Colonial times. To learn more about Guatemala, its history and its people please read the general information below.
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History
Guatemala’s history is divided into four periods. The first being the Pre Hispanic period dates from 4,000 BC until the arrival of the Conquistadors in 1524. During this period the Maya became a mighty civilization. The second period starts with the arrival of the Conquistadors up until Guatemala's Independence from Spain in 1821. It is from this period that sprung a unique belief system currently prevalent in Guatemala, which is a mixture of the Maya’s polytheistic religion along with Catholicism.
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The third period starts with the Independence and ends in 1944. During parts of this period Guatemala was annexed into México and Central America, until the creation of the Republic of Guatemala in 1847. Finally came the development of the coffee industry as the main source of income for the country and ends with the Revolution of October 20, 1944. This is when the country started its industrial development and involvement in international commerce and capitalism. This fourth period of fast growth and development, globalization and social unrest during the civil war, led to the signing of the Peace Agreements in 1996. It also marked the beginning of a new era for Guatemala, one of peace and tourism development.
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The Maya
Guatemala is home to one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known, the Maya. The country is not only the birthplace of the Mayan culture, but also is the geographic center their empire. This is why Guatemala is known as the Heart of the Mayan World. The Maya achieved great success in mathematics, astronomy, architecture and arts among others. All aspects of that great civilization are deeply embedded in the hearts of the Guatemalan people and the thousands of Maya descendants that still live here today. It was the Mayas who first used the concept of “zero”, which later on led to the development of basic mathematics and all its derivatives.
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The Maya were a polytheistic civilization, meaning they worshiped many gods and deities, most of which were associated with aspects of their daily life. There was a god of rain, another for fertility, for the sun, for war, and of course a mighty Zeus…Chaa. They believed in life after death and that their ruling cast was of royal blood originating from the gods themselves. Religion played the most important role in their daily life and dictated everything from their
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clothing to the architectonic design of their pyramids, temples and plazas. Society and Politics were both a reflection of their religious beliefs.
The Maya inhabited the area known as the Maya World, which today includes 5 southern states in Mexico (Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas), all of Guatemala and Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. Of these areas, Guatemala is the only country which borders all of the other countries, making it an ideal hub for travel within the region. Today, 21 ethnic groups, all direct descendants from the Maya, inhabit Guatemala’s territory. Each of these ethnic groups differs from one another by wearing hand-woven textiles with different patterns and colors, and by speaking their unique tongues. Their colorful traditions, costumes and gastronomy add to the beauty of a land which is truly Maya in spirit.
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Geographic Location
Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America bordering to the North with México, to the East with Belize, the Caribbean Sea, Honduras and El Salvador, to the South with the Pacific Ocean and to the West with Mexico.
Municipalities
Guatemala is divided into 22 geographic divisions called Departments, which at the same time are divided into 331 Municipalities, and these are composed of countless towns and villages. Each Department has a Cabecera or capital city, where its government is established, headed by a governor; a
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mayor administrates each Municipality. The Department Governments report directly to the country's Central Government, which is democratically elected every 4 years.
Each Department offers different attractions for the visitor given the territory's topographic diversity, so one can enjoy the cool mountains in the highlands as well as the warm Pacific Coast. These departments have also been classified into Tourist Regions, which give you a better insight on what to find in each one.
Safety Tips
In order to make your stay as pleasant as possible, we recommend you take certain precautions. As in most countries and large cities, people can be exposed to insecure situations that undermine the hospitality and attributes that Guatemala has to offer our welcomed visitors.
To enjoy your visit in Guatemala safely, please follow this advice:
• Purchase your taxicab tickets at the counter found inside the airport.
• Taxi drivers must be visibly identified and have the obligation to use the taximeter for services shorter than 12 km. (7.46 miles); if the distance is longer, the fare can be negotiated.
• Do not leave your luggage unattended nor ask a stranger to watch it for you.
• Always carry a copy of your passport with you, showing your picture and date of entrance; keep the original in a safety deposit box or a safe place in your hotel.
• Keep your airline ticket, money, important documents and traveler's checks in a safe place. Also write down the traveler's checks numbers.
• Exchange your money in banks or at your hotel, never on the street.
• Do not use valuable jewelry. Only carry the amount of money you need for each day.
• Watch over your important objects like photographic or video cameras. Keep your wallet or purse in a secure place.
• When driving through downtown or crowded areas, lock your doors and roll up the windows of the vehicle.
• For your safety inside archeological sites or at the beach, follow the pre determined trails in these parks to guarantee a more pleasant and safer experience
• It is important to form groups of two or more people during these visits; please avoid getting lost.
• At the beach, consult with the hotel staff or local people which areas could be dangerous.
• If you wish to extend your permit to remain in the country, consult immigration authorities.
• If you wish to file a report, do so at any Police Station around the country, where you will receive a legal copy.
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