Guate - The Must See 5
PDF Print E-mail

Lake Atitlán: Considered one of the world's modern wonders, Lake Atitlán is a large endorheic lake in the Guatemalan Highlands. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanoes on its southern flank. Lake Atitlan is further characterized by towns and villages of the Maya people. 

 

Tikal National Park: Tik´al (which in ancient mayan means "place of voices") is a Mayan ancient city in the northern territory of Petén. It is also one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. The site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico.

 

Semuc Champey: Semuc Champey is a natural monument in the region of Alta Verapaz, near the Q'eqchi' Maya town of Lanquín. It consists of a natural 300m limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabòn River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped, turquoise pools, a popular swimming attraction.

 

 Antigua Guatemala: La Antigua is a city in the central highlands of the country famous for its well-preserved Spanish influenced baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In march 1543 the Spanish conquistadors founded present-day Antigua, then named Santiago de los Caballeros de Goathemala. For more than 200 years it served as the seat of the military governor of the Spanish colony of Guatemala. Today Antigua is one of the favorite spots for tourists because of its history, nightlife, restaurants, hotels, markets and gorgeous volcano landscape views.

 
 

Chichicastenango: Chichicastenango, also known as Santo Tomás Chichicastenango, is a town in the Quiché region, known for its traditional K'iche' Maya culture. The Spanish conquistadors gave the town its name from the Nahuatl name used by their soldiers from Tlaxcala: Tzitzicaztenanco, or City of Nettles. This town is well known for its famous market days on Thursdays and Sundays where vendors sell handicrafts, food, flowers, pottery, wooden boxes, condiments, medicinal plants, candles, pom and copal (traditional incense), cal (lime stones for preparing tortillas), grindstones, pigs and chickens, machetes, and other tools and other goods. Among the items sold are textiles, particularly the women's blouses. The manufacture of masks, used in traditional dances such as the Dance of the Conquest, have also made this city well-known for woodcarving.

 

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 16 September 2010 14:56 )