This month’s Jürg Widmer Probst Guatemala blog moves away from the beauty and fascination of this country with a focus on COVID-19. Global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is actively helping the health system in Guatemala, according to the UK Government. British Ambassador Nick Whittingham says that the company is donating quick COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies to the […]
Guatemala may be a relatively small country, but it’s home to 24 different Mayan ethnic groups. Among these groups are the Tz’utujil people and together with the Ladinos, Zinca, Garifunas and many more, they make up the indigenous Native American people of the country. Around 100,000 Tz’utujil (also sometimes spelled Sutujil, Tzutuhil or Tzutujil) live in a region surrounding Lake […]
Almost two-thirds of the population of Guatemala are indigenous people, but their achievements often get overlooked in historical canon. And for women from Guatemala the lack of recognition is even more significant. While there are some famous women from Guatemala, including Nobel prize winner Rigoberta Menchu, there are many more who have significantly changed history that you may not have […]
The centre of the Maya Empire’s was the tropical lowlands that make up today’s Guatemala. Its peak in terms of influence and power hit at around the 6th century AD. By 900AD most of the giant cities were abandoned. Mayan civilisation has left behind artwork, architecture and plenty of evidence showing their excellence in pottery, writing, maths, calendar making and […]
Guatemala’s rivers play a vital role in its landscape, culture and history, as well as fuelling the country’s economy from Mayan traders to modern tourism. Rivers also act as internal and external borders, playing a key role in the identity of the country and, crucially today, providing precious ecological niches for increasingly endangered wildlife. The origins of Guatemala’s rivers Guatemala’s […]
Guatemala is famous for its spectacular scenery, sprawling jungles and Mayan ruins, but Guatemalan museums are also a fascinating and fun way to discover more about the country. From the relics of a dictatorial past to museums for children, chocolate lovers and rum aficionados, Guatemala has something to divert and entertain just about everybody. Palacio Nacional The Palacio Nacional […]
Guatemala’s best festivals can transform your visit to this country, as you share the colour, passion and joy of the people in celebrations which dating back hundreds of years. Whether it’s the gigantic kites of Sumpango on the Day of the Dead to drunken horse riders in Huehuetenango, Guatemala has a startling or enthralling festival to grab your attention. Dia […]
Guatemala’s mountains are natural wonders, carving the country into three distinct regions and providing stunning landscapes, active volcanoes and the tallest peaks in Central America. As well as tremendous beauty, the mountainous central highlands are also home to all of Guatemala’s major cities and some unique ecologies. A tale of two mountain chains Guatemala’s mountains run across the country, forming […]
The ancient history and stunning scenery draw millions of tourists every year but the animals of Guatemala are among the country’s most precious assets. Wildlife of an astonishing variety makes Guatemala’s jungles, oceans and mountains a dream for nature lovers, conservationists and researchers. Geography creates biodiversity The amazing diversity of Guatemala’s wildlife is driven by geography, with a group of […]
In a country where most visitors flock to see rainforests and Mayan history, a unique history of slavery and exile makes the town a hidden Caribbean treasure of Livingston Guatemala. The only way to get to the town is by boat, but once you get there you will see a culture which is different from any other part of Guatemala. […]
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