Guatemala Destinations

General Information:

Guatemala is a small country covering only 108,889 Kms2. Its ten million inhabitants live mainly in the southern highlands that run parallel to the pacific coast.

Guatemala is defined by an "indigenous presence".  The highlands are populated by more than twenty ethnic groups that originated from the Maya.  These people live in small rural villages and towns and make up more than 50% of the population of this small country. 

The rest of the inhabitants are mestizos, whites that descend from European settlers that arrived during the past four hundred fifty years, afro-Caribbean blacks and other race and cultural combinations that complete the complex social reality in Guatemala. The economy in Guatemala is based on the indigenous agricultural areas and the great sugarcane, coffee or cotton plantations belonging to influential landowners on the pacific coast. 

During this century a small industrial manufacturing sector that exports textiles and products for the Central American market has begun to grow.

Climate:

It is warmer in the lowlands and at the beaches.  Dry season is from December to April, and rainy season May to November.  During rainy season it usually rains late in the afternoon for an hour or two and sometimes late at night.  The hottest months are March and April.

• Antigua:  Mild year-round, average temperature is 75, with chilly mornings & nights.

• Quetzaltenango: Temperatures can get down to freezing at night.  During the rainy season it can be cool during the day.

• Caribbean coast and El Peten: Tropical areas - hot and humid.

• Pacific coast: Hot and humid.