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COUNTRY INFORMATION - GUATAMALA

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Location Of Guatemala:
Guatemala is located in Central America and shares borders to the north and west with Mexico, to the south-east with El Salvador and Honduras, to the north-east with Belize and the Caribbean Sea and to the south with the Pacific Ocean. The landscape is predominantly mountainous and heavily forested. A string of volcanoes rises above the southern highlands along the Pacific, three of which are still active. Within this volcanic area are basins of varying sizes, which hold the majority of the country’s population. Rivers flowing into both the Pacific and the Caribbean drain the region. One basin west of the capital has no river outlet and thus has formed Lake Atitlán, which is ringed by volcanoes. To the north-west, bordering on Belize and Mexico lays the low undulating tableland of El Petén, 14,000 sq.miles of almost inaccessible wilderness covered with dense hardwood forest. This area covers approximately one-third of the national territory, yet contains only 40,000 people.

Airports:
Guatemala City airport is 2.5 miles south of the city. A bus to the city runs every 25 minutes, and the travel time is around 35 minutes. Taxi services to Guatemala City are available and take only 20 minutes.

Language:
The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and major hotels and restaurants. 23 indigenous languages are also spoken.

Places To Go:
For travellers, Guatemala represents an intriguing mix. It is a diverse country with landscape that ranges from lush tropical rainforest in the northern lowlands, where some of the most spectacular Mayan archaeological sites (including Tikal) are found, to the pineforested hills of the Highlands, which are home to Mayan communities that still wear their traditional weavings. Guatemala has around 21 different ethnic groups, such as the Cakchiquels, Mams, Quichés and Tzutujils speaking some 23 languages (21 of Mayan origin, and the other 2 are Garifuna and Xinca).

While the country’s political heart is found in the capital, Guatemala City, more attractive still is the former colonial capital, Antigua Guatemala, which is saturated with the ruins of old convents and churches and surrounded by majestic volcanoes & #8211; some still active & #8211; that are good for hiking and climbing. The Caribbean (with its fishing communities of Afro-Caribbean heritage) and Pacific coastlines offer good fishing, swimming and boating opportunities, as do the beautiful lakes of Atitlán and Izabal. Guatemala also has unspoiled tracts of virgin rainforest (protected in a network of national parks), spectacular waterfalls and underground caves (such as those in the Verapaz region).

Guatemala Tourist Commission (INGUAT)
7A Avenida 1-17,
Zona 4,
Guatemala City 01004,
Guatemala
Tel: 331 1333 or (888) 464 8281 (24-hour toll-free number in USA) or (801) 464 8281 (24-hour toll-free number in Guatemala).
Fax: 331 4416.
E-mail: informacion@inguat.gob.gt
Website: www.mayaspirit.com.gt

Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala
13 Fawcett Street,
London
SW10 9HN,
UK
Tel: (020) 7351 3042 (embassy and consular section).
Fax: (020) 7376 5708 (embassy and consular section).
E-mail: embaguate.gtm@btconnect.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1400.

Guatemala Tourist Office
Address as for Embassy (see above).
Tel: (020) 7349 0346.
Fax: (020) 7349 0331.
E-mail: guatemala.touristinfo@btopenworld.com
Website: www.mayaspirit.com.gt
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1800.

British Embassy
Avenida la Reforma 16-00,
Zona 10,
Edificio Torre Internacional,
Nivel 11,
Guatemala City,
Guatemala
Tel: 367 5425.
Fax: 367 5430.
E-mail: embassy@intelnett.com

CIA World Factbook - Guatamala

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