FIESTA DE TODOS SANTOS Guatemala is the land of festivals, but there’s one that tops them all: the Fiesta de Todos Santos. At the end of every October, Todosanteros (men from Todos Santos Cuchumatán) return to the village from all over Guatemala to celebrate the festival of All Saints (Todos Santos), the most famous in…
Fact Momostenango means ‘Citadel of the Altars,’ after the many altars found around the town and surrounding hills and reflecting the longstanding religious devotion of many of the townspeople. Unfortunately, Zaculeu was insensitively rebuilt in 1947, the temples covered in a bland stucco finish, lacking any decorative detail. Despite this, it is still worth a…
THE COSTUMES OF GUATEMALA The Maya today identify with their villages rather than with their ancestral tribes, although the languages they speak still conform to the pattern of ancient tribal boundaries. Marriages between members of different communities are relatively rare, and village identity is consolidated further by the distinctive clothes worn by the women and…
HABLAS ESPAÑOL? Antigua has more than 50 language schools, catering to all levels, from complete beginners to those in pursuit of total fluency. With highly affordable rates. Antigua’s language schools offer a range of classes and accommodations, including family homestays – with three full meals a day – or guesthouses; prices range from US$170 to…
THE CHURCHES OF ANTIGUA Antigua’s numerous churches, characterized by a unique ‘squat Baroque’ style, are the dazzling jewels in this colonialized city’s crown. Built with immensely thick walls, and supported by colossal foundations and giant buttresses, the churches were developed in a futile effort to resist the perpetual tremors that have plagued the city since…
ANTIGUA: A CATACLYSMIC HISTORY Few cities in the world can claim such a cataclysmic past, founded on disaster and punctuated by periods of glory and seismic destruction. Antigua was actually the third capital of Guatemala and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The Spanish first settled close to the modern town of Tecpán,…
The Parque Central The heart of Antigua is the Parque Central, the delightful main square, popular night and day with locals and visitors who come to soak up the atmosphere. The park is bounded on all four sides by graceful colonial buildings that represented the epicenter of the Spanish empire in Central America for more…
Tip The Patio de la Paz in the western courtyard of the Palacio Nacional features two large brass hands, which commemorate the 1996 signing of the Guatemalan Peace Accords. The schedule changes, but generally the military guard changes the rose held in the brass hands daily at 11am, and the previous one is tossed to…
GUATEMALA From ancient Maya pyramids and beautifully-preserved colonial architecture to mighty mountains and sparkling lakes, Guatemala is rich in culture and offers everything for a memorable adventure. Main Attractions Guatemala City Antigua Lago de Atitlán Panajachel Chichicastenango Santa Cruz del Quiché Quetzaltenango Cobán The Petén and Tikal Guatemala is both the ancient and modern heart…
Fact Leftist Zapatista rebels have challenged the authorities’ control in Chiapas since 1994, leading to sporadic confrontations and violent incidents, but in recent years the situation has generally been one of a peaceful standoff, and rarely affects travelers to the region. That said, Mexican military checkpoints are quite common on roads in Chiapas, where your…