Trifter

1. Lake Atitlán and surrounding towns

A beautiful lake, the biggest in Guatemala, it offers breath-taking views from any of the three volcanoes surrounding it. Nature lovers will enjoy the areas surrounding each town and the many hiking opportunities in the surrounding volcanoes. Each surrounding town is amazing, however, you won’t be able to help meeting the locals (they constantly come up to you trying to sell things), however, if you greet them with a smile and ignore there selling tactics, they are always interested in meeting people from other places, you’ll probably come out with a few friends and definitely a great time.

2. Todos Santos

Hidden away in the northern mountains of Guatemala, this is probably the town that holds truest to the ancient Mayan traditions. Here, nearly everyone still wears there traditional dress, even the men, which is much rarer in other towns. A typical man’s clothes would be a red and white striped trousers with a blue and white striped shirt and a hat with a blueband. The female dress resembles that of other Maya areas and is generally a hand-embroidered shawl with a long dress. The other great aspect of Todos Santos is the scenery, at an altitude of some 3,000 metres, the air is pure, making it a great place to go for a walk to get some great views. Just be careful not to overdo it as it’s very easy to tire at such heights.

3. Chichicastenango

The main tourist attraction in Chichicastenango is the market on Sundays and Thursdays when all the tourists pack into the town. The market is a great opportunity to pick up some handicrafts but also to meet some of the locals. Like the towns surround Lake Atitlán, you will be hard pressed not to come away from here with some new local friends. Apart from the markets, however, the town itself is very beautiful, just that you’ll have to come when the market’s not on to actually see it. One great site is the two churches, where the people still practice Mayan rituals dating from millenia B.C.

4. Pacaya Volcano

This volcano is situated near Antigua and is Guatemala’s only active volcano. Reaching the top will allow you to see real molten lava, ash and smoke, a result of the tumolt occuring underneath the earth’s surface, a spectacular site. Apart from this though, there are also the brilliant views of the surrounding countryside one gets at the top and on the way up.

5. Tikal 

An ancient Maya ruin, the most spectacular in Guatemala. Dating from the 4th century B.C, this former city was a very important in the Classic Period of Precolombian history, dominating the entire Maya region. Among the most impressive areas are the numerous acropolii and the Gran Plaza, housing the famous pyramid. Apart from the spectacular ruins, one gets to roam through a jungle setting on your way to each site and there are many opportunities to climb the pyramids, allowing a fanastic vista above the surrounding jungle.

6. Flores

The island city, Flores is located in the centre of Petén Itzá Lake in El Petén province. The reason to come to this city is the beautiful, multi-coloured colonial architecture, the only style of the island. It is the perfect place to take a stroll at dusk, enjoying the romantic atmosphere and the beauty of the buildings. During the day then, one can enjoy similarly beautiful views of the surrounding lake. Lanchas (Pleasure boats) are available to rent to venture further into the centre of the lake, where it is also possible to bathe, if you’re adventurous enough.

7. Livingston

Located on the Atlantic side of Guatemala, Livingstone will feel like another country. Inhabited mainly by the Garifuna people, the culture here is completely different from that of the majority of the country. The Garifuna are decendents of freed African slaves who speak their own Garifuna language, a mix of various west African languages. Here, the culture is far more Carribean, reggae, dreadlocks and an easy-goin atmosphere are the order of the day, making Livingstone a must-see in order to know Guatemala as a whole.

8. El Mirador

Another ancient Mayan ruin, this is the site where a number of historians believe the ancient Maya civilisation originated from. Keep in mind, El Mirador is not an easy place to get to, it requires a 5-day hike through the jungle in order to arrive. But then, that’s not really a disadvantage! During the hike, you get to see some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in the world. Jaguars, pelicans, birds and animals of all kinds are likely to cross your path on your way to the ruin. And once there, you won’t be sorry you made the trip, with some of the best preserved stone carvings of the whole Mayan area and more impressive pyramids, it’s definitely worth it. The above picture is how one of the buildings may have looked in Mayan times.

9. Guatemala City

While often regarded as a city too dangerous to even look at on a map, Guatemala City is actually an undiscovered gem of Guatemala. Taking the normal precautions that one should take in any big city should be enough to keep anyone safe, except the most unfortunate. And in exchange, you can admire the wonderous sites of Guatemala City. Museums, parks, squares, colonial style buildings and even it’s own ruinall make Guatemala a must on anyone’s itinerary, just because there’s so much to do here.

10. Antigua Guatemala

You won’t stop hearing about Antigua Guatemala once you arrive, it is possible the best known tourist destination in the country. Every street here is work of art, you’ll feel like you’re once again walking in a Spanish built town in the 16th century. Also worth seeing are the parks and plazas which dot the town and if you ever get tired of walking around, there are endless classy cafésand restaurants where one can take a breather while enjoying the views out the door. A place worth a mention on it’s own is the huge Mayan crafts emporium near the centre of the town, definitely worth a look.