Central America · North AmericaGuatemala
Discover Guatemala - the heart of the ancient Maya world, where pyramids rise above jungle canopies, volcanic lakes shimmer in highland craters, and living Mayan culture thrives.
Where Is Guatemala?
Guatemala is a country in Central America, North America. Its capital is Guatemala City.
- Capital Guatemala City
- Population 18.7M
- Area 108,889 km²
Guatemala is where the ancient Maya civilization reached its peak, and the echoes of that greatness are everywhere. Tikal, the greatest of all Mayan cities, rises above the jungle canopy of the Peten region like something from another world - pyramids taller than 60 meters surrounded by howler monkeys, toucans, and jaguars. But Guatemala's Mayan heritage is not just ruins. Over 40% of the population is indigenous Maya, making it the most indigenous country in Central America, and the living traditions of weaving, language, and ceremony continue in highland towns like Chichicastenango and Solola in an unbroken line stretching back millennia.
The landscape is staggering. Lake Atitlan, ringed by three volcanoes and a dozen Mayan villages, was described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world. Antigua Guatemala, the colonial capital destroyed by earthquakes and frozen in gorgeous amber, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of cobblestone streets and crumbling churches against a backdrop of active volcanoes. Guatemala is not an easy country - poverty, inequality, and violence remain serious challenges - but it rewards the traveler with a depth of culture, history, and natural beauty that few places in the Americas can match.
At a glance
Largest cities in Guatemala
Guatemala City
Antigua Guatemala
Quetzaltenango
Flores
Chichicastenango
Famous people from Guatemala
Rigoberta Menchu
ActivismK'iche' Maya activist who won the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize for her work defending indigenous rights during Guatemala's brutal civil war
Miguel Angel Asturias
LiteratureNobel Prize-winning novelist whose Men of Maize and The President captured Guatemalan political oppression with magical realist power
Carlos Ruiz
SportGuatemala's most famous footballer who played in MLS, Liga MX, and scored crucial goals for the national team, a true sporting icon
Ricardo Arjona
MusicOne of the best-selling Latin American artists of all time, a Guatemalan singer-songwriter who has sold over 40 million records worldwide
Traditional cuisine of Guatemala
- Pepian
- Guatemala's national dish - a thick, rich stew of chicken or beef in a sauce of roasted tomatoes, peppers, pumpkin seeds, and spices, with roots in ancient Mayan cooking
- Tamales
- Guatemalan tamales wrapped in banana leaves and filled with meat, sauce, olives, and peppers, the centerpiece of Christmas and special celebrations
- Rellenitos
- Sweet plantain dough stuffed with refried black beans, shaped into ovals, and fried until crispy outside and creamy inside
- Kak'ik
- Traditional Q'eqchi' Maya turkey soup with a red chili and tomato broth, recognized as part of Guatemala's intangible cultural heritage
- Platanos en Mole
- Ripe plantains in a rich chocolate-based mole sauce, a sweet-savory dish that bridges the gap between Mayan and Spanish culinary traditions
Nature and landmarks in Guatemala
- Lake AtitlanLake
- Volcanic crater lake ringed by three towering volcanoes and a dozen Mayan villages, called the most beautiful lake in the world by Aldous Huxley
- Tikal National ParkNational Park
- UNESCO World Heritage Site of the greatest ancient Mayan city, with pyramids rising above the jungle canopy and wildlife everywhere
- Semuc ChampeyRiver
- Stunning natural limestone bridge with cascading turquoise pools in the middle of the jungle, one of Guatemala's most breathtaking natural wonders
- Volcan de FuegoMountain
- One of Central America's most active volcanoes, erupting regularly with dramatic lava flows visible from Antigua Guatemala
- Rio DulceRiver
- Tropical river canyon connecting Lake Izabal to the Caribbean, lined with jungle, hot spring waterfalls, and the fortress of Castillo de San Felipe
Sports in Guatemala
- Football
- Football is Guatemala's passion, with a fervent domestic league and the Guatemala City derby between Comunicaciones and Municipal drawing massive crowds
- Futsal
- Guatemala has a strong futsal tradition and has competed in multiple FIFA Futsal World Cups with competitive performances
- Marathon Running
- The Coban Half Marathon through the highland countryside is one of Central America's most popular and scenic running events
Did you know?
Tikal's Temple IV at 64 meters is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas and was used as a filming location in Star Wars
Guatemala has 22 recognized Mayan languages still spoken today, in addition to Spanish
The quetzal bird, Guatemala's national symbol, was so sacred to the Maya that killing one was a capital offense
Antigua Guatemala has been destroyed by earthquakes three times and rebuilt each time, creating its unique landscape of beautiful ruins
Guatemala is the birthplace of chocolate - the Maya were drinking cacao beverages over 2,000 years before Europeans arrived
The Guatemalan currency, the quetzal, is named after the resplendent quetzal bird whose tail feathers were used as currency by the ancient Maya
Read more about Guatemala
Can you find Guatemala on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Guatemala and its neighbours without a second thought.
