Tikal, in northern Guatemala, was once one the largest and most powerful of the Maya cities. Today it has been most taken over by jungle.
Central America’s Chicken Buses
November 10, 2012 by
Central America is where American school buses go to retire. In the balmy tropical climes of places like Guatemala and Honduras, they’re given a new lease on life.
A Caribbean Island 100 Miles from the Sea
June 3, 2012 by
With the heat, humidity, water, and laid-back lifestyle, Flores feels like the Caribbean. Which shouldn’t be surprising–this is the trunk of the Yucatan Peninsula, after all, not far from Mexico and Belize. But still, it is 110 miles inland. It’s also a tiny place.
Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala
February 26, 2012 by
Just outside Antigua, Pacaya is one of several active volcanos that make up the Central American Volcanic Arc.
Market Day in Chichicastenango
August 28, 2011 by
Chichicastenango is a town where buying and selling is everything. Its markets are reputed to be the largest in Central America; the range of wares on offer is truly impressive. And the indigenous Maya culture adds a distinct local flavor to the town.
The Town that Defied God and the Government
August 14, 2011 by
If God and the government had their way, Antigua wouldn’t exist. But it’s a good thing it does. With charming Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and a vibrant cultural life, it’s a wonderful place to visit.
Fireworks in Chichicastenango
July 1, 2011 by
Guatemalans sure love their fireworks. It’s something I found in several places I visited, both in smaller towns and in the crowded cities. But it was most striking in Chichicastenango in the Guatemalan highlands. The sound of sporadic fireworks in the streets around my hotel lulled me to sleep late into the night and woke me again just after sunrise. And they continued through the next day–this was not a place that considered fireworks only night-time entertainment.
Guatemala City’s Zona 1
April 1, 2011 by
Guatemala City isn’t a popular tourist destination, but there are some things worth seeing in this otherwise crowded and poverty-stricken city. But in the center of Guatemala City, in Zona 1, radiating from the Parque Central (Plaza de la Constitucion), there are some impressive churches, markets, and museums worth seeing.
