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.

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.