GUATEMALA - The republic of Guatemala is situated in northeastern Central America bordering Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. The country is the heart of the former Maya Civilisation, the site of Tikal being one of the most important in northern Guatemala.

Different climate zones caused by extreme differences in altitude over very short distances cover the rather small republic. More than half of Guatemala is formed by volcanic or limestone elevations, including 38 volcanoes. The Tajamulco volcano, 4220 meters above sea level is the highest point, not only in Guatemala but also Central America. In between the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines lay three active volcanoes, picturesque limestone formations, tropical forest as well as forest steppe and fertile farmland.

The northern region of Petén, the largest Department in Guatemala, is one third of its area, but accounts for less than 3% of the country’s population. There are diverse environments of swamps, jungles and dry savannahs. In this area we find the most important Mayan sites such as Tikal, El Mirador, Uaxactún, Yaxhá or Río Azul. Flores is a small town, but centre of all tourism activities; from here you start your excursions to the different sites.

At the Caribbean coast lays Puerto Barrios and the village of Livingston, home of the Afro-American Garífuna culture. From there the hills rise to mountains, the Verapaces. Its biggest town Cobán is a perfect place to explore the misty forest, home of the national bird, the Quetzal.

The southwestern scenery offers hills betwenn 500 and 1500 m.a.s.l., as well as almost desert like lowlands. It is in vast contrast to the close Verapaz, Petén and Carribbean. Most of the local population is Ladino here, Spanish speaking descendents from Mayan and Spaniards

Finally, there are the highlands, one quarter of the country’s area, with the capital, Guatemala City as its centre and where 75% of Guatemalans live. Around the ladino dominated towns of Antigua, Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango we find the most colourful indigenous markets of the Americas, living the “Mayan culture”. Around Lake Atitlán three impressive volcanoes offer shadow to the traditional villages, where a lot of the inhabitants speak only their Mayan language.