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Home > Destinations > Central
America > Guatemala
Guatemala is still, in many ways, what
the Americas looked like when the Spanish
arrived in the New World. It is one of
richest countries in the world for traditional
culture and ecotourism. Apart from its
archaeological wonders and the variety
and vitality of its indigenous cultures,
Guatemala's physical beauty is stunning.
A verdant landscape of rain forests, highland
cloud forests, white-water rivers, volcanoes
and lakes are protected as national parks
and wildlife reserves. Guatemala is one
of the world's richest areas of biological
diversity. Twelve percent of the country
is declared a World Biosphere Reserve for
its wildlife diversity and archaeological
sites. Our expert
guides and preeminent
archaeologists interpret hieroglyphs and
enlighten you about the ancient Maya civilization
that constructed monolithic structures,
calculated future time and planetary movements,
had a written language and mathematics,
and practiced religion and ritual ruled
by a pantheon of gods.
Guatemala is the
most authentic country of the Americas,
where the traditional life of its indigenous
people remains so visible and accessible.
Fifty-five percent of the population is
Amerindian belonging to 23 distinct groups,
each with its own language, craft specialty,
rituals, beliefs, traditions and, of course,
indigenous markets. Many monasteries, restored
churches, and old haciendas have been converted
into lovely boutique hotels, especially
in Antigua Guatemala, Latin America's premier
colonial city, designated as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO in 1979. Our Field Director
and principal guide, Alfonso
Muralles,
is a well-known conservationist and is
dedicated to preserving Maya culture. He
worked as the personal secretary to the
Maya Nobel Peace laureate, Rigoberta Menchú.
After years of civil war, Guatemala is
at peace, and receives over a half-million
visitors a year.
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