Guatemala’s most celebrated Mayan site, Tikal, lies in the north of the country at the center of a national park. Highlands to the west of Guatemala City are dominated by dramatic volcanoes, beneath which sit farms growing coffee, strawberries and avocados in the rich soil. From 1543 until 1773, when it was shattered by an earthquake, the country’s capital was Antigua. The city was substantially rebuilt and today is one of the cultural treasures of Latin America. A little more than a two-hour drive west of Antigua, Lake Atitlán is an astonishing bowl of sapphire-blue water backdropped by the volcanoes San Pedro (9,920 feet), Tolimán (10,340 feet) and Atitlán (11,560 feet).
Much of Guatemala is mountainous, with its pleasant climate typified by Guatemala City. The northern part of the country is covered by thick jungle. The rainy season generally runs from mid-May to mid-October, with November through April being the best time for a visit.
To phone hotels in Guatemala, dial 011 (international access) + 502 (Guatemala code) + local numbers in listings.
One hour behind New York (EST).
Passport. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov.
Much of Guatemala is mountainous, with its pleasant climate typified by Guatemala City. The northern part of the country is covered by thick jungle. The rainy season generally runs from mid-May to mid-October, with November through April being the best time for a visit.
Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ). Fluctuating rate valued at GTQ7.66 = US$1.00 as of June 2019. Note: Our suggested hotels quote rates in US$.
Guatemala City, Tel. (502) 2326-4000.
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