Image Page on Guatemala

Insert pictures, and at least one panorama image, and a webcam image from two different times.

 

Outline

  1. Landscapes
  2. Cities
  3. Landmarks
  4. Images of People
  5. Images from the book

 

 

 

1. Landscapes

·      Lago de Atitlan

A view of a large body of water Description automatically generated

     A view from someone’s webcam of Lake Atitlan to Volcano San Pedro in the highlands of Guatemala.  Guatemala is home to more than 140 lakes that have historically provided water to many indigenous cultures over the centuries.  Many villages are still found on the shorelines to harness this essential natural resource.  Lake Atitlan is undoubtedly stunning and is actually the deepest lake in Guatemala.  Lake Atitlan is surrounded by volcanic peaks and offers many activities such as kayaking, fishing, and boat tours.

·      Acatenango volcano

A close up of a mountain Description automatically generated

     Acatenango volcano in Antigua, Guatemala.  According to Lonely Planet, Acatenango is the most exhilarating summit.  You will travel through 4 ecosystems to reach the top.  Acatenango is the third-highest volcano in Guatemala.  From the summit you can see Fuego volcano, which had a deadly eruption in 2018.  You can also view neighboring volcanoes such as Agua and Pacaya.

·      Semuc Champney

A pool next to a body of water Description automatically generated

     South of Lanquin is Semuc Champney, pictured above.  The name means “Sacred Waters” and is supplied by the Rio Cahabon.  It is a cluster of tiered pools above a natural limestone bridge that is 300 meters long.  Although it is difficult to reach, many have touted that this is the most beautiful spot in all of Guatemala.  It’s clear water and lush greenery have made it a must see for most backpackers who visit the area.  The cool pools are perfect for taking a dip after a long and strenuous journey to get there, boasting vivid colors of emerald green and sapphire blue.

·      Rainforest of Tikal

A large green field with trees in the background Description automatically generated

     A panoramic view of Tikal, known as the most famous ruins in Guatemala, is surrounded by an enormous and lush rainforest. Found near the city of Flores, Guatemala, Tikal can easily be an all-day adventure.  The Maya settled on this land around 700 BC and began building stone ceremonial structures 200 years later.  By 200 BC there was the complex of buildings that we see today.  Tikal’s most striking feature is its towering steep-sided temples surrounded by jungle and rainforest.  On a walk between sites you might be able to spot monkeys, agoutis, and foxes.  Tikal is a very popular tourist spot, so it is best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon.

 

 

2. Cities

·      Antigua

A picture containing building, outdoor, yellow, clock Description automatically generated 

     A street scene in Antigua, Guatemala.  Antigua’s beauty starts to seduce the moment that you arrive.  The former capital of Guatemala, its streets are lined with pastel colors and paved with cobblestone streets.  Antigua has not been affected by modern concrete buildings and high rises.  It still houses colonial style buildings with grand churches and convents.  Most of Antigua has been restored, but some buildings still have cracks from a history of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and neglect from virtual abandonment.  However, Antigua has bounced back and is full of pride from its residents making it the most visited destination in Guatemala.

·      Guatemala City

A rainbow over a city Description automatically generated

     Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala and boasts large buildings that are more modern than the rural areas of the country.  According to Lonely Planet, there is an energy in Guatemala City unlike anywhere else in Guatemala.  It’s a place where dilapidated buses spew fumes next to BMW’s and Hummers, and skyscrapers drop shadows on shantytowns.  Many travelers choose to skip this city and opt for Antigua as their home base.  However, getting used to the capital may be beneficial as it is the main transport hub and is home to the best museums and galleries.

·      Quetzaltenango

A view of a city Description automatically generated

     Quetzaltenango is Guatemala’s second city and found in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.  It has a great atmosphere with enough tourists to support a good range of hotels and restaurants, but not so many that it loses its culture.  The name is quite a mouthful, so locals refer to it as Xela (shell-ah).  Xela functions as a great base for a wide range of activities including hiking to the summit of Volcan Tajumulco and a three-day trek to Lago de Atitlan.

·      Panajachel

A boat is docked next to a body of water Description automatically generated

     Dock side in Panajachel, one of the busiest and most built up lakeside towns.  Panajachel is a gateway to Lago de Atitlan for most tourists.  Here you will find many attractions, making it seem like a busy metropolis in the middle of nowhere.  The nightlife and restaurants make it a popular spot for weekending Guatemalans.  From Panajachel, you will gain stunning panorama views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes.

 

 

3. Landmarks

·      Caves

A cave next to a tree Description automatically generated 

     Guatemala is home to many wonderous caves sprinkled throughout the country.  They are wonderful spots to take a nice dip after a long hike or bike ride.  Some caves are as long as 97 km with some impressive stalactites and stalagmites within them.  The pictured cave is Lanquin Caves in Alta Verapaz.   This particular cave system is only 2 km long, but it houses beautiful speleothems.  This considered a sacred place for the Maya.

·      Mayan Ruins

A close up of a garden Description automatically generated

     Mayan ruins are scattered throughout Peten which is the largest and northernmost department of Guatemala.  While there are many Mayan sites to see Quirigua is historically interesting.  Quirigua is another Mayan archaeological treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where excavators found the famed Mayan calendars as well as dozens of stone monuments known as stelae, all intricately carved with hieroglyphics explaining which historical events they were intended to commemorate. The Mayans carved using only stone chisels, making these ancient sculptures even more impressive.

·      Castillo de San Felipe

A castle with water in front of a house Description automatically generated

     Castillo de San Felipe is located along the Lago de Izabal on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast.  This fortress has been protecting the San Antonio port against pirate attacks since 1644. Featuring a drawbridge, cannons, and a lookout tower, the 17th-century fortress feels very much like a European castle built on the edge of the Caribbean Sea.  It’s a pleasant spot to explore the history and check out the great views of the lake from the lookout tower. It’s easy to get to the castle from Rio Dulce, where there are plenty of accommodation options and great transport links throughout the country and onto Honduras and Belize.

·      Basilica de Esquipulas

A large white building Description automatically generated

     Guatemala has a sorted past with rich history of different cultural and religious influences.  This makes it home to many grand churches and the Basilica de Esquipulas is the grandest of them all.  This church has survived the power of earthquakes for almost 250 years.  The basilica is surrounded by a beautiful park with lots of places to sit and have a picnic.  It is also home to the famous El Cristo Negro (Black Christ), which is a wooden shrine said to have mystical healing powers.

 

    

4. Images of People

·      Chichicastenango: Church of Santo Tomas

A group of people standing in front of a building Description automatically generated

     Religion is a major part of Central American culture and it shows from the amount of historical churches throughout Guatemala.  Pictured above is an open-air market on the steps of the church of Santo Tomas in Chichicastenango.  Rituals that are performed here are more distinctly Maya than Catholic.  Many churches throughout the country have these markets around churches.  Vendors sell religious paraphernalia and can be quite entertaining.

·      Chichicastenango Market

A group of people walking down a street Description automatically generated

     People walk down the street at Guatemala’s most colorful market.  According to Lonely Planet it is a rich mix of traditional and the tourist where local women shopping rub shoulders with travelers.  Sunday is the busier of the two market days which are Thursday and Sunday.  There used to be cotton canopies covering the vendors stalls which would be taken down and set up every market day but now there are permanent fixtures with tin roofs for vendors to sell their goods.

·      The Maya

A picture containing person, child, outdoor, colorful Description automatically generated

     A Mayan woman during a kite festival at Santiago Sacatepéquez, Guatemala.  The ancient Maya constructed a civilization that was vastly impressive, complex, and fruitful.  While some legacies, such as archeological sites, are obvious scholars are still working to put together the various pieces of how Maya society worked.  The Maya didn’t disappear with the arrival of the conquistadors, however, and traditional rituals such as the kite festival pictured above, still carry on into the 21st century Guatemala.

·      Music

A group of people sitting posing for the camera Description automatically generated

     Guatemalan festivals provide great opportunities to hear traditional music featuring instruments such as cane flutes, square drums, and chirimia which is a reed instrument related to the oboe.  Other folk music is made by the Garifuna people who live around the Caribbean Coast.  It is completely different from traditional Maya music and is classified as Punta Rock.  This can be heard in dance clubs all around the country.  Folk music is not the only thing that Guatemala has to offer when it comes to music.  Their contemporary music is greatly influenced by the products of other Latin American countries.  You will find Reggaeton and Latin pop are very popular.

 

 

5. Images from the Book

·      Wildlife Watching 

A colorful bird flying in the sky Description automatically generated

     “There are several species worth keeping an eye out for in Guatemala’s jungles, rivers, oceans and mountains. The Pacific coast is popular for whale-watching and turtle-spotting and there are manatees around the Río Dulce region. The Verapaces are a popular birding destination – you might even spot an endangered quetzal in Biotopo del Quetzal – as are the jungles of the Petén region, where you also stand a chance of spotting jaguars, howler monkeys, armadillos and agoutis, among others.” (Lonely Planet, 2019 pg.15)

·      Nebaj and the Ixil Tribe

A picture containing colorful, phone, cellphone, looking Description automatically generated

     “A pocket of indigenous culture in a remote (though easily accessed) alpine setting, Nebaj is little visited, yet it is essential Guatemala. Homeland of the resilient Ixil Maya people, whose language and vivid culture survived the harshest persecutions during the civil-war era, it’s also a starting point for hikes through the spectacular Cuchumatanes mountain range, with dozens of intensely traditional villages, such as Cocop and Chajul, where community-run lodgings offer locals much-needed extra income and visitors a glimpse into this fascinating corner of the world.” (Lonely Planet, 2019 pg. 15)

 

Reference:

·       Staff, Lonely Planet Publications. Lonely Planet Guatemala. Lonely Planet Publications, 2019.

 

Submitted by Jennie Pipes on 4/9/2020.