Combine 300 years of Spanish rule with 1000 years of Mayan influence and you’ve got today’s Guatemala. Home to 13 million people (the most populous in the region) and thanks to the hundreds of thousands of travellers booking flights to Guatemala every year, the country remains economically stable and full of variety.
Although tourism increases and the economy keeps climbing, Guatemala stills holds its history sacred. In fact, in some remote villages, and for many of Guatemala’s elder community, each day is based on the Maya Calendar. For those travellers with strong mathematical skills, and good knowledge of astronomy, put your watch away on the flight to Guatemala and try telling time the Mayan way. The Maya Calendar isn’t the only piece of history still standing time in Guatemala. The Guatemalan economy is still heavily dependent on its agriculture – sugar cane, coffee, bananas – and the crafts and textiles specific to the Mayas. Visitors to Guatemala will revel in the crafts, architecture, and brightly coloured Maya textiles and fabrics. Bring along another suitcase on the flight to Guatemala…you’ll want to bring home a lot of this country’s history.
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Guatemala's climate is lovely year round and makes travel possible at any time. The rainy season is generally from May to November. Climate variations are due to altitude, but it is generally hot throughout the country. The north has a hot, tropical climate with maximum rainfall between May and September. The coastal regions and north east are hot, with a dry (November to April) and rainy season, with temperatures averaging 20 degrees Celsius. The highlands, including Guatemala City and Antigua, have a pleasant climate with less rainfall than the coast, and cold temperatures at night.
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Peak Season:
December through Easter and the summer months of June through August are the highest peak times for flights to Guatemala. However, because of its excellent climate, travel is popular throughout the year. Santa Semana is the biggest festival and accommodation can be booked up during this time.
Off Season:
Don’t expect to find tourist spots empty at any time of year. The rainy season can become unpleasantly wet inland.
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There are domestic flights departing from Guatemala City to many of the main tourist destinations.
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- Antigua Guatemala is a beautifully preserved colonial town, designated a Unesco World Heritage site for its Spanish Baroque buildings. The best way to see the town is to take a long walk through the streets. Be sure to visit the Parque Central, where locals and tourist congregate around the beautiful central fountain.
- The capital, Guatemala City, is a much larger and more modern town, though it encompasses the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Kaminaljuyu. It is easy to navigate the town as it is divided into “zones”. Zone ten, or La Zona Viva, is the most modern area, where many of the restaurants and bars are situated. Zone one is the oldest part of town, which contains the main plaza. Visit on a Sunday to join the locals taking a stroll.
- Guatemalan food is similar to Mexican – expect tortillas, tacos, paella and meat. Food served on street stalls smells tempting and is delicious, but do take care when buying from street vendors. Make sure the food is cooked through and don’t buy pre-sliced fruit, such as melons, as it is often sprinkled with local water, which is unsafe to drink.
- Coffee is one the biggest exports from the country. Tours are available of some of the bigger plantations such as Los Torrales.
- The country is generally much cheaper to visit than its neighbours, but be prepared for the “tourist tax” that will be added on to nearly everything. Prices for foreigners, especially where there is no written price, such as on buses or in markets, will always be higher than those the locals pay.
- In many parts of the country, no English is spoken or understood. If you don’t know any Spanish, make sure to take a phrase book.
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There are two main airports for travellers taking flights to Guatemala:
Guatemala City (GUA) (la Aurora) is four miles south of the city.
Flores (FRS) (Santa Cruz) is located an hour from the Unesco Tikal Archaelogical Park.
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All visitors must hold a return or onward ticket and documents required for further travel. Sufficient funds are also required.
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British citizens must hold a passport that is valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office. British Overseas or Dependent Territories Citizens require visas and must have official authorisation from the "Direccion General de Migracion" in Guatemala City.
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