The rough guide to guatemala pdf

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Watermarked ebook FAQ How to download ebooks. Privacy Policy Required. Guatemala enjoys a warm climate all year round, with temperatures peaking at an average of 32 degrees on the Caribbean coast in April and May. This makes deciding on when to travel to Guatemala a lot easier. There is a rainy season, which runs from May to October, with the worst of the rain falling in September and October. Peak season is between December and March and again between July and August, seen as the best time to visit Guatemala in terms of weather, but best to avoid if you want cheaper accommodation.

There are two international airports in Guatemala. If you visit Guatemala as part of a bigger Central America trip, a land or boat crossing is a great way to experience more of the region.

Buses are the most common way to travel around Guatemala. Some comfortable coaches run the main routes, while pricey shuttle buses take passengers between the main tourist centres. But for an essential Guatemalan experience, a chicken bus or microbus is the order of the day.

Be warned: they are bumpy, busy and fume-filled, but also cheap, convenient and often the only way to get to an off-the-beaten-track destination. There are no passenger trains in Guatemala, and the only internal flight runs from Guatemala City to Flores, gateway to Tikal. Take a look at our full travel guide to getting around Guatemala.

Short on time? Or you could focus your energy on one diverse region with our Western highlands route, which includes stops at the famous Chichicastenango market and Fuentes Georginas hot springs. Take a look at all our Guatemala itineraries in more detail. Budget travellers, rejoice: cheap accommodation in Guatemala is plentiful. Hostels are often run by expats and offer everything even the most discerning backpacker could desire.

Our guide to accommodation in Guatemala will give you the full lowdown, as well as an option to book hotels and hostels. Stomach rumbling? Read more about food and drink in Guatemala. The two big local teams, both from Guatemala City, are Municipal and Communications.

Guatemala has great hiking, particularly volcano climbing, which is hard work but almost always worth the effort. There are 37 volcanic peaks; the tallest is Tajumulco in the far west, which at m is a serious undertaking. Pacaya is a fairly easy climb and a dramatic sight.

The Pacific coast offers exceptional sport-fishing, with some of the best waters in the world for sailfish, as well as dorado, mahi mahi and some blue marlin, jack crevalle, yellow and black tuna, snapper and bonito. The Caribbean side offers excellent opportunities for snook and tarpon. The northern Alta Verapaz region is the place to head.

There are terrific mountain bike trails throughout the highlands, with several professional operators organizing trips. Hotels in both these places offer kayaks for rent or contact Los Elementos in Santa Cruz La Laguna for expert advice and guided paddles. The seas off Guatemala have little to offer compared with the splendours of the neighbouring Belizean or Honduran coastal waters. There is some surfing in Guatemala, but with a strong undertow along much of the Pacific coast, conditions are not ideal.

If shopping is your thing, visit as many markets as possible, particularly in the highland villages, where the colour and spectacular settings are like nowhere else in Central America. The best place to buy them is in their place of origin, where prices are reasonable and their creators get a greater share of the profit. The most impressive craft has to be textile weaving — each Maya village has its own traditional designs, woven in fantastic patterns and with superbly vivid colours. Many choose to put down roots for a while to study Spanish.

Similarly there are myriad opportunities for voluntary workers, and dozens of excellent projects, though little in the way of paid work. Most schools offer a weekly deal that includes four or five hours one-on-one tuition a day, plus full board with a local family. There are dozens of excellent organizations offering voluntary work placements in Guatemala. Medical and health specialists are always desperately needed, though there are always openings in other areas, from work helping to improve the lives of street children to environmental projects and wildlife conservation.

The best place to start a search is on the web or in Guatemala itself. As for paid work, teaching English is your best bet, particularly if you have a recognized qualification like TEFL.

Traditional fiestas are a highlight of a trip to Guatemala and offer a real insight into the culture. Every town and village, however small, devotes at least one day a year to celebration. With a bit of planning you should be able to witness at least one fiesta — most of them are well worth going out of your way for.

All share an astonishing energy and an unbounded enthusiasm for drink, dance and fireworks. They are all heavily imbued with history and symbolism. The most common dance is the Baile de la Conquista, which re-enacts the victory of the Spanish over the Maya, whilst bringing a touch of ridicule.

Guatemalan music combines many different influences. For fiestas, bands are always shipped in, complete with a crackling PA system and a strutting lead singer. Traditional Guatemalan music is dominated by the marimba, a type of wooden xylophone that originated in Africa. Marimba orchestras play at every occasion and in the remotest of villages you sometimes hear them practicing well into the night, particularly around market day.

Our guide to Guatemala travel essentials will bring you up to speed on the climate, time difference, recommended vaccinations, location of embassies and consulates, tips on travelling with children and lots more. Passport holders from other countries including some Eastern European nations qualify for a Guatemalan visa, but have to get one from a Guatemalan embassy or consulate. Citizens from most developing world nations, including much of Asia and Africa, need to apply for a visa well in advance.

You might try avoiding such payments by asking for un recibo a receipt ; but prepare yourself for a delay at the border.