VACATION DETAILS

Guatemala City is the largest and most  modern city in Guatemala. The city has excellent museums such as the Popol Vuh Museum, and the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, which have very nice collections of archaeological items from the pre-Hispanic Mayan world, as well as the famous Tikal mask from mayan history. Recreational activities include hiking volcanoes (Agua and Pacaya), swimming in several recreational facilities, as well as water sports in Lago de Atitlán (lake).

Visit the famous market at Chichicastenango. Full of artisans, this market is great for displaying the wide array of local crafts available in Guatemala. Also, look for the Maya rituals being performed in the Catholic Church.

We think Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, with its enchanting backdrop of three volcanoes, is one of the most beautiful lakes anywhere—well worth a two-night visit. In the morning, the lake (a caldera, or collapsed volcanic cone) is smooth; by noon, the water is choppy; and in the late afternoon, it can get very rough.

The scenery (volcanoes and waterfalls) surrounding the lake is impressive, as are the 12 little villages ringing it (each named after one of the apostles). What we especially like about the Atitlan area (about 93 mi/150 km west of Guatemala City) is the strong Maya influence on the people, dress and food. Most visitors stay in the village of Panajachel, a well-developed tourism hub on the lake.