Antigua 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.

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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.

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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.