OUR COUNTRY | GUATEMALA
by MayaExtreme.comArqueology Guatemala has been endowed with great archaeological wealth, like no other country has. In almost any area of the Guatemalan territory there is an archaeological site to be visited. Guatemala's archaeological richness consists of ruins in major Mayan cities, and of archaeological pieces such as stelae, pottery and glyphs. Part of these pieces is found in Guatemalan museums, and part is located at museums in other countries like Germany, France and the United States. One of the most important archaeological sites is Tikal National Park, opened in 1955, which houses the most outstanding and monumental city of the Maya culture: Tikal. The park is located within the department of Petén. One of its largest buildings is the Temple of the Two-headed Serpent, which measures up to 70 meters high. From its highest point, one can perceive the sounds of the rain forest: more than 300 species of birds, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and toucans. Due to its immense value, Tikal was declared Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1979.
Adventure If you are one of those people who "cannot stay still" and, in addition, love adventure, it does not stop here: you set your own limit. You can sail in canoe through a river in the middle of the jungle while monkeys, colorful birds and a tapir are watching you. Also, go horseback riding through the mountains and descend to caves that were once ceremonial grounds of the ancestral Maya. Just let life enrapture you like it has not done it in years. In Guatemala, adventure can be experienced by doing trekking, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding, navigating, traveling in 4WD vehicles, visiting caves, exploring the jungle…and more.
The Maya of Today Guatemala gathers three main conditions that attract world tourism: its archaeological heritage, its richness in natural resources and its live culture. It is in the highlands, at the northwestern part of the country, where most of the Mayan communities are concentrated. Around the beautiful volcanic lake called Atitlán, there are various towns that still hold the magical heritage that has endured for centuries. Panajachel, which today is an important tourist attraction, is perfect for lodging and to make it your starting point in order to visit some of these towns: Santiago Atitlán, where fabulous textiles are produced; Sololá, with an impressive market; San Lucas Tolimán, an attractive town made up of stone and bamboo homes; and San Antonio Palopó, whose inhabitants still wear their traditional apparel. One of the most important Mayan communities is Chichicastenango, where every Thursday and Sunday are market days. The townspeople assemble just about everything: merchandise of all kinds, handicrafts of impeccable confection, colorful languages, outfits of singular esthetic, food of exotic flavors, and praises to a god that does not abandon them. The town of San Antonio Aguascalientes, only fifteen minutes away from La Antigua Guatemala, is famous for its woven craftsmanship, tradition that persists since colonial times. The town lives to the rhythm of its weavers, whose hands shape the hüipiles, tzutes, tapetes and small looms with traditional designs and brilliant colors. Other regions that stand out for its live culture are La Antigua Guatemala, where the Holy Week celebration is a significant event; Santiago Sacatepéquez, famous for its giant kite flights each 1st of November; Livingston, a city inhabited by Garifunas and Afro-Caribbeans; Totonicapán, characterized for its mestizo art, consequence of the encounter between the Spanish and Indigenous. Likewise, Todos Santos Cuchumatanes comes to mind, due to its chromatic typical outfits worn by its inhabitants.
Gastronomy Guatemalan gastronomy is varied and uses different combinations of condiments according to the region from which the dish originates. The dishes in some regions more faithfully reflect the true Guatemalan cuisine, as is the case of tamales (sweet or savory), and jocón, pepián, and kak'ic, all based on meats prepared in different ways. Guatemala's food resources are multiple, as the country is privileged in climate and soil. Additionally, because there are two oceans, there is also an abundance of seafood. In the valleys, great plains of fertile soils produce a variety of crops: corn, beans, and many types of vegetables. The south coast is especially appropriate for producing crops such as sugar cane and different types of citrus fruits. In the highlands, the lower temperature is ideal for growing wheat, sorghum, barley and, especially, Guatemala's famous coffee, the best in the world. One of the staple foods for Guatemalans is corn. It was a known crop even before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the Maya held that it was the substance from which humans were formed. Corn is generally eaten in the form of a tortilla, in tamales, or drunk in atoles, which accompany the main meal. History indicates that at the cities of Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and Tikal, the valleys were carefully cultivated with corn. The Maya were careful to cut the tallest-growing ears of corn, as they yielded the best grains. The Spanish conquerors were amazed at how the Maya rendered it supreme tribute. Modern studies show that the ancient Maya had very good teeth and rarely suffered heart disease. This is because of the specific nutritional substances in the corn. Its origin is not precisely known, although it is thought to have originated in Mexico and Guatemala. When the conquerors came its use had already spread throughout the Americas. In Mexico the Indians called it Teosentlí, and the gods of fertility and rain were represented with ears of corn in their hands. When the Maya calendar was deciphered, it was found that one of the months was dedicated to the cultivation of corn, which originated some of the grandest ceremonies in honor of Tlaloc, god of rain, and of Centeol, goddess of corn. The Indians made offerings of corn and sacrifices to ensure that the crops would be plentiful. There are sufficient indications to believe that corn was cultivated from time immemorial not only in Mexico and Central America, but also in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Beans are also another typically generalized food in Guatemala, as they are consumed daily in almost all homes and are therefore considered a traditional dish in the country. They are rich in protein and together with other leguminous crops such as peas, soy, lima beans, and peanuts, are a rich source of nutrients. Temperate climates are the most appropriate for the cultivation of beans. There are many varieties: black, white, red, pinto, bay, and string beans. They are eaten boiled, ground, fried, refried, ranch style, with herbs, jerky, ribs, or pig's feet, generally accompanied with corn tortillas, cheese, cream, and hot chili peppers. Flour from wheat is used to make bread, cakes, sauces, doughnuts, and other products made by housewives. Wheat grows abundantly in high altitude regions like Quetzaltenango, Sololá, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and El Quiché, to name a few. The seasoning touch of Guatemalan gastronomy has been passed down through generations. Each dish has a story that is relived when enjoyed, as during religious festivities or in family celebrations. Each department in the north, south, east, and west has its own recipes. All are culturally distinct and varied according to the region's agricultural production and local tastes and traditions. Local cuisine in El Petén, for example, differs from other regions in Guatemala and forms part of the identity of its inhabitants. Some of the local dishes are enjoyed only by the people of a certain locality, at home or during celebrations, and are not generally included on the menus of restaurants. Visitors can enjoy healthy refreshments made with fresh fruit, or local dishes such as whitefish or game, although some of the latter are in danger of extinction, such as the spotted cavy and the white tailed deer. Hand Crafts Popular craftsmanship conforms one of the main aspects of popular culture, which in Guatemala originates since Mayan times. Just as the artisans do it nowadays, in the past the artisans would learn from an early age to participate in every activity that their parents practiced; the boys were in charge of agriculture, craftsmanship, and every task related to their gender. On the other hand, women took care of the house chores, and at the same time learned every aspect related to weaving: spinning, dying and knitting, as well as about the elaboration of pottery to be used for home purposes. The children's teaching was and is today, about observation and practice with the guidance of parents and master artisans. Among the main crafts elaborated by the Maya, the following can be mentioned: paintings, which can be found in caves such as Uaxactún, Bonampak, Palenque and others, and recently in the cavern of the inscriptions in Poptún and Río Azul. Nevertheless, they are most commonly observed in ceramics, where everyday life activities are depicted, like combats, sacrifices, agricultural work and weaving women. They also elaborated utility and ceremonial pottery, small anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, hallow pieces that were used as whistles, solid pieces that were used as seals or markers, as well as rough painted calabashes used for carrying water. Regarding weaving, some fragments have been found in the Sacred Cenote from Chichen Itzá, and it is known that they practiced this technique given that people weaving in waste-looms, similar to those used by the indigenous today, appear in the stele and murals.
Agroturism In Guatemala, centers of agricultural production can be found, where next to becoming close to the region's fauna and flora, the tourist learns about growing and processing coffee, bananas, tea, rubber, sugar cane and many other crops. Agricultural tourism consists basically in involving the visitor in the agricultural production that is developed in a massive manner, observing every phase of the process, from its sowing to the crop's final production. Guatemala is practically an agricultural country, which is why the agricultural tourism supply has had much acceptance among the visitors. This segment's development initiated because of the reduction in the traditional crop's international prices, which made owners innovate this new modality known as agricultural tourism. Among this type of centers we find: the sugar mill located in San Jerónimo, Baja Verapaz; the Capeuleu coffee plantation in Antigua Guatemala; and the El Retiro farm, of various productions in San Miguel Pochuta, Chimaltenango.
Ecoturism Ecotourism is a variety of tourism that is well developed in Guatemala. Furthermore, the name of our country originates from the Náhuatl word Quauhtitlan, which means "among trees", an accurate allusion to the natural wealth it holds. The Guatemalan territory has an extension of only 108,889 square kilometers (about 41,700 square miles), and is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse throughout the world, for having 10% of all the species registered in the planet. With 19 ecosystems, 300 microclimates and 33 volcanoes (three of which are active), the visitor can change from a thick-mist covered forest to a dry and warm desert, in only a few minutes. Currently, the country has 93 legally declared protected areas; 25 of them are areas under special protection. All of them cover a vast range of natural regions, from mangroves, on both coasts, to cloud forests in the mountains, and one million 400 thousand hectares of Mayan Biosphere reserve. Besides, there are many well-developed projects in which the tourist involves himself completely with the communities' dwellers, staying overnight at a family's home and sharing their food with them. Travelers can get to know the history, culture, gastronomy and worldly outlook of the Mayan communities that they visit on their way. For this reason, ecotourism is a powerful tool of community development in Guatemala, for it involves dwellers in order to improve their life quality.
