Guatemala

Overview

There are such extensive opportunities for discovering more about the Mayan civilization, hiking around volcanoes and experiencing the natural world might not be as much on their guard as they will unfortunately have to be for some time.

There are many Maya sites, of which Ixmiche, Mixco Viejo, El Zotz and Quiriguá are just a selection. However it is the large site of Tikal, near Flores which will probably leave all who see it awestruck.

The volcanoes range from the 1650m Volcán de Ipala to the more than more than 4000m Volcán Tajumulco allowing visitors with a range of technical skill to challenge themselves.

Other natural features are the thirty protected areas and coasts on the Pacific and Caribbean. Lakes and coast shores allow water sports of many kinds for both the calm and the adventurous.

History

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.