Guatemala

General Information about Guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America and is bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Guatemala is the most populated coutry in Central America and has a population of over 13 million people. The official language spoken in Guatemala is Spanish which is spoken by 60% of the population. The remaining 40% speak many varying officially recognized Amerindian languages. The most commonly followed religions are Roman Catholic and Protestant. There is also a minority following of indigenous Mayan beliefs. The capital and largest city of Guatemala is Guatemala City which is situated in the central south of the nation.

Guatemala City is home to many museums such as the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura which served as a presidential home between 1936 and 1943 and the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología which boasts Guatemala's largest collection of ancient Mayan artifacts. One of the most popular spiritual places to visit in Guatemala is Quiriguá. This is a small archaeological site with sandstone monoliths that are up to 10.5 metres tall.

Climate

Find Out About The Climate Of Guatemala

Guatemala's north has a hot, tropical climate with a dry season (November to April) and a rainy season (May to September). Temperature varies depending on elevation in Guatemala. Average monthly temperatures in the lowlands range from 21°C and 27 °C whereas temperatures range between 10°C and 16°C in the highlands. The highlands are generally less humid than the lowlands. They also experience less rainfall than the coast and have colder temperatures during the night. Guatemala is frequently hit by tropical storms during September and October which cause devestating floods. Accompanying this are strong winds which often cause damage to crops.

Geography

Geographical Information On Guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America and is bordered by Mexico and Belize to the north and Honduras and El Salvador to the south. Guatemala also has coastlines of both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. Guatemala is mainly a mountainous country and has two mountain chains running from the west of Guatemala to the east. This divides the country into three regions; the highlands, the Pacific coast and the Peten region. Guatemala also has a rolling limestone plateau. The highest point in both Guatemala and Central America is Volcan Tajumulco which is located in San Marcos and stands at 4,220 metres above sea level.

Economy

Learn About The Economy In Guatemala

Exportation plays a vital role in Guatemala's economy. Traditional exports including coffee, bananas and sugar are responsible for a large part of the export market but other nontraditional agricultural products such as winter vegetables and fruit as well as textiles and clothing are also very important exports. The United States of America is Guatemala's primary trading partner and receives over 34% of Guatemala's exports. Guatemala's economy also relies on major industries such as tourism, clothing and textiles, petroleum and metals.

Guesthouses in Guatemala

* Antigua Guesthouses	* El Remate Guesthouses	* Guatemala City Guesthouses
* Livingston Guesthouses	* Panajachel Guesthouses

Hostels in Guatemala

* Alta Varapaz Hostels	* Antigua Hostels	* Ciudad Vieja Hostels
* El Remate Hostels	* Flores Hostels	* Guatemala Hostels
* Guatemala City Hostels	* Lake Atitlan Hostels	* Livingston Hostels
* Monterrico Hostels	* Nebaj Hostels	* Panajachel Hostels
* Quetzaltenango Hostels

Tours in Guatemala

* Antigua Tours	* Flores Tours	* Guatemala City Tours
* Panajachel Tours

Must Explore would like to wish you an enjoyable stay in Guatemala.