Antigua Guatemala has always been one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Latin America. A proof of its tourist-wise stellar power would be the fact that it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only does this city in the beautiful country of Guatemala boasts its different attractions, but also the rich and colorful culture that is imbibed in the society that inhabits the site.

One of its numerous historical places would be Saint Joseph Cathedral or Catedral de San José, which withstood the biggest earthquakes in the country and is still standing despite partial renovations. The church is still the face of how much Christianity has spread throughout Guatemala in times of Spanish pre-occupation.

Vólcan de Agua or the Volcano of Water can be seen from the busy streets of Antigua Guatemala. Although the volcano does not really bring water out of its mouth, the volcano is famous for its scenic view behind the clouds and the tradition of the people to lay out a carpet pointing to the volcano during Easter.

The Central Park in the city is considered the main gathering spot for the townspeople. On special occasion, presentations and celebrations are held there.

As mentioned earlier, the rich culture and traditions of the people residing in the city makes Antigua Guatemala a worthwhile place to visit. Festivals of saints are held frequently in the city, where colorful costumes are worn by people depicted in plays. Spanish language teaching here is also recognized as one of the most comprehensive courses. Foods made from different herbs and spices are also must-tastes for the visitors.

Someone planning to visit a particular city in Latin America should never pass on the chance going to Antigua Guatemala. Everything and everyone in this wonderful city is surely a site to behold.

Santo Tomás Chichicastenango or simply Chichicastenango is one of the most visited towns in the country of Guatemala. Popularly known for its cultural K’iche’ Maya way of living. Besides its quite complex yet catchy name, Chicicastenango is more than just a tourist spot remembered for its name.

What makes Chichicastenango a great tourist attraction is that it has market days where vendors sell different items that are natural and handmade. Besides the food that is mixed with Guatemala’s most exquisite herbs and spices, wild flowers, uniquely-designed pots, medicinal herbs, cultural incenses and domesticated animals are also sold here. Tourists are definitely in for a delightful treat. Festivities are also held in the square. Dances and rituals are done, as well as the serving of different delicacies.

Tourists can do their sight-seeing right after shopping because the church of Santo Tomás is just beside the central market. The church is already 400 years old, which makes it one historical church and a witness to the town’s significant events. Rituals are held here by K’iche’ Maya priests.

Lying beneath the historical cathedral is the Chichicastenango Regional Museum or Museo Regional. The museum still has the most precious ancient artifacts and materials. Some of these artifacts are made of precious stones like jade and ceramic. Spears and arrow heads are also present in the area, which attests to the fact that it had been a witness to the bloodiest wars during the early times of the town. The museum is frequently referred to as Museo Arqueológico Rossbach. This is because a large portion of the collection and artifacts were donated by Idelfonso Rossbach – a German Franciscan priest who held masses and lived in the town during the 1900s.

If tourists haven’t been to Guatemala, then they’re missing a lot of what the country has in store for them. If they are in Guatemala but cannot decide where to go next, then Flores should be their next stop.

Flores is quite different from any other popular cities in Guatemala because for one, the Spaniards were not able to colonize this city right away. It took them until 1697 to penetrate the area and rule the people under their reign. It will be interesting for the visitors to see how much or how little the Spaniards influenced the way the people live, and how the structures and the buildings look.

Another reason would be because of the body of water that surrounds the city. Resembling a peninsula or even an island, Flores boasts its clear blue water that is home to lots of aquatic wildlife. Visitors can go and explore the city’s edges using boats, and even try fishing for both common and unfamiliar species of fish.

The foods that the people eat here are made from the finest herbs and spices that are grown in the fields outside Flores. This means that Flores gets almost all of the delicacy ingredients available from other towns and cities, making it a melting pot for the most sought-after ingredients in the entirety of Guatemala.

Visitors can stay in hotels if they want to explore the area for a few days. One popular hotel in the city is Hotel Villa Del Lago, since it has a clear view of the body of water surrounding the area. The people in the city are also very accommodating, so tourists will surely enjoy their trip.

Visiting Flores in Guatemala should be one of the things tourists do before going back home or if they feel like going home, since they will feel at home very much in this city.

Visiting Lake Atitlán (or Lago de Atitlán as it is known by the people living in the land surrounding it) is a very worthwhile activity. The lake has been deemed as the deepest lake all over the realm of Central America since the bottom part of the lake has not been explored as of yet, despite diving efforts.

The people’s way of living is influenced by the geography of the place. Planting of coffee and other crops like corn are extensively supported by the lake’s basin. Besides these goods, Lake Atitlán is also notable for its production of the best onions, squash, chile verde, strawberries and many more famous food ingredients. Moreover, the lake serves as the residence of aquatic animals, making the hunting of these this primary source of food for the indigenous people of the area.

Many towns and villages surround the lake. These towns are still untouched when it comes to the culture and traditions that they practice. Although they were also colonized by the Spaniards, the existing tribes remained to be prevalent in terms of their rituals and beliefs.

The most populous village would be Santiago Atitlán. Tourists might be amazed on how much Maximón, the idol that they heavily worship, influenced their daily living. Different cults have taken form, despite unity in tradition.

A town called Panajachel, on the other hand, does not carry the Maya culture and instead became the most advanced town surrounding the lake. This is also the place where the tourists go the most, since it offers services and dwellings for travelers exploring the area. Still, the town itself boasts its rich culture dating back to the 60s when Hippies flourished in the area.

Of course, the beauty of the lake alone should persuade one to go to Lake Atitlán and its surrounding villages.

You have probably heard of or seen the Panama Canal from history books or geography classes. It is a man-made ship canal that is 77 km long and connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. Upon completion of the huge and ambitious project, the Panama Canal has enabled easier and faster maritime navigation. During its early years, one thousand ships use the canal annually and as of today, about 14 thousand ships are able to use the canal for transportation.

The 77 km stretch is a good place to add to your list of destinations when you visit Panama. During the boat ride, you can have a closer look at big cargo ships and vessels passing through the canal. Also, the boat ride can give you a taste of the wonderful flora and fauna of Panama. During the trip, you will be able to see monkeys, Tuscans, sloths, crocodiles and many other fascinating animals as well as unique vegetation. Sometimes, delightful monkeys already familiar with tourists will even interact with visitors. A rainforest feel is surely guaranteed with tours in the Panama Canal.

Having experienced the boating trip, other activities which might be of interest include swimming in the river while marveling the cascading waterfalls. For the adventurers at heart, it is also possible to experience the coolness of the water and take a shower on the falls. Kayaking is also another activity you should add to your itinerary. And who can ever forget the feeling of success when you catch a fish? These are just some of the activities you can do when you have a tour of the Panama Canal.

If you would like to have a refreshing and fun experience, visit the Panama Canal and have a great tour.

The country of Honduras in Central America served as the dwelling to the Mayan tribes dating back to as early as 1000 BC. When they arrived in the area, they reached the beautiful Copan River and built the city of Copan. Before it became an attractive tourist spot, it went through stages and historical events that shaped the area, which tourists see today.

In AD 426 Copan was led by a family of royal blood. King Mah K’ina K’uk’ Mo’, the first ever king of the said city, became one of the most praised leaders upon his discovery of the r kingdom. King Smoke Imix, on the other hand, was notable for the developments that happened in the civilization. The population increased and the different sectors of the kingdom including the military and economic sectors developed upon his rule. Copan might not be the city with the biggest number of Mayan people at that time, but it became one of the most significant cities in Mayan civilization because of its inhabitants’ discoveries and significant studies.

The Hieroglyphic Stairway is one place worth visiting in this large area. Inscriptions in the staircase have been said to depict the lives of the Mayan people during its early existence. Other than the staircase, other sites to visit would be the Copan Mayan Stela, the Copan Museum of Sculpture and the Copan Ruins Archaeology Park, which all enable the visitors to relive the moments when the Mayan Civilization was at its peak.

For those who are interested visiting the area, The Copan Guide Association does tours of the Copan Mayan Ruins, which can be arranged upon the arrival of visitors at the entrance area. Tours are available in multiple languages, including English, German and Spanish. The entrance fee is very affordable, so visitors are in for a real treat.

The Tikal National Park is undeniably one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Guatemala. Besides being the largest excavated site on the continent of the Americas, it is also considered as Guatemala’s most popular preserve, both culturally and naturally. A proof to this would be its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Tikal National Park also has this certain strong point that makes it an instant tourist spot. Besides its quite large area (which is very unsuitable for a day’s travelling or traversing by foot,) the park looks like a jigsaw puzzle that people commonly see on games like Jumanji, Zuma and other jungle-themed movies.

Numerous monuments are built in this area that date back to as early as 900 A.D. These monuments have inscriptions on the walls depicting the lives of the people who have lived during the era when Maya civilizations had been so prevalent. The rituals and the traditions that were done before are still being done now by the people living in the area.

Burial sites, stelae (carved stones that look like mini monuments,) altars and temples are also other things that will get the tourists moving during their stay in the Tikal National Park. These are highly maintained so that anything that might be informative and helpful to the visitors will not fade or get erased. Fortunately, the details of these structures remain impeccable, so visitors will not be disappointed when taking photographs.

Tourists should never pass up on such opportunity to see this heritage site and appreciate and be amazed at how the people in the area were able to preserve its beauty.

Interested visitors can check out the site’s official address on the internet to find out more about the site, which is www.tikalpark.com.

If you’re in the mood for scuba diving but find the Great Barrier Reef too far away, then you can head down to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve in South America for a world-class underwater experience. The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest reef system in the world, making it a sanctuary to a wide array of marine wildlife. In fact, in 1842, the famous Charles Darwin described it as one of the most amazing reefs in the whole world.

Through several diving sites, you can experience the diversity of corals and fish that characterize the Belize Barrier Reef. One such site is the Great Blue Hole, an underwater sink hole that occupies a part of the Belize Reef system. It used to be a submerged limestone cave, until the roof collapsed and created a deep hole in the middle of the Reef. Because of its depth, it has served as host to numerous species of marine animals. The limestone content of the cave also promoted the formation of beautiful stalactites and unique coral structures. You can also go by way of Ambergris Cave to savor the majesty of the Belize Barrier Reef. In Ambergris, you can choose a diving site that suits your interests. If you’re looking to shoot underwater canyons and caverns, then Tackle Box Canyons is the dive site for you. Ambergris even has the Love Tunnels, perfect for underwater weddings. If you’re not in the mood for weddings, you can still enjoy the large coral cavern in that area, aptly called The Chapel.

These are but a few of the popular diving sites in the Belize Barrier Reef system. A good many other natural reserves are still scattered around Belize and its beautiful reefs. It is good to know that many of these diving sites have been given environmental protection from the authorities. That way, future visitors such as yourself can still be wrapped up in the one-of-a-kind sea world that the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve has to offer.

If you think of Belize, you might imagine scuba diving in the Belize Barrier Reef or just lounging about the white sandy beaches. What you may not know is that this beach hotspot is also the home of one of the most significant Mayan sites in South America called the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins.

Although the Xunantunich ruins are not the largest of the Mayan settlements, it certainly has its interesting features. Probably the most popular is the El Castillo, the tallest structure in Belize. Perched on a limestone cavern at 135 feet, the El Castillo gives you a panoramic view of the entire Xunantunich ruins and the Belize jungle. From down below, you can also observe the banded decoration which used to outline the perimeter of the El Castillo.

To start your trek through the ruins, it is recommended that you visit the museum first. The museum contains a 3-D model of the whole ruins and also gives you an insight on the history of the Mayan civilization. It also houses a few important relics that have been preserved and protected from the elements. After that, you can start exploring the area before heading off to El Castillo. A path for tourists has been cleared at the front and side of this Mayan ceremonial site. If you’re lucky, you may find a Mayan believer meditating harmoniously with the forces of nature and the Xunantunich gods.

Because of their short-lived existence, the Mayan civilization has been a mystery to present generations. By opening the Mayan settlements to the public, such as in the case of the Xunantunich Ruins, you can get a glimpse of the impressive structures and traditions that mark this fascinating and enigmatic culture.

The Reserva Biologica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde or Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve came about through the efforts of the village of Monteverde. Monteverde was founded in 1951 by a group of Quakers from the United States who wished to make a statement of not supporting war and militarism through their taxes. They chose Costa Rica because at that time, the country had no army. The reserve was originally a piece of land about a third of their property that they wished to preserve to protect the watershed area above the village. However, during the 1970s, the group of squatters began to threaten the forest. With the help of the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund, the group was able to purchase 328 hectares of land adjacent to their preserved area. Additional land was subsequently added to the reserve during the mid 1980s, making the total land area under protection at 10,500 hectares.

People visit the Monteverde Reserve to walk amongst the cloud forest and observe the wildlife, primarily the elusive quetzal, a rare bird that used to be revered by the ancient people of Central America. Also within the forest are huge trees draped with orchids and ferns. There are also numerous birds, insects, and other wildlife. All in all, there are more than 2,500 species of plants, 400 species of birds, and 100 species of mammals within the forest area of the Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve.

The reserve only allows a maximum of 160 people inside at a time. During the peak season of the dry months, the limit is always reached before 10 am. There are no such lines during the off-season, which is in May thru June and September thru November. The off-season is also the wet season, wearing rain gear and boots is advised. Overnight accommodation is available either inside the reserve itself or at the village of Monteverde.