What We Learned About Guatemala

THE BASICS

1. Location: Guatemala's northern and west borders meet Mexico. To the east and southeast it's neighbors are El Salvador and Honduras. The Pacific Ocean meets its western shores and Belize and Caribbean Sea are located to the northeast.

2. Time Zone: US Central Standard Time

3. Area: 42.535 square miles

4. Climate: Average temperature of 75 degrees F; Guatemala is dubbed "the country of the never ending spring".

5. Capital City: Guatemala City

6. Population: 12 million

7. Languages: Spanish is the official language, however, 23 other regional languages and dialects are also spoken throughout the country (21 of Mayan origin, 1 Garifuna, and 1 Xinca).

8. Currency: The official currency is the Quetzal (Q), but most hotels and shops accept US dollars and credit cards.

TOURISM INFO

1. Archeology: Ancient Mayan cities and all kinds of artistic relics can be found in renown sites like Tikal, Ceibal, and Kiminal Juyu.

2. Mountain Biking: Hundreds of paths, rocky and dirt roads through the most exquisite landscapes.

3. Scuba Diving: Scuba diving in deep blue waters and swimming with sea turtles and exotic fish; endless possibilities to discover submarine beauty.

4. Horseback Riding

5. Windsurfing: The winds of the highlands and the breeze on both shores make Guatemala a windsurfing paradise.

6. Surfing: With 250 Kilometers of black sand beaches and 10 feet tall waves, Guatemala's Pacific Coast offers incomparable excitement for world class surfers.

7. Golf: Guatemala has the best golf climate.

8. Sport Fishing: A world of adventure in the Pacific. (We met a young man from Florida who was there with his father and brother just to fish...primarily for marlin I believe.)

9. Coffee Tours: Guatemala offers a special encounter with the best coffee of the world through its Coffee Tours. (we did actually go on a coffee tour and it probably is interesting to people who drink coffee but we don't drink coffee so it wasn't anything special to me...a tour of the tiny gift shop would have been enough for me.)

10. Canopy Tours: Observe the tropical forest from a bird's or monkey's perspective.

11. Eco Tourism: 19 ecosystems, 300 micro climates, 33 volcanoes

12. Trekking: Perfect location for different level walks

13. Rafting: Experts and beginners will find white waters equal to all adrenalin levels.