The immense and tranquil Lake Atitlán reflects the three majestic volcanoes against which it is set. The daily life of the Cakchiquel and Tzutujil of the surrounding villages (Santiago Atitlán, Panajachel, San Pedro) brings animation to the banks, an..

Don't miss Friday at San Francisco El Alto when the whole village is taken over by the market. It becomes a huge open-air shopping centre, with every pavement on every street down to the last alleyway overflowing with wares… as well as livestock in t..

Tikal, one of the largest manifestations of Mayan civilisation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monumental buildings, which stand in the heart of the jungle, illustrate the key role played by this city, occupied from AD 7 until the end of the 9C. U..

You arrive by boat on the Usumacinta River, passing stones covered with moss and overgrown with the roots of powerful ancient trees and listening to the cries of howler monkeys, imbuing Yaxchilán with a mysterious and infinitely romantic charm. A pow..

Boasting some magnificent pieces dating from the pre-Colombian period, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología's must-see collection of archaeological and ethnological artefacts sets it apart from many of its peers, although the museum design l..

As it was in bygone days, Plaza Mayor is still Antigua 's beating heart today. Its arcades are the site of constant bustle orchestrated by shopkeepers and street peddlars selling their wares. A gentle cacophony at the foot of the town hall, the Pala..

Casa Popenoe, named after its owners, gives visitors a glimpse of the splendour of the colonial era (17C). It has been painstakingly restored: note the period furniture and interior courtyards embellished with fountains. A relaxing place that makes f..

The Convento de Santa Clara (1699), formerly occupied by some fifty nuns, now stands in ruins. The ambulatory of the two-tiered cloisters is a lovely, serene place for a stroll. Take a look at the Baroque façade of the adjoining church.

Despite the devastation wrought by past earthquakes, the ruins of the Convento de Las Capuchinas (18C) give an insight into the austerity of the lives led by the monks of the Capuchins Order. The sparse cells set around the Torre del Retiro and the a..

The two devastating earthquakes that hit Antigua in 1717 and 1773 destroyed this monastery and church complex. The ruins, which include a majestic, still-intact arch, lend the place a romantic atmosphere.

The delightful site of Semuc Champey consists of a string of natural pools filled by waterfalls in a setting of lush vegetation. Located a few kilometres from Lanquín, its crystal-clear waters come from the Río Cahabón.

The Biotopo Monterrico Hawaii stretches over 20km along the Pacific Coast . It was created to protect the mangrove from destruction, and in this way contributes to safeguarding the ecosystem, which is home to caimans, iguanas, turtles… To be explore..

Unless you like crowds, it is best to avoid the pilgrimage period if you want to admire the jewel in the crown of Esquipulas Basilica: a black Christ by Quirio Cataño. Guatemalans have been convinced of the statue's miraculous virtues since the late ..

The ancient Maya city of Quiriguá (AD 550-850) prospered thanks to its prime location on the banks of the River Motagua, making it ideal for trading relations. The abundance of immense steles and superbly sculpted zoomorphs have earned it the status ..

The Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena is an excellent prelude to your discovery of Guatemala thanks to its displays of traditional Maya weavings and textiles. Delve into history, from the pre-Colombian era to the present day, via the Spanish Conquest. ..

Statues, ceramics and funerary art illustrate the religious rites of the Quiché Maya people. The museum, which bears the name of Popol Vuh , the sacred book of this ethnic group, houses other Maya exhibits, including a replica of the Dresden Codex, ..

Black-sand beaches alternate with cultivated fields and mangroves along the Pacific Coast between the Mexican and Salvadorian borders. The coast also boasts Olmèques (La Democracia) and Pilpil ruins of archaeological interest. Beautiful waves unroll ..

This lake lies in the heart of the jungle in the Petén region, which also shelters a multitude of Maya ruins. Most visitors to the archaeological site of Tikal stay in the pleasant town of Flores. Sail out onto the lake on a lancha to savour the ..

On the Maya site of El Ceibal, after an forgettable trip on a lancha , you will discover the ruins of a vast city that was abandoned in the early 10C, after less than a century of existence. See the many beautiful, finely executed steles at El Ceiba..

You'll need to allow approximately 2hr 30min (a reasonable ascent), to climb up Volcano Pacaya, whose mouth 2 552m up still regularly spits out lava… Be mindful of the risk involved in such an "adventure", especially as the site is occasion..