Guatemala General Information
Guatemala is a beautiful mountainous country which is located between Belize and Mexico and borders Honduras and El Salvador. It is the most populated country in Central America and approximately 52 percent of the people are Mayan Indians. The rest of the population is mainly of mixed Indian and European descent. Spanish is the official language, but 23 native dialects are spoken among the Indian people. The Mayans of Guatemala and the surrounding regions had one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. Their cities flourished across Central America, complete with remarkable pyramids, temples, observatories and libraries, and their scholars produced works of literature, philosophy, art and architecture.
Guatemala offers Central America in concentrated form: its volcanoes are the highest and most active, and its Mayan ruins the most impressive. Guatemala is the Mayan heartland within Central America. Its indigenous culture is alive and well in the ancient ruins of Tikal, the Mayan/Catholic rituals of Chichicastenango and the blazing colors of everyday Mayan dresses.
Facts At A Glance:
Country name: Republic of Guatemala
Area: 109,000 sq km (42,500 sq mi)
Population: 11 million (growth rate 2.5%)
Capital city: Guatemala City (pop 2 million)
People: 56% Spanish descent, 44% Mayan descent
Language: Spanish, Garifuna and 21 Maya languages
Religion: Roman Catholic, Mayan-Catholic
Government: Democratic
Time: GMT/UTC minus 6 hours
Electricity: 110V, 60Hz
Weights /measures: Metric
Visa Requirements:
Depending on the country you come from, stays are limited to 30 or 90 days. Check with the closest Guatemalan embassy for up-to-date information.
Safety:
A new group of tourism civil police officers has recently graduated, making tourists security their goal. This group of specially trained officials cover most of the tourist attractions and routes in prevention of crime. Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home. Be especially cautious in or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. These include crowded markets, bus stations, elevators, crowded tourist sites, festivals and marginal areas of cities.
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