Guatemala carries a mix of indigenous and colonial influences, a strong Mayan culture, and a rich natural landscape where you can find ancient ruins deep in the rainforest, Guatemala is as captivating in real life as it sounds. 27. The first one was Iximche (1524) near the Mayan tribe Kaqchiquel until they rebelled. Guatemala is one of only a handful of countries with capital cities named the same! More interestingly, the agricultural sector employs about 50% of the country's labor force. 17. Antigua is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed for its architecture and preserved ruins. If invited to a household in Guatemala, it is appropriate to bring chocolates, wine or flowers (avoid taking white flowers as they are generally brought to funerals). Required fields are marked *. The Spanish, who ruled over Guatemala until 1821, essentially enslaved the indigenous people of the area and forced them to work on their own land for the benefit of the colonialists. The lake covers 48 square miles and is believed to be 900 feet . In addition to modern art, there are also many indigenous artists who reflect the styles of their ancestors from centuries before. Kings were buried in masks made of jade with the thought that it would accelerate their travel to the afterlife. She is an expert in travel, budgeting, and finding unique experiences. . The currency of GuatemalaGuatemalan Quetzalis named after the beautiful Quetzal bird. The country features over 10,000 plants and over 3,000 wildlife species. Guatemala was initially absorbed into the Mexican empire following independence from Spain. As of 2022, both Guatemala and Belize are trying to settle the dispute at the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands. Most backpackers follow the same route. Today you can go to many local markets to buy beautifully crafted jade jewelry. Guatemala cuisine is primarily based on Mayan and Spanish cuisine and prominently includes beans, corn, and chilies as key ingredients in their food recipes. Outdoor sports such as rafting, white- water rafting; kayaking and volcano climbing are also preferred. 30 Interesting & Fun Facts about Maryland State | What is Known for? One of the few buildings that survived the earthquakes in 1917 and 1918 in Guatemala City, it was restored in 1984 with its walls now reaching up to one meter thick on the outside and 0.60 meters in the interior. There are around 22 different zones that the city splits into though some dont actually exist thanks to border clashes. In addition, Guatemalans also enjoy an activity known as Spelunking where they go and explore the caves. The country saw 6,000 violent deaths in 2014. Guatemalan culture is influenced by the two major ethnic groups. Guatemala's GDP in 2013 was $81.5 billion, up from $78.9 in the previous year. 6. 1. It's an amazingly big city. Even though I spent just one day in Guatemala City Really enjoyed this . Do you know any fun facts about Guatemala City? In Guatemala, turtle conservation is taken seriously and visitors to the country have the chance to help release sea turtles into the ocean at Tortugario Monterrico. 20:21 Guatemala City Travel Tips. If you want to make sure you speak the local lingo before you visit, be sure to brush up on your Spanish, as its the official language of the city. (Source: Lonely Planet), 21. The Home of the Happy Meal. Guatemalans, in particular Mayan women, are skilled textile producers. 26. Guatemala is not only the largest country in Central America, but also an endlessly intriguing place with a tumultuous history. Tourism is the second-largest industry in the country, employing approximately 35% of its population. 45. A Rich Multilingual Country. Learn more about Natasha Alden on The World Pursuit About Us Page. 34. 2. Locals in Guatemala prefer to drink coffee weak and sweet with little milk. He is usually depicted as a wood effigy, sitting in a chair. There are eight coffee regions in the country and the coffee grown in each one is unique from all the others. Quetzaltenango is a city located 200 kilometers west of Guatemala City, at 2,333 meters above sea level. Beyond the typical excursions to explore archeological ruins and colonial cities, Guatemala has a myriad array of tours on offer. Hundreds of people died and over 4,000 displaced when the volcano erupted twice within six months. Inhabited 13,000 Years. Similarly, before getting from the table after having the meal, you must say Con permiso, ya vengo(with your permission, Ill be right back). According to the CIA, the median age in Guatemala is 23.2 years old. One of the top textiles produced in the country is blue denim. The population of Guatemala was 17,263,239 based on 2018 estimates. These sites include Antigua Guatemala, Tikal national Park, Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua. Guatemala Area and Population Density. We have a special focus on travel in Ecuador, Africa, and Nova Scotia. The first ever chocolate bar was also invented in Guatemala during the Mayan times. Guatemala is the home of the Maya civilization. Bananas and coffee are Guatemalas biggest exports. Guatemala City is said to suffer from poverty as a result of uneven income across the state - with 5% of the country controlling all but 15% of the wealth. 42. 15. Guatemala was conquered by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524. 33. After independence from Spain was declared in 1821, Guatemala City served successively as the capital of the province of Central America under the Mexican Empire of Agustn de Iturbide (182223), the Central American Federation (182333), the state, and, finally, the independent Republic of Guatemala. . Taboos: if you put your thumb in between your index and middle finger while making a fist, it is considered an obscene gesture. While traditional clothing is worn often by the poorer Guatemalans, Ladinos prefer wearing western- style outfits. Therefore, Guatemala City was completely rebuilt in its stead. She loves to be outside, hiking in the mountains, playing in the snow on her snowboard, and biking. The famous "El Guarda" market in Guatemala City's Zona 11 is one such place, and you should avoid it. Miguel ngel Asturias Rosales (October 19, 1899 June 9, 1974) was a Nobel Prize-winning Guatemalan poet-diplomat, novelist, playwright and journalist. Area. The reason for the formation of the sinkhole is thought to be the weak material the city is built on - volcano . We receive compensation if you make a purchase, but it won't cost you anything extra. Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemalas large expatriate community in the US. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America, 3. It covers an area of 108,889 sq km. Almost 50% of Guatemalans are employed in agricultural activities. Spanish is the official language of Guatemala. temperature: 23C / 73.4F. Guatemala City -known to residents simply as Guatemala- is the nation's political, cultural, and commercial hub. 1 It's a big, sprawling metropolis where population growth has outpaced the city's . Additionally, the contrast between the poor Mayan villagers living in the rural highlands and the modern and wealthy mestizos population (known as ladinos in Guatemala) living in surrounding agricultural plains and cities is what defines the culture of Guatemala. Guatemala means 'land of the trees'. There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guatemala. Suchitan, Ixtepeque, Acatenango, Atitlan, Moyuta, Agua, Cerro Santiago, Tajumulco, Chingo, Quezaltepeque, Chiquimula, Cuilapa-Barbarena, Flores, Fuego, IpalaVolc Field, Santa Maria, Almolonga, Santo Tomas, Tahual, Pacaya, Tecuamburro and Toliman are the names of some of the volcanoes from the region. The river is a major transportation artery for coffee, bananas and other fruits that are raised in the valleys of the countrys eastern region. Hilachas. While Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, there are 24 other languages spoken in the country including 22 Mayan languages. In 1900 the population of Guatemala was 885,000. 04 With a total area of 108,889 sq km, Guatemala is the world's 107th largest nation. Before starting a meal, it is a custom in Guatemala to say to everyone Buen provecho (enjoy your meal). There are more than 30 volcanoes in Guatemala, out of which three are active. We hope to inspire other independent travelers and provide them with the resources to do so. Comparing this to a British locale, it's around 1.5x bigger than Greater Manchester. The civil war in Guatemala was fought between November 13, 1960, and December 29, 1996. In the space of under three centuries the city, which was . 29. Among the major religious structures are the cathedral (1815) and the churches of San Francisco, Santo Domingo (famous throughout Central America for its Holy Week procession), and La Merced (colonial but rebuilt after 1917). Guatemala has many light industries, most of which involve the processing of locally grown products such as chicken, beef, pork, coffee, wheat, corn, sugar, cotton, cacao, vegetables and fruits, and spices such as cinnamon and cardamom. According to the Cardamom Association, Guatemala is the largest exporter of cardamom in the world. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Guatemala is part of this area. Guatemala City, Spanish Guatemala or in full Ciudad de Guatemala, capital of Guatemala, the largest city in Central America, and the political, social, cultural, and economic centre of Guatemala. Beer and rum are major industries, as is the production of paper goods. 20 Awesome Tips for Planning Your Patagonia Trip. 1. Guatemala is one of only a handful of countries with capital cities named the same! Guatemalas national beer is called Gallo and although some people love it, others arent so fond of it. If youre flying out to Guatemala City, it may be worth taking note of the longitude and latitude! Posted on Last updated: September 9, 2022. All these countries gained their independence from Spain. The Guatemalan flag takes inspiration from the flag used by the United Provinces of Central America which consisted of blue-white-blue stripes and a coat of arms in the centre. Italy may be our favorite country in Europe and for that matter one of our favorites in the world. Frost and snow are unknown, and flowers bloom year round. It is believed that drinking hot tortilla helps provide abundant, good and rich breast milk. The Maya believed that jade had a spiritual significance. . The countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica all use permutations of the design in their flags. Hotel in Zona 10, Guatemala. Before the Spanish people arrived in Central America, Guatemala was inhabited by indigenous Mayan peoples. 5. The Guatemalan population has grown significantly, 17. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Part of the Central America Volcanic Arc, Volcan Tacana lies in a remote part of Guatemala. It was sacred to the ancient Mayan and Aztec people and that is one of the reasons why the colorful Quetzal was chosen as the countrys national bird. Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncin, which is also the largest and capital city of Guatemala, is known as Guatemala City. 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