Guatemala Hotels

With its violent recent history, the mountainous central-American country of Guatemala may not seem the safest place to visit. It is however a land packed with history and stunning landscapes, and in recent years its safety record has improved considerably. Lying between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, with Mexico and Belize to the north, and Honduras and El Salvador to the south, its climate is surprisingly fresh for the tropics, due to its altitude. The capital is the sprawling Guatemala City which became the colonial capital of the whole of Central America when Antigua was destroyed by a huge earthquake in 1773. Guatemala City is huge and has numerous attractions, including great restaurants, water sports, markets, and colourful fabrics.

Other places to visit in the country include the picturesque Antigua, situated between three volcanoes which visitors can climb. It has a Spanish influence and a large number of catholic churches. Also worth a visit is El Petén, filled with Mayan ruins and teeming jungle.

Lago de Atitlán is a large lake, depth unknown, formed out of an old volcanic crater. The villages around the lake can be reached by boat, and are repositories of traditional Mayan culture. Guatemala’s history is complicated and violent.

After Spanish occupation, the process of independence was a messy business, and the country suffered under a series of dictators. A peace agreement was signed in 1996, bringing an end to 36 years of civil war. It is still not the safest country to visit, but if you take precautions and are careful, you can stay safe, and prices are very good for the intrepid visitor.

The country is also subject to natural disasters – it is in the hurricane zone and in 1976 a huge earthquake killed tens of thousands and destroyed nearly a million homes.