Caribbean beaches, reminders of ancient Mayan civilisation and active volcanoes come together to form the unique land of Guatemala, which is just waiting for you to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.
Ancient Mayan relics and active volcanoes in tour comparison Guatemala
Guatemala travel packages are focused on experiencing the country’s unique culture and outdoors, with activities like volcano hikes with reputable guides, visits to lakeside communities at Lago Atitlan, guided tours and overnight camping including entry to Tikal National Park, Mayan-based community homestays, Spanish language lessons, and tours of Guatemala City and Antigua with knowledgeable local guides. Optional experiences in tour comparison Guatemala appeal to your adventurous side, with lake paragliding, kayaking and boat tours available.
Tours begin and end in Antigua and Guatemala City, and offer the opportunity to travel with local buses, along with valuable advice from your Guatemala travel package tour guide on avoiding pickpocketing and scams. If Guatemala isn’t enough, there are itineraries offering combinations with Mexico and Central America.
Ready to plan your trip? Visit our tour comparison Guatemala and find the right itinerary for you.
Want a taste of that insider Guatemala tourism knowledge we mentioned before? We have collected the best facts from real life tour guides. Impress them on tour with how much you already know.
- Guatemala is home to seven active volcanoes, and touches both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from its location directly south of Mexico.
- The capital Guatemala City is home to extreme wealth and poverty, while other important cities include former capital Antigua Guatemala with its colonial Spanish charm, the indigenous village of Panajachel, the historic island town of Flores, and the Caribbean beach town of Livingston – a great place not only to unwind but to see the traditional Garifuna dance.
- For those fascinated by volcanoes, Pacaya Volcana is a popular hiking spot, while Lake Atitlan is home to three volcanoes and a picturesque lake.
- Guatemala boasts an interesting share of history, with buried Mayan ruins in Tikal National Park and Petén, and the Mayan city of El Mirador.
- Some of Guatemala’s most important aqua-related attractions include swimming, boating and fishing in Lake Petén-Itzá, the parques and springs in Quetzaltenango (a.k.a. Xela), the natural pools of Semuc Champey, and the Rio Dulce river.
- The town of Chichicastenango in the Guatemalan highlights is rich with indigenous Mayan culture and boasts a popular craft market known as ChiChi.
- The ancient Mayan civilisation occupied large parts of south-eastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and the west of Honduras and Ecuador, with their history dating as far as 8000 BCE.
- The Mayan deity Maximón is an important saint for the Mayans that remain in Western Guatemala’s highlands.
- Guatemala’s most important exports and products are bananas, jade and coffee – the beans for your morning Starbucks are harvested here!
- Musical contributions from Guatemala include Marimba music, singer Ricardo Arjona, and the Punta dance.
- Guatemala was the setting for the film ‘Apocalypto’ by Mel Gibson.
- Notable Guatemalan leaders and activities include President Juan José Arévalo Bermejo, military dictator Efraín Ríos Montt, and indigenous rights campaigner Rigoberta Menchú Tum.
- Literary figure Luis Cardoza y Aragón, and writer and Nobel prize winner Miguel Angel Asturias were both Guatemalan.
- The world’s first chocolate bar and blue denim were Guatemalan inventions, while Guatemalan Luis von Ahn was part of the team that coined the term CAPTCHA.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
