Guatemalan cuisine cant compete with that of Mexico, although standard Mexican fare such as tortillas and tacos can be found. You will encounter a lot of grilled or fried meat. Beans and rice are often the cheapest and best alternative and the country has a surprising number of Chinese restaurants. Coffee is available everywhere sometimes spectacularly good, but the best beans are typically exported. Beer is prevalent, in light and dark versions, and rum are the nations favoured drinks.



Guatemala is a colourful land of volcanoes, colonial cities, archaeology, wildlife in the heart of the Maya world. Most of the indigenous population live in the south of the country, and there are over 2000 archaeological sites, many of which have yet to be excavated. The Easter celebrations in Antigua are a riot of colour and sound. Bright carpets of sawdust and flowers are laid along the processional route.

There are many first class hotels in Guatemala City and throughout the country. Many offer excellent service in restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Dry season is early October to May, but even in the rainy season showers generally fall only in the afternoons, except for September which can be very wet. There is usually a 6 week Indian summer in mid July. It is coolest in December and January, especially in the highlands. In the March and April are the hottest months and temperatures of 36 degrees and 85 percent humidity are not uncommon.

The total population 10 million, of whom 6 million are Mayan.

It is sometime described as a country without social or economic justice.

Education in rural areas is non existent, with the result that 50 percent of the people are illiterate. Half of the countries children suffer from malnutrition. The real power in Guatemala is in the hands of the Army. During more than 30 years of civil war, over 150,000 Guatemalans have been killed or disappeared, tens of thousands have been forced to flee to Mexico.

Guatemalas location on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean makes it a target for hurricanes, such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in October of 2005, which killed more than 1500 people. The damage was not wind related, but rather due to significant flooding.