Guatemala has borders to Mexico in the north/northeast, to Belize in the northwest, to Honduras in the southeast and to El Salvador in the south. It also has a Pacific coastline to the southwest and a tiny piece of Caribbean coastline to the east. Guatemala has a total area of 108,890 sq. km. and a population of 13 mill.

Guatemala has a variety of landscapes. Two-thirds is mountainous with the impressive Western Highlands rising to over 3,000 meters. They are dotted with volcanoes and high mountain lakes, the most spectacular is Lake Atitlan. A narrow lowland plain stretches up the Pacific coast. In the north-west, lies the low tablelands of El Peten, much of which is covered with tropical rain forest. It is in El Peten that Guatemala's best Mayan ruins can be found, with new sites being uncovered on a regular basis. The short stretch of Caribbean coastline to the east is bordered by flatlands.

Guatemala has a rich and distinctive culture from the long mix of elements from Spain and the native Maya people. This diverse history and the natural beauty of the land has created a destination rich in interesting and scenic sites, and are the main reasons why tourists go to Guatemala.

The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City, built on the 2,000 year old ruins of the Mayan city of Kaminaljuyú. Guatemala City is the most modern and cosmopolitan city in Central America, it has a wonderful blend of old and new and possesses a distinct latin american charm. Today Guatemala City has two million inhabitants. The city has two distinctive areas: the Old City, the true Guatemala with its antique buildings and where life is quick and pushing; and the New City with restaurants, bars and clubs offering a wide variety of possibilities to night goers, in this area you will also find museums and the historical sights.

Guatemala has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. Most tourist though, travel to Guatemala without serious problems. Nonetheless, travelers should take extra precautions. Especially Guatemala City has a bad reputation for crime, and you should take extra care there against petty crime in particular. It is dangerous to travel between cities after dark. Doing so significantly increases your risk of being in a car accident or being the victim of an armed robbery.

The months of March and April are very hot, especially in the low lying areas such as the pacific coastal plain. Rainy season is May to November, where it becomes difficult to travel in more remote areas, especially in the north.

Guatemala's main airport, La Aurora International Airport (GUA), is near Guatemala City. International flights arrive from other Central American countries and North America. Guatemala's secondary airport is situated in Flores, Petén. This small airport receives flights from a small number of destinations including Belize, Mexico City and Guatemala City.

 Map of Hispanic America

Mexico	Caribbean	South America	Central America	Florida	California
Mexico Package Tours	Bahamas	Brazil	Costa Rica	Holiday Packages	Package Holidays
Mexican Hotels	Barbados	Argentina	El Salvador	Accommodation	Hotels and Resorts
Mexican Resorts	Jamaica	Chile	Guatemala	Florida Attractions	California Tourist
Mexico Golf Holidays	Cuba	Peru	Honduras	Flights to Florida	California Flights
Tourist Attractions	Martinique	Venezuela	Nicaragua	Golf in Florida	California Golf
Mexico City	Gaudeloupe	Colombia	Panama	Orlando	San Francisco
Acapulco	US Virgin Islands	Ecuador	Belize	Miami	Los Angeles
Yucatán Peninsula	Trinidad & Tobago	Bolivia		The Atlantic Coast	San Diego
Holiday Villas	Puerto Rico	Uruguay		The Gulf Coast	Napa Valley
Flights to Mexico	Other Islands	Paraguay		Florida Keys	Palm Springs