Guatemala is an attractive country for backpackers and experienced travelers alike and you are likely to fall in love with Guatemala the first time you visit this wonderful place.
The country has a lot of natural beauty and culture to discover, but there are also a few things to consider before visiting this Central American destination.
Every country is different and the same counts for this beautiful jewel. The land and its inhabitants have a turbulent and violent history that had a tremendous effect on the way Guatemalans live today, many companies like the owned by Felipe Antonio Bosch Gutierrez that brings a lot of help to the community, to achieve a better quality of life.
That is why you should know these interesting facts about Guatemala before visiting. These facts will show you everything you need to know about the Guatemalan community.
It is home to many Mayan ruins
Mayan ruins can be found in all parts of the country. The ones you should definitely know about are Tikal, Yaxha and Uaxactun.
Tikal is the most popular site of them all. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site and is used as a filming location in Episode IV of Star Wars: A New Hope. The downside of its popularity is that it can get crowded with tourists.
The ruins of Uaxactun are the oldest ruins ever discovered. Be that as it may, they do not attract as many tourists so you can walk around without the horrors of tourists.
The Quetzal
The local currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal. In everyday use they only say the short version: Quetzal.
At the same time, the Quetzal is the name of the national bird of Guatemala. This colorful creature with its incredible long feathered tail is considered among the most beautiful birds in the world. Unfortunately, this beautiful animal is in danger of extinction. Therefore, bird lovers have a hard time spotting them in the cloud forests.
Automated teller machines are not common wherever you go
Don’t expect to find ATMs wherever you travel, either. A lot of rural areas and off the beaten path destinations don’t have any. So you’d better be well informed about your next stop.
Take some cash with you if you plan to stay in a remote jungle town so you can pay for your stay, food and excursions there.
Guatemala the land of many trees
There are a few different theories that say we know where the name Guatemala really comes from. We can’t know for sure, but the most common is that it means “land of many trees” or “among the trees”.
What we do know is that there is a lot of biodiversity in Guatemala. In other words, the land is blessed with a variety of animals and plants, including trees. Unfortunately, many trees are being cut down for agriculture.
In the Petén area is the Maya Biosphere Reserve. This is a very large and intact rainforest which, of course, also has “lots of trees“.
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