Map of Guatemala

The fabled Maya people flourished throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala for centuries. This very advanced civilization constructed great cities, grand palaces, pyramids and observatories, as well as advanced works of art, astronomy, literature and mathematics. For somewhat mysterious reasons, the Maya society began its general decline across the entire area in the 10th century, yet remnants of this extraordinary people and a quite sizeable population of descendants still exist in Guatemala and all across the Yucatan today.

In fact, even though they remain the largest population majority in the country and their languages and religions survived, they sadly live in poverty, and if you will, form an almost forgotten and repressed minority-majority. When the Spanish conquistadors and their leader, Perdro de Alvarado, arrived in 1523, they quickly defeated the weaker Maya forces and aggressively began the colonization of the land; large farms were established and the remaining Indians were forced to work them.

For the almost 300 hundred years that followed, the Spanish colonial powers ruthlessly exploited and persecuted the remaining Maya, all but erasing their culture from the map of world history. After the overthrow of the Spanish King by Napoleon, Guatemala and others declared their independence from Spain in 1821. Then, Guatemala, as well as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua formed the United Provinces of Central America, but that federation quickly dissolved, and Guatemala became an independent republic in 1838.

Unfortunately (like many new countries) this new country experienced a lengthy series of coups, dictatorships, insurgencies, human atrocities, and long stretches of brutal military rule. In the 1940s, two reformist presidents were elected, presidents that permitted free expression, legalized unions, encouraged social reform, and the formation of political parties. It's referred to as the "Ten Years of Spring," but it was short-lived.

The repressive military regained control, and eventually Guatemala slipped into a 36-year civil war; over 200,000 civilians were murdered, and of course, the country's economy was ruined. Eventually the USA - the major supplier of military assistance to the country - tired of the civil war, and eliminated all of its financial aid; this action finally forced the election of a civilian, but controversies and coups would quickly return.

Finally, in 1996, the government signed a peace agreement with the leftist rebels, formally ending the conflict which had left countless people dead and over one million homeless refugees. And then what happened? Well, currently the country has stabilized, but I would stay tuned, as Guatemala's government (be it civilian or military) frequently alters it course.

Read more about Guatemala

Latitude/Longitude: (Capital City)
14° 38' N, 90° 31' W

Relative Location:
Guatemala is positioned in both the northern and western hemispheres. Located in North America on the northwestern edge of the Central America isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, the Gulf of Honduras, Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Land Areas
Land: 41,865 sq miles (108,430 sq km)
Water: 178 sq miles (460 sq km)
Total: 42,043 sq miles (108,890 sq km)
Coastline: Coastline 249 miles (400 km)
Land Area of all countries

Landforms: Guatemala, except for the coastal areas, is a mountainous country of rolling hills, plateaus, deep river valleys, and numerous volcanoes - some active.

Major regions include the Central Highlands that seperate the Cuchumatanes Mountains of the northwest from the volcanic ranges of the Sierra Madre Mountains of the south and east; Peten, a limestone plateau covered by grasslands and tropical rainforest that blankets most of the northern third of the country; Atlantic Lowlands that front the swampy edges of the Gulf of Honduras, and the grassy farmland, volcanic sand beaches and rivers of the Pacific Lowlands.

Guatemala is drained by numerous rivers; the Motagua, the country's longest river, rises in the Central Highlands and flows to the Caribbean Sea. Lake Izabal is the most significant lake.

Highest Point: Volcan Tajumulco - 13,816 ft. (4,211 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions: 22 departments; including Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan and Zacapa.

Attractions:Guatemala is famed for its incomparable collection of ancient Maya ruins that literally cover the countryside. Also, a growing number of eco-tourism sites are now attracting visitors from around the world.

Significant points-of-interest in Guatemala include the Maya temples and ruins at Piedras Negros, Quirigua, Mirador and Tikal; fabulous native-culture markets at Chichicastenango; the mountain city of Huehuetenango; sprawling Guatemala City and its cultural attractions; the beautiful Coban area; the many charms of Flores; Lake Izabal; any volcano tour (just pick one); Pacific coastline beaches and the wide variety of watersport activities, and of course, the many colorful Maya festivals throughout the year - to name but a few.

Country Dialing Code: 502
Electricity: Guatemala uses 120 volts AC (60 HZ)
Electrical adapters, products and tips
Travel Warnings here

PASSPORTS - TRAVEL VISAS:

NOTE: Before making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding all passport and visa requirements. The experienced people at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!

Guatemala (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more
Guatemala Embassy (Washington, DC)
Guatemala Photos at TrekEarth.com
Guatemala Tourism
Tikal Mayan Ruins
Volcaoes of Guatemala
Volcan Tajumulco