Guatemala has an appealing mix of landscapes and cultures, attracting visitors of all kinds. The northern lowlands are home to a lush tropical rainforest, where the most amazing Mayan archaeological sites are found, including the famous Tikal. The pine forested highlands are home to traditional Mayan communities that still cling to their indigenous roots.
As far as its major city goes, Guatemala City is the political heart and capital city of the country. However, it is not as attractive as Antigua Guatemala, which is the former capital of the country. Antigua Guatemala is one of the most popular places to visit, with its old colonial buildings being surrounded by awesome volcanoes that are perfect for hiking and Read more
Nowadays you can get practically any type of dish while visiting Guatemala. There are all different kinds of restaurants serving everything from French baguettes to sushi! There are also a good number of fast food restaurants. While you may be drawn to the familiar, the Guatemala Gringo urges you to widen out and try a few traditional Guatemalan dishes.
One national specialty includes Kac lc, a soup that is made from turkey and seasoned with an herb from Alta Verapaz called samat. A more familiar, and yet typical Guatemalan dish is guacamole. Believe me; it tastes different from the guac you get at the Mexican restaurant around the corner. Flan is a typical dessert of Read more
Avenida Sur has recently been the subject of a very interesting makeover, with John Rexer applying all the finishing touches. He started several years back with Café No Sé , the choice hangout for surfers, hippies, backpackers, and other random expats and visitors looking for something a little off beat in the city of La Antigua. The café was a smash hit and inspired John to expand his hippie style to the rest of the block.
One of the greatest new additions to the block is Café “Y tu Piña También.” The fact that it has Wi-Fi and fantastic coffee would be enough, but add to it English muffins, bagels, and cookies of all sorts, Read more
When visiting any foreign you have to take precautions against parasites, and traveling to Guatemala is no different. However there are some parasites that no amount of medication can guard against; the human variety. They can be found at all the popular tourist attractions, speak English, as well as German, Italian and French, and are quite friendly. It is important to remember that no matter how harmless they seem their goal is to suck the money right out of your wallet.
These human parasites are easily identifiable; they wear an official looking laminated ID badge around their neck, and are always quick to ask if you need assistance or offer some helpful advice. Make sure Read more
The marimba can be heard throughout Central America, but it is the official national instrument of Guatemala. In the major cities marimbas can be extremely large, with four to nine musicians playing on just one of these oversized xylophones. In the country, hand crafted marimbas use different shaped gourds as their sounding boxes.
Marimba bands usually employ a drum kit percussionist as well as a bassist. Some bands have even taken to adding a saxophone, trumpet, or trombone for some added flavor. Marimba bands play in every corner of the country, so make sure you ask around to locate one in the town you’re visiting. Guatemalans will tell you the sound of the marimba causes a Read more
Explore Guatemala, extreme style. CA Tours, based out of Antigua, is a professional Motorcycle company that offers guided tours on dirt bikes through the Guatemalan interior. They feature a wide variety of tours; ones for intermediate bikers last just a few days, while more advanced riders can tackle the 8 day tours. For those with a limited amount of time and a specific agenda, custom tours can be designed.
The guys at CA Tours are a couple of English blokes who are genuinely interested in helping you have the best dirt bike excursion possible. They provide you with protective clothing, including a helmet, and bikes that are safe and of high quality. Off road Read more
Looking for a variety of nightlife in Guatemala City? Check out Cuatro Grados Norte, located in Zona 4. This area basically serves as a hot place for the young and hip crowd to mingle with its open streets, outdoor seating, bars, restaurants and dance clubs. It is a pretty safe area which makes it ideal for wandering around in the late night hours and meeting lots of interesting people, tourists and locals alike.
Cuatro Grados Norte is growing in popularity as people look outside of the famous Zona 10, or Zona Viva for some variety in their nightlife. Anything goes, and the Gringo suggests that women dress a little sexy; no need to worry Read more
Market Days in Guatemala are a large part of the livelihood in each village, so try to make your way to these locations on their Market Days. Not only will you have a better idea of who the Guatemalan people are, you will also have the opportunity to buy a number of gorgeous hand crafted items.
While being the largest and most famous market in Guatemala, Chichicastenango has its drawbacks. Since it receives more traffic than most markets, it is harder to barter prices, which is what market shopping is all about. Towns such as Antigua and Panajachel offer amazingly beautiful crafts, at the prices you are looking for. Always remember, you should Read more
Traveling in Guatemala City and the country as a whole can be done in a number of ways. Often the best way to get around the city is by private taxi; they are safest and easiest. If you are heading out of town to another popular vacation destination you may choose to take a private shuttle. While those are all well and good, no trip to Guatemala is complete without experiencing the Chicken Bus!
These vibrantly decorated Bluebird school buses perfectly represent the Guatemalan way of things. Not only are they bright and colorful, they are work-horses who start their long treks on their own terms. (Translation: Schedules are hard to come Read more
If you are like the typical Gringo who goes to Guatemala for the first time, you are expecting hot, muggy days and sticky nights. A quick tip – look at www.weather.com before you leave. We are talking 4,000 foot elevations here. 70’s (f) is normal daily temperature with night requiring a light jacket and that is in August in the states.
To complete the cerebral understanding, ask a cab driver to take you to a unique attraction called Mapa en Relieve Guatemala. It is a topographical model of Guatemala and it will make your brain finally understand why the weather is so pleasant and cool most of the time.
It costs about $5 to get in Read more
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