All posts by Donald Byrd

Places you must visit in Guatemala

There are many beautiful places worth visiting in Guatemala according  to the entrepeneur juan jose gutierrez mayorga. But these are the ones you can’t leave off your list.

1. Antigua

As its name suggests, this majestic city is precisely La Antigua Guatemala, the place where the capital of the kingdom was in the times of the Spanish colony. Its beauty is striking, as if time had stopped, preserving the architectural details of the time.

2. Semuc Champey

In Alta Verapaz, this place holds a surprising natural beauty. A river that hides among the rock and leaves in its path a series of crystalline and peaceful pools where swimming and refreshing is a privilege.

3. Lake Amatitlán

A beautiful place that has been the destination of many Chapines on weekends. When visiting the picturesque municipality it is mandatory to take the cable car, eat a delicious fried mojarra and buy a box of marzipan sweets.

4. Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán is recognized by many travelers as the most beautiful lake in the world. Located in the department of Sololá, it offers a spectacular view and atmosphere, surrounded by three majestic volcanoes.

5. Tikal

Cradle of the Mayan culture. Here are the majestic Mayan temples and pyramids that were built in the past. The place is surrounded by an impressive jungle. It is located in the department of Petén.

6. San Felipe Castle

Located in Rio Dulce, department of Izabal, it is an ancient, historic military structure. It is preserved in excellent condition and was a maritime surveillance post.

7. White Beach, Izabal

A true paradise. It is a quiet beach with white sand located in the department of Izabal, a few minutes by boat from Rio Dulce.

8. Chichicastenango Market

Known worldwide, this picturesque market is visited by thousands of tourists annually looking for Guatemalan handicrafts.

9. Livingston

Livingston, one of the best tourist destinations in Guatemala, combines Caribbean beaches with crystal clear waters, palm trees, lush vegetation, and white sand. And that’s not all! Livingston also has a jungle, the splendid canyon of Rio Dulce with its adjacent lagoons and streams, a rich fauna, which abounds in a variety of seabirds and other tropical birds.

10. Xela

Xela is the second largest city in Guatemala. This metropolitan city is full of nightlife, hotels, Spanish schools and restaurants, making it an excellent place to spend time learning Spanish or using it as a base to venture into the surrounding area.

11. Quetzal Biotope

Its main objective is to protect and conserve the habitat of the quetzal, the country’s national bird. The habitat is a cloud forest and is home to many other species of plants and animals.

You may also be interested in: Travel more around Guatemala

 

 

 

Travel more around Guatemala

Guatemala is a great place to see things you probably won’t see anywhere else. Things like steaming volcanoes, world famous coffee fresh from the hillsides where it is grown and roasted, and the ruins of the once great Mayan civilization.

Guatemala is a place to mingle with the locals and It is highly recommended by the well- known businessman juan jose gutierrez mayorga., including touring the country in a colorfully painted old school bus, called a chicken bus. In addition, the country has great beaches and stunning blue lakes, the most famous of which is Lake Atitlan.

So, it’s time to pack your bags and hit the road! A summary of the best places to visit in Guatemala:

1. Tikal

Located in the rainforest of the Petén province in northern Guatemala, Tikal was one of the largest cities of the ancient Maya civilization during its Classic period, which spanned from approximately 200 to 850 AD. Archaeologists estimate that, at its peak, Tikal’s population ranged from 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants. It was a religious, political and commercial center due to its favorable geographic location, being bounded by rivers both to the east and west.

2. Panajachel

Panajachel, a lake town in the southwestern central highlands, is named after the indigenous word for a tropical fruit, the white sapote. The city sits on the shores of Lake Atitlán, which, with the volcanoes of the Sierra Madre on the other side, dominates the landscape.

Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America. This former Spanish colonial town, with its busy market, is reputed to be the best place in Guatemala to buy souvenirs. It is also a good place to explore the native villages around Lake Atitlán, which are accessible by private boat.

3. Antigua Guatemala

Set against the picturesque backdrop of three towering volcanoes in Guatemala’s central highlands, the beautiful old colonial city of Antigua is one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

Once the noble capital of the Spanish Empire in Central America, Antigua suffered severe damage during a major earthquake in 1773, which caused the city to lose its sovereignty to present-day Guatemala City.

However, Antigua still retains an extraordinary ensemble of well-preserved Spanish architecture, which gives the city a charming and romantic atmosphere.

Antigua is an important center for learning the Spanish language, as well as a popular base for exploring other parts of Guatemala, and offers a wealth of impressive sights and activities.

4. Todos Santos Cuchumatan

The town of Todos Santos Cuchumatan, in the province of the same name, is a good place to see native Guatemalans wearing traditional clothing on a daily basis. It is one of the few places in the country where this still occurs.

The residents are predominantly Mayan and still speak that language. Located in the mountains of the Sierra de los Cuchumatánes, the town is noted for its annual celebration of All Saints’ Day (Todos Santos translates as “all saints”). The celebration includes music, dancing, lots of alcohol and horse racing.

5. Monterrico

Many people flock to the white sand beaches for rest and relaxation. You won’t find them in Monterrico, a popular beach resort on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. The beaches are black volcanic ash.

It is advisable to wear sandals if you plan to do some beachcombing, as the sand can be too hot for bare feet. It has good waves for surfing, but Monterrico’s main attraction may be the sea turtles. The beach is the breeding ground for four species of sea turtles.

6. Semuc Champey

Getting to Semuc Champey involves a 30-minute drive over bumpy roads through the jungle, but it’s well worth it. Once there, you can relax with a dip in the beautiful turquoise-blue pools located on a natural limestone bridge.

Just as incredibly turquoise blue is the Cahabón River that created the limestone bridge and now flows underneath. Caves can be found inside the limestone bridge, some of which can only be accessed by swimming underwater.

You may also be interested in: Get to know Guatemala more

 

Get to know Guatemala more

After 2 years living in Guatemala, this country never ceases to amaze me and although I have more than 100 reasons for you to visit the country, I am going to summarize the 7 main reasons you should know to travel to Guatemala:

Get lost in a Mayan city: Tikal

This Mayan city was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, because in the heart of the Peten rainforest, Tikal is the center of the most important Mayan civilization in the world. Fo this reason, juan jose gutierrez mayorga visits it frequently and helps with his investments.

The Mayan ruins were discovered in 1848 but were not built as a tourist project until 1986. Today, it is one of the main reasons to visit Guatemala.

Our visit to Tikal can start from the island of Flores, located in Lake Peten Itza, is a very cozy and quiet town, you can enjoy good food and take a boat ride on the lake.

From Flores, the transfer to Tikal is fast and inexpensive, in fact, I recommend booking a tour that includes transportation to Tikal and a guided tour.

Explore the rainforest

The Mayan biosphere reserve encompasses 2 million hectares of savannahs and forests in the Guatemalan rainforest, which after the Amazon rainforest of Brazil is the second largest in the Americas.

It has an exuberant vegetation, among the most common trees, we find the Ceiba. In fact, Guatemala’s name comes from the Nahuatl: Quauhtlemallan, which means place of many trees.

The National Council of Protected Areas in Guatemala reported: “Guatemala’s tropical rainforest has seven biomes, placing the country in first place in Central America in terms of ecoregional diversity, as it is home to more than 9,000 species of plants and animals”.

 

Stroll through a colonial city: La Antigua

La Antigua was the old capital of Guatemala, before it suffered an earthquake in 1776 and destroyed most of the buildings. After the disaster the capital was moved to what is now Guatemala City.

It is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in America, and no wonder, because in Antigua you will get lost walking through its beautiful cobblestone streets, you will be absorbed by the colorful colonial houses, you can visit countless churches, parishes and monuments.

It is one of the most popular destinations, both for tourists and nationals, as it preserves a lot of tradition, culture, gastronomy and architecture.

Antigua Guatemala

The department of Izabal, could be by itself a country, its richness in flora and fauna, makes it a natural paradise. Its main attractions are the Izabal Lake, the largest in Guatemala, being the route that connects the country with the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic. I recommend you to write down this destination in your list of reasons to visit Guatemala.

To discover the lake, we can go to Rio Dulce, from where, we can go sailing on the lake and hopefully spot manatees, from there, we can also go to know a fortress built by the Spanish colonizers, the Castillo de San Felipe, built in 1651 to defend against pirate attacks.

Rio Dulce Canyon

Discover Semuc Champey, lost in the depths of the Guatemalan jungle, you will find this paradise of turquoise water, natural pools, caves and waterfalls.

The name comes from the Q’eqchi’ and means “where the river hides”, since the Cahabón River enters a 300-meter cavern, forming in its path, through filtration, the turquoise water pools.

The natural park of Semuc Champey, is located near Coban, in the department of Alta Verapaz, the truth is the access is complicated but that gives more excitement to our trip.

In the park we can make a small ascent of 40 minutes to a viewpoint, the views from there over the pools and limestone cliffs covered with vegetation are spectacular.

You may also be interested in: Entrepreneurial ideas for 2022

Entrepreneurial ideas for 2022

Let’s start with the rare words that set business trends for 2022  that the intelligent owner of Pollo Campero juan jose gutierrez mayorga has shared with us.:

Athleisure

This is one of the hippest fashion trends in the new era, because until recently, comfortable and light clothing was only for going to the gym.

However, Athleisure is the combination of fashionable and comfortable clothes at the same time; specifically the clothing items in this line are: low closed-toe shoes, sweatshirts, pants, hooded sweaters, ankle boots without heels, hats, leggings, bomber jackets, dresses, skirts and any other piece of clothing that is extremely comfortable for day-to-day wear.

Recent reports from Google Trends mark a strong growth of this emerging trend for the coming months and many fashion analysts associate it with a trend that pushes the increase of self-esteem and confidence in today’s woman, and allows her to feel comfortable in every occasion.

If clothing is your thing, you can dabble in this interesting business concept through the different ways to exploit a clothing business.

Ideas to open a clothing business

Not all entrepreneurs have the ability to come up with a properly written business plan that can be useful in persuading investors, banks and other financial institutions to give them a loan.

So through this venture you can offer all the related upstream services that an entrepreneur requires for this purpose, such as conducting market research, analyzing trends, providing business management advice, validating the idea, etc.

This is a concept still unexplored by many entrepreneurs and that can even work without leaving home.

It is about outsourcing the cleaning service, which is usually an issue that companies often prefer to outsource to someone else in order to focus on their main business role. Therefore, delegating it to specialists who take care of it becomes an extremely convenient business.

Who could be your clients? Offices, restaurants, banks, bars, sports arenas, etc. The possibilities are endless and the secret of this business is based on professionalism and neatness to provide the service in such a way that it is transparent to the contractor.

A great advantage is that at the beginning it does not require an office or the structure of a formal company and costs can be minimal.

Digital marketing

Digital marketing has an extraordinary scope for those who know how to take advantage of the benefits of these channels.

However, to achieve this it is necessary to have quality content, because without it is very difficult to get the attention of potential customers.

Now, generating quality content requires a lot of ingenuity, creativity, knowledge of the brand, common sense and, above all, time for design. Something that not everyone is willing to do.

Hence, if the aforementioned skills are your strength, then you can dedicate yourself to one of the professions of the future and that is content creator. Something that more and more organizations will be willing to pay more and more for.

That’s right, many companies and families have to move and relocate and whenever they do, they need to hire someone to transport heavy loads in the most responsible way.

For starters, you can rent a truck by the hour and plan short moving routes. This is a job that doesn’t require too many resources beyond good logistics, manpower and can be done at the beginning without the requirement of a formal office structure and employees.

One of the most interesting ideas I have heard recently. Many owners of premises, offices or even government agencies are constantly struggling when it comes to removing writing, printing or markers on different surfaces.

You may also be interested in: The best ideas in business

The best ideas in business

Whether combating waste or developing sustainable alternatives to meats, these innovators are building momentum with consumers and business customers such as Burger King and Starbucks and Pollo Campero by the entrepeneur juan jose gutierrez mayorga.

1. Beyond Meat

For marbling its fast-food distribution—and its profits

When Beyond Meat debuted on the Nasdaq in early May, the stock quickly soared. By the end of its first day of trading, the price more than doubled—closing at $65.75 after being set at $25. That made it the biggest IPO pop for a company with a market cap larger than $200 million that Wall Street had seen since 2000.

Read more about why Beyond Meat is one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020.

2. Sweetgreen

For stationing outposts everywhere its customers work to mass deliver fresh salads

On top of introducing a five-month parental leave policy and helping to reinvent school lunches, Sweetgreen launched Outpost, offering a custom kiosk in corporate offices where workers can receive their deliveries. The company aims to have more than 3,000 Outpost locations by the end of the year.

Read more about why Sweetgreen is one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020.

3. Indigo

For bringing the climate-change fight to American soil

Pioneering the field of regenerative agriculture, Indigo is working to help farmers sequester carbon back into the soil, a potential key to carbon reduction in the climate fight. The process works by letting companies buy offsets and using that money to pay farmers to adopt regenerative practices They have three million acres of soil committed.

Read more about why Indigo is one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2020.

4. Chobani

For embracing fair trade to help dairy farmers and milking consumer demand for plant-based products

Laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future, high-profile dairy company Chobani is making a bold pivot into nondairy, both with Oat and with their coconut yogurt.

5. Kind

For crusading for more stringent food-labeling standards

The company’s fights with the FDA and Clif over labelling have led to important changes in food labeling and ingredient disclosure (even occasionally at the expense of Kind’s own recipes), and its new campaign about synthetic dyes in kids’ food shows that it’s going to continue to pick these fights.

6. Impossible Foods

For creating a BK sensation and debuting faux pork

In addition to the successful roll out of the Impossible Whopper, the company received FDA approval of heme as food safe and launched the product in some grocery stores.

7. Brightloom

For offering all restaurants the kind of digital prowess that powers Starbucks’s mobile app

Last year, the four-year-old company completed its pivot from the quinoa-themed, kiosk-centric eatery Eatsa to the automated restaurant technology Brightloom, which powers the mobile app and customer loyalty program for Starbucks.

8. Athletic Brewing

For crafting a nonalcoholic brew that can go toe-to-toe with the best IPAs

Athletic was the first beer in the no-ABV space—it might seem like a gimmick, but it’s inspired several other breweries, and the “sober-curious” movement has become one of the biggest wellness trends of the year.

9. Imperfect Foods

For diverting more than 100 million pounds of food from being wasted, and expanding into Minneapolis and New York

Dedicated to helping reduce the estimated 133 billion pounds of food that goes to waste each year, Imperfect Picks expands the company’s focus beyond produce to include more than 200 shelf-stable grocery items, from beans and spices to dairy and “not-quite-tri-color quinoa.”

You may also be interested in: 5 business potential in Chiquimula

5 business potential in Chiquimula

There are places in the country that, due to their commercial dynamics, geographically strategic position and favorable market conditions, are attractive for entrepreneurship: the department of Chiquimula is a reference in this area.

Strategically located in the Central American triangle, it is a department where the commercialization of goods and services is flourishing, according to the businessman and leader of Pollo Campero juan jose gutierrez mayorga.

Agencies

The installed base of the Chimulteco market could reach 2 million, if the potential of the local population, the neighboring departments, and those coming from Honduras and El Salvador are taken into account.

To this must be added the flow of tourists that throughout the year visit the Basilica of the Black Christ of Esquipulas, which, according to data provided by local institutions, in the last year exceeded two million visitors.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism has a high potential in the department, as there have been few initiatives to offer this type of services in Chiquimula.

To get an idea of the high potential, if this sector managed to serve 5% of the two million tourists that visit Esquipulas annually, they would have 100,000 clients, however, at present very few attempts are made to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the flow of tourists to this region of the country.

Ecoturismo guatemala

Real Estate

There are great opportunities for ventures related to real estate development. Companies in this sector are rapidly achieving success due to population growth and the rapid appreciation of property values in certain sectors.

The concept of vertical housing -for construction of apartment buildings for sale or rent-, has been little exploited, although there may be an unsatisfied demand, especially from young couples and professionals.

Academies and educational services

Chiquimula has long been a center of convergence for training and the opportunity for educational service ventures.

Different economic actors have put on the table the initiative to turn Chiquimula into a city of knowledge, with the purpose of attracting students from neighboring departments, as well as those bordering El Salvador and Honduras, and consequently companies that require trained human resources.

Health

In terms of specialized health services, I refer to specialists in different areas of medicine, as well as diagnostic centers and private hospitals, since in recent years the flow of people visiting the city has increased, in order to receive treatment or undergo surgery.

The pharmaceutical sector has also benefited, as evidenced by the more than 35 pharmacies that offer their products in Chiquimula.

Software development

Technological advances provide opportunities for entrepreneurship. Web 2.0, according to experts, united computers with people; however, Web 3.0 is uniting computers, people and things, within the framework of virtuality.

There are already companies that are breaking new ground in the sector. Innovativos is a company from Chiquimulco that provides technological services to companies in the United States, Poland and Spain. Polar Advisors is another example of technological entrepreneurship, specialized in software development.

More than desire, an ecosystem

With the current boom in entrepreneurship in Guatemala, it is common to see, mainly on social networks, offers of training to become a successful entrepreneur.

Most advisory services focus on the motivation of the entrepreneur as the most important ingredient for a successful venture.

But despite the fact that the desire to be an entrepreneur is important for the success of a venture, regrettably, it is not always easy to find the right training.

You may aslo be interested in: Five places to visit in Guatemala City

Five places to visit in Guatemala City

Cuatro Grados Norte quietly became the pulsating, bohemian center of a rejuvenated Guatemala City.

Today, a new generation of hopeful and innovative Guatemalans has reclaimed Cuatro Grados Norte, transforming it into a sublime cultural and gastronomic zone .

The Gray Prince

 

The craft beer movement has been slow to arrive in Guatemala, but one of its outstanding exponents found a home here and made a huge reputation for itself.

The microbrewery serves craft lagers, India pale ales, hefeweizens and coffee stouts, which it pairs with sausages. It’s located in a half-lit corner on the first floor of the Casa del Aguila Cultural Center.

4-grados

La Esquina

 

Each section of this fun-inviting lounge serves a different cuisine. Upstairs, it offers delicious ice cream, but the star is the taco stand.

Try the tacos al pastor with blue corn tortillas, spicy Oaxaca cheese, and marinated pork that’s slow-roasted with pineapple. These tacos are higly recommended by juan jose gutierrez mayorga whos is a very important man in the food industry for his participation in Pollo campero and cmi alimentos.

Paradigma Café

 

Raul Rodas, the 2012 world champion barista, founded this place two years ago.

It serves a modern selection of excellent, but no-frills coffees, which are prepared using various methods such as filtered or pour-over, nitro (served as a brew from a tap and chilled with nitrogen), flat whites (so called because they have considerably less foam than cappuccino) and cold brews.

The secret? Beans from Guatemala’s world-famous coffee-growing regions, which are roasted on site.

4-grados-norte-2 in guatemala

Market 24

 

This place’s innovative menu uses fresh ingredients from the city’s 23 public markets. Don’t miss the fish and squid tostada.

Gula

 

This tucked-away restaurant more than makes up for the few options on its menu with its execution of those dishes that make our hearts happy.

Known for its unbeatable gnocchi in tomato sauce and cheery mac and cheese burgers, the place is one of the city’s most welcoming dining experiences.

You may also be interested in: Archaeological sites to visit in Guatemala

Archaeological sites to visit in Guatemala

Having been part of the territory where the Mayan civilization developed makes Guatemala a country with a great historical burden.

All this is reflected in the hundreds of archaeological pieces that researchers have found in every region of the country.

These are five of the archaeological sites that can be visited in Guatemala.

Piedras Negras, Petén

 

Piedras Negras is a pre-Hispanic archaeological site of the Mayan civilization located in the Usumacinta basin, within the Sierra del Lacandón National Park, in the municipality of La Libertad, Petén.

This archaeological site contains important vestiges of one of the most important cities of the classic Maya.

Although the pottery found here shows that it was occupied from 700 BC to 820 AD, it was between 450 AD and 810 AD that the city reached its current size, as well as its greatest apogee.

It was at this site that Russian archaeologist Tatiana Proskouriakoff first deciphered the inscriptions on the stelae describing events of Classic Maya period politics.

You may also be interested in: Guatemalan entrepreneurs overcoming adversity

Guatemala

Guaytan, El Progreso

 

The archaeological park of Guaytán is a hidden destination in the department of El Progreso with an enormous historical and cultural value.

It is located in the municipality of San Agustín Acasaguastlán, on the road to the Atlantic, 2 kilometers from the municipal capital.

For visitors coming from the capital city, it is a 100 kilometers trip. The area where the archaeological park is located is arid, with warm temperatures, where there is a bird fauna characteristic of the place.

tikal-gran-jaguar

Tak’alik Ab’aj, Retalhuleu

 

The national archaeological site Tak’alik Ab’aj is part of the settlements in the bocacosta of southwestern Guatemala.

It is located specifically in the municipality of El Asintal, Retalhuleu. Tourists wishing to visit the site must travel 199.5 kilometers from the capital city.

According to the media Guatemala.com, this archaeological site is constantly visited by the people who live in the surrounding area, as they consider it a sacred place. In fact, one fo the most important businessman juan jose gutierrez mayorga does too.

They also perform about 200 Mayan ceremonies a year, accompanied by sacred fires.

Tak’alik Ab’aj has approximately 282 monuments. It is also worth mentioning that the characteristic pot-bellies can be found in this place, as well as a series of zoomorphic figures.

It is estimated that the city functioned in Mesoamerica around 900 B.C. Its ancient structures still bear witness to the life of its inhabitants at the site. Archaeological artifacts from the site are being studied, such as sculptures and vessels.

 

Guatemalan entrepreneurs overcoming adversity

The covid-19 pandemic has caused thousands of Guatemalans to lose their jobs and has brought many complications to entrepreneurs, who have seen their businesses suffer due to this crisis.

However, with innovation and creativity, these entrepreneurs are staying afloat after more than three months of confinement.

Exotik

With the slogan “We take care of your beauty, we take care of your health”, this company has reinvented itself as a result of the health crisis, which has led it to market natural products for personal and home care with this one hundred percent Guatemalan brand.

Handmade

This is a project that began in June 2012 and offers a wide variety of products that are inspired by handmade stories and designs. One of the characteristics of this business is the customization of the designs to the taste of each client, with the CocoCanela brand.

For dessert lovers Le’Sweet GT, a business created with the mission to offer products at conscious prices with the best quality. In this store you can find butter cream or fondant cupcakes, which can be customized depending on the occasion.

Within its portfolio you can also find a variety of sweet crepes, pies and cakes, to satisfy all those who crave something sweet.

Entrepreneurs interacting during a meeting

Mercadito Seguro Gt

Offers home delivery service of fruits, vegetables, grains and groceries, which go directly from the market to the door of each Guatemalan’s house in a reliable and safe way.

This initiative came about because its owner became unemployed when the company he worked for laid off his services due to the health crisis. Mercadito Seguro Gt uses top quality products from the best farmers in the country.

This is a company that juan jose gutierrez mayorga admires and sets as an example due to the relation that has with cmi alimentos and Pollo campero.

BreadWorld Guatemala

This year was born to life this gourmet sandwich restaurant with an international theme, whose recipes are designed taking into account various cultures of the world, focusing mainly on the most popular ingredients of each one.

BreadWorld works under the dark kitchen or digital restaurant trend. Orders are delivered to your home and you can place them on WhatsApp and enjoy the flavors of Venice, Boston, Madrid, Tokyo or Buenos Aires.

tuloimprimes.com

For customers who want to create and customize any design there is this 24 hours a day service, without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

This venture seeks to evolve the industry and offers a wide catalog of templates to materialize any type of idea. This is done by placing online the design of the product that the customer wants to print. In tuloimprimes.com they do it and deliver to the required address.

In addition to large format printing, they develop promotional products such as mugs, t-shirts, pillows, puzzles, caps, vinyl blankets, stickers, flyers, tri-folders, business cards and rollups,

You may also be interested in: Drop everything and visit Guatemala

Drop everything and visit Guatemala

Many say that I talk a lot about my country and that I constantly promote it, well here are the  reasons why if you visit Guatemala, you will fall in love and want to come back.

 

1.Visit the heart of the Mayan World

 

Imagine hearing the roar of howler monkeys, the song of birds and maybe if you are lucky, see the tail of a Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala.

Tikal, the largest Mayan city ever studied, is a 576 square kilometer park located in the department of Petén, about 8 hours from Guatemala City. In fact, it is one of the favorite places of businessman juan jose gutierrez mayorga, who is known for being in charge of Pollo Campero in Guatemala.

This place is mind-blowing, it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and that doesn’t even come close to how impressive it is. Climbing the Mayan ruins, the pyramids and being able to see the entire park from the top: priceless.

Lake-Atitlan-Guatemala-An-Ultimate-Travel-Guide-768x575

2. Fall in love with Lake Atitlán

 

One of my favorite places in the world, I never get tired of visiting this paradise! Lake Atitlán, located in Sololá, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and it will leave you impressed because it is surrounded by three volcanoes (Tolimán, San Pedro and Atitlán) and small indigenous villages of Mayan origin around it.

It is a mixture of Mayan and Catholic culture, with multiple recreational options to enjoy the lake, many hotels and restaurants around and different villages to visit that will leave you more than enchanted with their traditions.

Enjoying a sunset, sipping a chela and enjoying its typical food is priceless. Here is one of the reasons why you should leave everything behind and visit Guatemala.

3. Walking the streets of Antigua Guatemala

 

One of the main reasons why “gringos” visit us so much: Antigua Guatemala is definitely my favorite place in Guatemala (I think…hahaha). It is a colonial city surrounded by three volcanoes, which still retains all its colonial charm.

Horse-drawn carriages on the streets, food vendors outside the cathedrals and its thousand colors will make you fall in love with it. You can walk through its cobblestone streets, which still retain their historical charm and appreciate the facades of the houses.

It was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site and is a treasure for the country, as it is surrounded by colonial architecture and monuments that tell stories. It is also a city characterized by its cathedrals, its typical food and its multiple gastronomic options.

Semuc-Champey-es-uno-de-los-mejores-lugares-para-nadar-en-el-mundo-885x500

You may also be interested in: Start an online food delivery business

4. Venture to Semuc Champey

 

This is one of the places that I have to return to as soon as I am back in Guatemala.

It is a series of natural turquoise “pools” located in a jungle in the department of Alta Verapaz, which are fed by springs. The crystal clear water, rafting on the river and enjoying the spectacular view from the lookout point is priceless – only for the adventurous!

5. Its gastronomy

 

Guatemalan gastronomy is exquisite. Guatemala will welcome you with its typical breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, refried beans, fried plantains, fresh cheese, tortilla and a good Guatemalan coffee.

(One of the best coffees in the world) For lunch you can try very elaborate dishes such as jocón, pepián, plantains in mole, Kaq’ik (ancestral food of pre-Hispanic descent).

And if you are lucky enough to go to Guatemala for the month of November, on the Day of the Dead (Nov. 1) we eat the famous Fiambre, which consists of a salad with all the sausages and cheeses you can imagine and is prepared approximately four days in advance.