Under the slogan ‘The Country of Eternal Spring’, a wide range of attractions was revealed in a land with an extraordinary biodiversity and archeological sites of the Mayan civilisation.

Its 42,000 square miles are bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador and Guatemala has both Caribbean and Pacific Ocean beaches.  Capital Guatemala City is the arrival point for international flights, bringing in over 1 million visitors each year.  The city mixes both modern and colonial styles and offers visitors a superb choice of attractions.

In the central market you’ll find a fascinating selection of handicrafts for which the country is famous.  The Museum of Archeology & Anthropology, the Ixchel Museum of Costumes and the Popol Vuh with its collection of Mayan items, all offer an insight into Guatemala’s history and culture.

Golf, fishing and a wide range of sporting activities are available but the biggest attractions are the mountains, the national parks and the huge variety of exotic birds.  Eco-tourists should take a flight or an 8 hour drive North to the island of Flores from where excursions depart to the 1.4 million hectares of the Maya Biosphere Reserve.  The Tikal National Park contains over 3,000 ancient structures.  There’s white water rafting, mountain biking and camp sites from where tours take you into the jungle to appreciate the flora and fauna, including some of the 400 different orchids. 

The Peten area is a top favourite for bird watchers with over 300 species registered and the tourist authorities are promoting trips of up to a week in the Peten jungle.

Puerto Quetzal, arrival point for cruise ships, is the nearest part to the capital of the country’s 160 mile long Pacific coastline.  Nearby Monterrico Reserve with its mangroves and wetlands is home to migratory birds and a breeding area for sea turtles.

An ideal time to visit the capital is during Holy Week to see the religious processions, candlelit vigils and carpets of flowers.

Guatemala’s language is Spanish with 23 additional languages in use throughout the country.  While the US Dollar is widely accepted, the official currency is the quetzal.

Visit www.visitguatemala.com and www.birds-guatemala.org for more information.