Guatemala--One of the Most Beautiful Countries in Central America
Guatemala is a fascinating place with a traditional way of life and a rich cultural heritage. The Mayan ruins are some of the best preserved in the world, and the landscape is breathtaking.
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Fast Facts
Population: 13,276,517 (July 2009 est.)
Capital City: Guatemala City
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Time Zone: GMT-6
Guatemala Articles
I Wear Flip-flops to the “Office”Posted on May 11, 2012 by Terri Marshall
I had to work last Sunday. I was up by 7.30 a.m. But don’t feel bad for me just yet. Once out of bed, I slipped into my swimsuit, cover-up and flip-flops and checked out of my room at a hotel I was staying in at the mouth of the Rio Dulce in Livingston, Guatemala.
One Crazy Adventure in GuatemalaPosted on March 18, 2012 by Lucy Brown
My childhood dream was to explore the world, treading in the footsteps of past explorers while discovering the wonders of its landscapes and people for myself. I was still just dreaming when I grew up—and I was stuck working long hours behind an office desk.
Rent in Antigua, Guatemala From $300 a MonthPosted on February 9, 2012 by Lucy Brown
The colonial city of Antigua in the Central highlands of Guatemala has a thriving expat community. It’s no surprise that foreigners choose to live here full- or part-time. They enjoy the history-steeped cobbled streets and a vibrant culture. Visitors often extend their stay, swapping family home stays or hotel accommodation for short or long-term rentals in Antigua.
Could This Be The World’s Best Job?Posted on November 2, 2011 by Lucy Brown
I first came to Antigua, Guatemala in 2006 to study Spanish and extended my one-month language course month-by-month for seven months. By then, I’d fallen in love with the city and lifestyle, befriended both locals and expats and felt I wanted to make this a more permanent lifestyle…so I stayed.
Salto de Chilascó – Central America’s Highest WaterfallPosted on October 27, 2011 by Lucy Brown
In an ankle-length skirt and dance pumps, our 12-year-old guide, Verónica, leads us daintily along a muddy path between steep fields of broccoli and maize. Climbing uphill away from the hand-tilled patches of land, we are engulfed by the luxuriant trees of the forest. Vivid orchids, giant bromeliads, and ferns thrive here in the heavy moisture.
Guatemala’s Giant Kite FestivalPosted on August 22, 2011 by Lucy Brown
In Guatemala—as in Mexico—people celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1 by traveling to cemeteries to honor the dead. They repaint family tombs, adorn them with yellow flowers and picnic by the graves.
Living in Antigua, Guatemala: An Expat’s ViewPosted on July 20, 2011 by Lucy Brown
A flourishing expat community has evolved over the years as adventurous spirits from all over the globe set their wandering feet to rest, seduced by the charm and easy living in Antigua, Guatemala.
On the House Travel…Here’s HowPosted on July 29, 2010 by Sandra Kennedy
I stayed at lavish haciendas, ate the freshest foods in Ecuador, got to know the smiling, helpful locals. I went to a Shaman healing ceremony, rode horses in the Andes and learned to weave. And then I sat sipping fresh mango juice, relaxing by the pool. It’s hard to believe it costs me nothing to travel like this.
GlobetrotterPosted on April 30, 2010 by International Living
The Costa Rican government wants to position Costa Rica as a true retirement haven and has declared retirement communities aimed at U.S. pensioners to be “of national interest.”
Tropical coasts, Caribbean bliss, and colonial grandeurPosted on August 22, 2007 by International Living
Look to countries in the Americas for this month’s three emerging markets
Return to Guatemala-now safe and affordable for touristsPosted on May 23, 2007 by International Living
In today’s Guatemala, you can have a great time and maybe find a great buy on a piece of beachfront property or an old Spanish-colonial house-if you exercise due caution. The future looks bright for the country thatis home to the Mayas-a people whose civilization has endured far worse than its recent misfortunes. But we won’t mislead you. The country’s reputation as unsafe is not entirely undeserved.
The Streets of GuatemalaPosted on April 27, 2007 by International Living
I studied Spanish for two years in high school and one year in college, yet when I crossed the border into Guatemala the only phrases I could share with the locals was “Yo quiero Taco Bell” and “Donde esta la bibliotecha?”
Day of the Dead in a Guatemalan GraveyardPosted on April 27, 2007 by International Living
If you’re in Guatemala, Nov. 1 is the best time to visit Santiago Sacatepequez. Locals in traditional bright clothing as well as foreigners clad in shorts and tank tops flock to this small village near the ancient capital of Antigua to observe All Saints Day, known here as Day of the Dead. And it’s not the streets, halls, or restaurants that they’re heading to–it’s the graveyard.
Modern Wonders of the Ancient WorldPosted on February 9, 2007 by International Living
I just phoned home (Santa Fe, New Mexico) from Antigua, Guatemala for 10 cents!
Okay, admittedly all I did was leave a message of less than a minute on an answering machine, but still…10 cents? All I had to do was find an Internet café.
Bargain Town, Latin AmericaPosted on April 25, 2006 by International Living
Strolling down the cobblestone streets of tropically warm Antigua feels like stepping into another era. Lush greenery surrounds this Guatemalan town, which seems untouched by time, largely because history all but stopped here when earthquakes destroyed much of the city in 1773. Palaces, monasteries, convents, and churches remind visitors of its past, and elegant restaurants, art galleries, and theaters give Antigua a new cosmopolitan air that’s rarely found in a city this small.
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