Guatemala

History

It was colonized by Spain in 1524. It became independent from Spain in 1821.

Food/ culture

The country’s culture is influenced by Spanish and Mayan cultures.

The major crops grown here include coffee, sugar, bananas, cotton, hemp and cacao.

The most popular dishes are pepian, kak’ik, chiles rellenos, fiambre, hilachas, elote loco and tostadas.

Wildlife

Common wildlife animals include quetzal, iguana, sea turtle, spider monkey, puma, crocodile, snake, howler, stork, ape, tapir, jaguar, deer, ocelot, scarlet macaw and peccary.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

The popular events held in the country include the New Year Festival, National Indigenous Festival, National Folklore Festival of El Paab’anc, Independence Day on September and Dance of the Giants in June.

Things to see

Tikal is a native Mayan citadel located at the rainforests in the northern part of the country.

Semuc Champey is a natural monument located near Qeqchi May town of Lanquin with a 300 m limestone bridge.

Pacaya is an active complex volcano with a height of 2,552 m in the country that has erupted 23 times since its first eruption 23,000 years ago.

Other must-visit sites are Acatenango, Rio Duice and Yaxha.

Interesting facts

The national bird is Quetzal, which is the national symbol of the country and the title of its currency.

The country has the highest population in Central America.

The longest civil war in Latin America is the Guatemalan War that lasted from 1960 to 1996.

Borders

It is bordered on the north and west by Mexico, on the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean Sea, on the east by Honduras, on the southeast by El Salvador and the south by the Pacific Ocean.