Guatemala
The southernmost country in Central America, and bordered by Mexico,
Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, Guatemala was once home to perhaps
the western hemisphere’s greatest ancient civilisation-the Maya. The
Mayan empire of old has long been revered for its sophistication,
as, though the country itself was not the origin of the advanced
conceptions of writing and the calendar, this ancient people did
develop them to an astounding extent and at times were using
multiple calendars simultaneously. Dominating the entire region and
increasing their territory to cover Guatemala, Belize and Mexico,
the Mayans left their indelible mark on the continent’s landscape
and the surrounding cultures; evidence of which is in abundance
today in the forms of ruins and sculptures, some of which were
discovered up to a staggering 1,000km from the Mayan homeland. No
more is the Mayan legacy more evident, however, than in the
Guatemalan people, their way of life and their traditions. A tour to
Guatemala is not just a tour to view the relics of a long-gone
ancient civilisation, but is rather a tour that brings you
face-to-face with an ancient civilisation in a modern and
picturesque setting.
There are three sites of interest in Guatemala that have been
designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and when the country
boasts over 250 archaeological sites and more Mayan ruins than any
other territory, touring all three is an opportunity not to be
missed.
The first, Antiqua Guatemala, is a city in the mountains that houses
a wide range of sights of varying heritage in varying structural
condition; from the delightfully rich colours and design of the
Baroque edifices to the heavy, wooden and brass-studded doors
characteristic of Colonial buildings, and to the crumbling ruins of
the still stately cathedral. A tour of the several museums in
Antiqua Guatemala would prove equally as rewarding.
Quiriguá, the second UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the location of
some of the finest artwork and sculptures of ancient Mesoamerica. In
addition to the massive stelae-the intricate carved designs in
enormous stone pillars-a number of sculpted zoomorphs, or elaborate
carvings of mythological animals, are on display.
The third and last UNESCO site is Tikal, and a tour to this
remarkable area reveals the largest of the ancient ruined cities of
the Maya civilisation and the significant archaeological remnants
number in their hundreds. If a tour to the remains of royal palaces,
temples atop pyramids, residences and inscribed stone monuments of
an ancient people is not lure enough, then perhaps the fact that
Tikal was used as the background scenery in some parts of the film
‘Star Wars’ will be.
Guatemala is also renowned for its natural beauty. Once described by
author Aldous Huxley as ‘the most beautiful lake in the world,’ the
placid Lago de Atitlan lies snugly in the midst of three volcanoes
and various Indian villages. Indeed, Guatemala’s terrain, being
mostly mountainous, along with its natural geological volcanic
state, allows travellers to take in the splendorous landscape from a
high vantage point, but also to do so in the utmost relaxation and
in one of the many thermal springs or natural spas littered around
the territory. Needless to say, this unique terrain also lends
itself to a variety of activities, such as hiking, mountain-biking,
hang-gliding and bird-watching, but for those untempted by grandiose
peaks, there are always the tours to the Pacific and Caribbean
coasts, or the miles of untouched rainforest to explore.