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Archaeological Guatemala & Copán (Honduras) For tailor-made itineraries including Guatemala please contact us on info@latinamerica.co.uk

Guatemala
General Information

Guatemala is a land of bright colours and powerful contrasts at the heart of the Maya World whose ancient heritage can be seen not just in the fabulous archaeological sites that remain but also in the customs, traditions, handicrafts and cuisine that can be enjoyed by today’s visitor to this fascinating small nation.

TIKAL

Without doubt the most striking of all the abandoned Mayan cities, Tikal was a huge metropolis that was founded in the 8th century BC and which remains shrouded in mystery. Rising dramatically from the jungle canopy, its towering limestone pyramids include the imposing Temple IV,the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas. Tikal lies within a 570 square km protected rainforest which is home to howler monkeys and around 300 species of birds, and there are further Mayan ruins nearby including Ceibal, where the intricately carved stelae are in excellent condition, and Uaxactun, whose foundations go back to as early as 2000 BC.

ANTIGUA

This Spanish colonial gem has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The original capital of Guatemala, Antigua was abandoned in the 18th century after a devastating earthquake, but its former splendour can be imagined from the evocative ruined churches, convents and grand Baroque mansions that remain. Nestled in the shadow of three volcanoes,Antigua is a quiet, pretty town whose cobblestone streets are home to some of Guatemala's finest hotels, restaurants and craft shops and offers a pleasant alternative to the bustle of nearby Guatemala City. Easter Holy Week (‘Semana Santa’) is a particularly exciting time to visit Antigua,to witness the colourful processions and the streets carpeted in flower petals.

THE MAYAN HEARTLAND

One occasion you should not miss when visiting Guatemala is the wonderful market at Chichicastenango, where the Indians of the western highlands gather to sell their produce and traditional handicrafts as they have done for hundreds of years. The colourful market is held on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the year and offers an excellent opportunity to purchase the exquisite craft products for which Guatemala is renowned, particularly the brightly coloured textiles. Ringed by volcanoes, the exquisite Lake Atitlán is surrounded by Indian villages whose inhabitants havetenaciously clung to their traditional ways of life despite outside influences. Churches may be dedicated to Catholic saints but the ceremonies that are held contain pre-Christian and shamanistic elements and are fascinating to observe. It is in these remote highland villages that you can best witness the rich diversity of culture and traditions that Guatemala has to offer.

Austral Tours Ltd: 20 Upper Tachbrook Street
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Tel. +44(0)20-7233 5384 / Fax +44(0)20-7233 5385
Email: info@latinamerica.co.uk

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