The present day country of Guatemala lies at the heart of the old Mayan Empire with a number of important ruins located in the country. Perhaps the most impressive of these, and one of the most spectacular of all the Mayan sites, is Tikal, with the remains of over 3,000 structures within a dramatic jungle setting. Indigenous culture remains strong in Guatemala which has the highest percentage of indigenous people in Central America. The market at Chichicastenango and the villages of Lake Atitlan are some of the places to experience this traditional culture. Guatemala is also blessed with some stunning natural features - there are 30 volcanoes in the country which make for striking skylines and exciting hikes, while Lake Atitlan boasts a beautiful setting. On top of all this, the town of Antigua is a colonial gem and one of the most attractive Spanish towns in Latin America. Explore in depth highlights of Guatemala.
| Tours | Unesco WHS | Guidebooks |
|---|---|---|
| groups tours with set departures |
World Heritage Sites | country, regions and cities |
| Time zone: | GMT -6 (Central America time) |
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| Daylight savings: | GMT +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Friday in September |
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| Main languages: | Spanish |
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| Other languages: | Cakchiquel, Garifuna, Kekchi, Mam, Quiche, Xinca |
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| Currency: |
quetzales (GTQ) €1 = Q8.64, $1 = Q7.74, £1 = Q10.30 (rates as of Sep 2016) |
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| Internet Domain: | .gt | International Dialling Code: 502 |
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For help planning your trip to Guatemala including visas, vaccinations, currency exchange, flights, accomodation and insurance, see our Guatemala trip planning page.
Further information on Guatemala
Discover more about Guatemala - the country's geogrpahy and natural features, an assessment of its status on freedom and rights and data on the country's population and economy.
Geography & Natural Features
Total area: 108,890 sq km (460 sq km under water)
Coastline: 400 km (Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean)
Neighbours (border lengths): Belize (266km), El Salvador (203km), Honduras (256km), Mexico (962km)
Climate: Tropical climate with hot, humid lowlands (rainy season between May and October) and cooler highlands (including Antigua and Lake Atitlan). Occasional threat from the 30 volcanoes as well as earthquakes hurricanes along the Caribbean coast.
Highest mountain: Volcan Tajumulco (4,211m)
Freedom & Rights
Summary status and rankings for Guatemala from classifications of different organisations measuring political and economic freedom, democracy and civil rights. See more details of these rankings.
| Index | Status | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Freedom in the World | Partly Free | - |
 | Democracy Index | Hybrid regime | 82/167 |
 | Economic Freedom | Moderately Free | 87/179 |
 | Press Freedom | Difficult situation | 122/179 |
 | ILGA LGBT rights | Limited rights | - |
 | Corruption Perceptions | Medium corruption | 115/174 |
| Overall Ranking: | 100/195 | ||
Other Data & Links
Full name: Republic of Guatemala Status: Independent Country
Population: 14,647,083 (rank: 69/196) Density: 134.5 people/sq km (rank: 61/196)
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
GDP (PPP): $81.51 billion GDP per capita: $5,300 (rank: 128/195)
Information derived from the CIA World Factbook. Other country profiles: BBC News.