Experiences in Guatemala

Archeology
For those who love history and the Mayan culture, Guatemala is an invaluable paradise full of archaeological treasures, since it has great parks and archaeological sites, including one of the most important because of its historical value Tikal National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

Languages
Guatemala is the perfect country to learn Spanish, since the mixture of professional schools and Guatemalan hospitality facilitates the practice of the language, besides being one of the destinations with better intonation.

Diving
If swimming with sea turtles or exotic fish species are an interest for your trip, Guatemala has coasts in the Caribbean and peaceful where you can find underwater wealth.

Golf
Because of the privileged location of the country, Guatemala enjoys a perfect climate and beautiful landscapes to practice this sport, near La Antigua Guatemala with a view to the Agua Volcano is a unique opportunity to practice it.

Canopy
Flying between treetops, enjoying beautiful scenery is achieved through Canopy, Guatemala has many parks that offer this service, including Jalapa where you can also enjoy bridges pendants One of the most famous is located in Atitlan due to its height and distance, making it the most extreme in the country.

Ecotourism
With 19 climates, 300 microclimates and 33 volcanoes, Guatemala is considered one of the countries with the greatest biological wealth in the world and if you like adventure, you can camp and have unique contact with nature.

Trekking
Guatemala has different ecological reserves and different national parks, where you can enjoy the walk in the open air, with different difficulties for the taste or the desired challenge.

Rafting
In Guatemala there are many rivers, with different flows, however we can find some where to practice this extreme sport and make the adrenaline rise to the maximum, one of them is the Cahabón River.

Sport Fishing
Because of its location Guatemala is an ideal country for sport fishing, especially for fishing and release of sailfish, you can experience up to 40 bites in high season.

Whale Watching
Thanks to the location of Guatemala, from November to April it is possible to see humpback whales a few minutes from the Pacific beaches, these accompanied by schools of fish and dolphins that make the trip An unforgettable experience.

ENTERTAINMENT
The entertainment activities you can do in Guatemala are shopping, visits to theme parks and nightlife.

In Guatemala City you can enjoy the nightlife in a wide variety of bars and restaurants, you can also walk the Paseo de la Sexta and make your purchases in the following shopping centers: Paseo Cayalá, Galerías La Pradera, Pradera Concepción, Plaza Fontabella , Oakland Mall, Arkadia Shopping Mall, Majadas Eleven, Miraflores Galleries, Portales.

In Antigua Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Petén and Izabal you can enjoy the nightlife, you will find bars and restaurants of different types and also specialized shops where you can make your purchases.

If you like theme parks you can not miss the opportunity to visit Retalhuleu, you will find the largest amusement parks in Central America. In Guatemágica you can find the Xocomil Water Park, Xetulul Amusement Park, Dino Park and Xulik Museum.

GASTRONOMY TOURISM
In Guatemala, Heart of the Maya World, the wonderful climate is favorable for different activities throughout the year. Its fertile land offers all the benefits for cultivating countless products such as fruits, vegetables and spices commonly used in the preparation of various dishes that are a blend of Maya, Spanish and contemporary cuisines. This makes Guatemala a destination that offers a unique wealth of food and drinks to the international market, as the country has one of the richest cuisines in the continent.

Historical data shows that, before the XV Century, the Maya made stews from legumes and venison, or rabbit and domestic birds’ meat. It is also known that they drank a hot drink in the morning and a cold one during the rest of the day. The coming of the Spaniards further enriched their gastronomy through the blend of flavors and aromas.

Why is Guatemalan gastronomy valuable?
Thinking about Guatemalan cuisine brings to mind an incredible variety of aromas, combinations, colors, textures and flavors. This wealth in diversity greatly contributes to its gastronomy. One of the greatest delights comes with starting a meal with a hot soup, which complements any of the many delectable dishes made with locally-available herbs.

Spices and fresh or dried fruits are also combined to make hot or cold drinks, as well as many spirits and some of the best rums in the world: the perfect complement to our dishes! Guatemala is also the source of one of the most delicious and globally sought-after beverages, coffee, considered to be one of the best in international markets.

Guatemala offers a variety of regional dishes, beverages and seasonings, contributing to the diversity of flavors and the stories behind them. Some dishes, such as broth or soups, stews, salads, small or large tamales, sweets and desserts, and seafood are seasonal or prepared only for certain celebrations during different times of the year.

Products and region
Guatemalans enjoy certain dishes daily, but several others are specific to certain regions. For example, the “Tapado” is a dish from Izabal; “Kak’ik” is served in several regions but originated in Alta Verapaz.

These are some of the delectable dishes enjoyed in different regions or departments:
Guatemala: Atol de Elote (gruel made of corn), Chipilín tamales, beef stew, rice with chicken, beans and tamales.
Sacatepéquez: Red tamales, Head of Pig stew or “revolcado”, hilachas (pulled beef), Pepián (a spicy meat stew), hen broth, Molletes (bread dessert in syrup), Mole (plantains in a chocolate-chili sauce) and stuffed peppers.
Chimaltenango: Güisquil chilaquilas and smoked ham.
Petén: Bollitos, Palmito de Ternera and escabeche de pescado (pickled fish).
Cobán, Alta Verapaz: Cobán-style tamale, chirmol (sour sauce consisting mainly of roasted tomatoes, onions and lime juice) and Kak’ik.
Izabal: Sweet potato and coconut bread, tapas and flour tortilla.
Escuintla: Seafood Broth, Stuffed Chilies, Duck Broth and Turtle Soup.
Quetzaltenango: Potato tamales (paches), Sweet Tamales, Chuchitos (small tamales), Fruit Broth, Chicken with Green Jocón sauce, Buñuelos (fried dough balls in syrup).
Four Guatemalan dishes have been declared Cultural Heritage of the Country, due to their four-centuries’ long history and their fusion of ingredients that originated in pre-Columbian Guatemala, mixed with Spanish-Arabic ingredients brought by

Europeans to the new world. These dishes are:
– Hen meat Jocón
– Kaq´ík
– Pepián
– Plantain mole

These dishes reflect a festive national culinary tradition, where corn is a staple that has a cultural meaning inherited from the Maya Civilization. Also, each destination has a hallmark dish that uses unique spices.