GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT GUATEMALA

Area: 108,890 Km2

Population: 14,000,000

Capital: Guatemala City.

Ethnic groups: 56% Maya, 41% Mestizo, and 3% of white European origin.

Language: Spanish as the official.

Language. In addition 22 other Mayan languages.

Religion: Protestant 46% Catholic 42%. Maya indigenous beliefs 12%.

Government: Republic

Currency: Quetzal. Fluctuates with the dollar, between 7 and 8 Quetzales for 1 USD.

Literacy rate: 69% male, 59% women.

Life expectancy: 66 years male, 70 female

INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNTRY

Guatemala is certainly one of the most attractive option what Americas offers to the traveler.

In a relatively small area are different ecosystems, and can go from rain forest to the mountain in just 150 km.

Pre-Hispanic archaeological remains cover the entire territory, a majestic and accessible to all, others hiding inside the jungle.

Many ethnic groups of Mayan origin still survive, making a difference on the western culture.

The city of Antigua is one of the most beautiful in America, and should serve as a basis to explore and discover the rest of the country.

The bet is contact with nature and knowledge of a complex culture that evolves in line with numerous blends that his turbulent history has been projected.

Guatemala is one of those countries who are just putting the foot, sends us a clear message of myriad of smells, sensations, and especially color.

Her story kept in cities like Tikal or Antigua, their culture alive in markets and indigenous groups all around the country. The geography, deep jungles and volcanoes, showing the Mayan Earth.

HISTORY

Siwán Tinimit that was named Guatemala when nomadic peoples settled three thousand years ago after crossing the Bering Strait.

Here they talked to the gods, built pyramids to worship the heaven and the goal was to learn about the designs of the Holy Land.

The Maya were excellent studies, developed a system in which the arithmetic main advance was the invention of zero, also put in place the most complex writing system of the new world by their rulers used by their governments to punish and to record their political and sciences experiences.

All this produced a complex and accurate calendar system in which mixed several cycles.

The Tzolkin calendar of 260 days had a highly symbolic and religious reaching modular form the basis of each set of calculations by the astronomers, to record and manipulate the passage of history through the ritual of call and prediction omens and prophecies of.

Conceived the cosmos as a structure divided into three levels: the sky, land, square shape with corners oriented to the four cardinal points and the underworld beneath the water.

The gods were numerous and could acquire human or animal form. Inanimate beings and substances that inhabit the natural world are sacred, and its frequent personification.

The caves, rivers, astronomical bodies and substances such as blood and water become very important.

Its main settlement occurs in the lowlands. According to archaeologists and anthropologists, we divide into three major periods of cultural evolution Maya

Preclassic Period

From 2500 a.C. to 300 A.D. Although the area was inhabited

from 1100 a.C. by groups of hunters and gatherers, it is not until 200 BC that develop agricultural systems, and the sedentary population centers are the first civilized. Classical Period: From 300 to 900 A.D.

It is the golden age of Maya culture. Appear early writings, architecture and domed centers become more complex, temples, villages, ball games and shoes.

Intensive agriculture, long-distance trade and hierarchy of complex society. Astrological knowledge became in, is so far unknown in America.

Postclassic Period

From 900 to 1697 A.D. About 900 A.D. centers in low-lying areas were mysteriously abandoned, moving the cultural epicenter. Wars and clashes occur frequently and dividing the territory into several kingdoms.

This is the scene they found the Spaniards coming from Mexico when they arrived in Guatemala in 1523, led by Pedro de Alvarado and 350 soldiers, a year later to finish the conquest of the then three major kingdoms of Guatemala, the Quiché where killed Tecum Uman his master, the Cakhiquel and the Tzutuhil.

During this years the people get Hispanics and became a new town, they Guild towns with streets that cruise in rects angle, and the main park in the center where belongs the Church, Main building and School.

In 1527 he founded the Noble Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, which we now know as Antigua.

In 1541 it was destroyed by a mudslide of the Agua volcanoand built again a few miles back, with 80,000 people became one of the largest pockets of Latin America, taking part especially Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

An earthquake destroyed it again in 1773, moving to the Valley of the Assumption, which is now Guatemala City.

Life focussed on agriculture, animal husbandry and trade, with its boom in the eighteenth century.

Independence

Independence was proclaimed on September 15, 1821, set out as a kind of unitary presidential republic.

After union with Mexico and other Central American states in 1839 to Guatemala federal independent of those partnerships.

Parade a host of presidents, is increased agricultural production and trade of coffee, cotton and bananas, and establish and reaffirm borders with Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize, the latter today still claims the territory of Guatemala .

In early sixties, there are social tensions caused by previous land reform in which land expropriation and shared among farmers, this begins a hard opposition within landowners and foreign companies like United Fruit Company.

The process involved in the CIA overthrew the constitutional president Jacobo Arbenz, and imposes the first dictatorship that lasted three decades and caused a fierce repression among Indians.

As a result there is an insurrection with the emergence of several guerrilla fronts in indigenous areas of the country, called ORPA, FAR and EGP, were united in 1982 to form the URNG.

Thirty thousand dead later, most indigenous dictatorship after dictatorship and the impossibility of eliminating the weapons to the guerrillas and that this triumph, there is a ceasefire followed by peace agreements of 1996.

Previously, in 1994 came to Guatemala MINUGUA by resolution of the ONU General Assembly.

In January 2000, the FGR wins the elections, the one created to enhance the glory of his man in the shadow Efrain Rios Montt, sinister character acquitted by the peace agreements of their crimes during the dictatorship.

In recent times there has been progress and setbacks. It has been murdered Guatemalan bishop who led the investigation into the excesses of civil war.

The left has a small representation in Congress and the indigenous majority see their rights recognized more than before, especially since the granting of the Nobel to Rigoberta Menchú.

The capital has become a violent and dangerous world it is best to avoid and which can be seen in all its virulence social

contradictions and the enormous gap between rich and poor.

MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Officially the day's most important national holiday or celebration is September 15, independence day.

Accompany him as the days August 15, Virgin of the Assumption and patron saint of the capital. But the uniqueness and importance lies in the wealth of folklore and popular traditions.

Throughout the year we find one event or another town in commemoration of their patron saints.

It is in these rural areas where they are held, live and experience the best and most traditional customs and rites.

Every holiday is full of dancing, fireworks, alcohol and marimba, a type of wooden xylophone was traditional and indispensable tool in any event that appreciate.

Besides this, in each area exists attractions such as horse racing at Todo Santos Cuchumatanes or the huge kites in Xumpango.

I can not fail to mention that in Guatemala there is a day for everything, and with this motto, there are days of the secretary, the day of the teacher, the day of the doctor, days of the Bank's work and endless more ... According to the oldest tradition, on December 7 is produced in the country at six in the afternoon the "Quema del Diablo" in the event that draws from each of the houses and such objects without use or misuse.

After preparing the fire and gathered the whole family burned each object and with them the evil spirits and jealousy.

This day starts the holiday season and with it the firecrackers, rockets, flares, fireworks and pyrotechnic devices of any kind ... Provided that can be started with a wick and will make noise when operating.

WEATHER

Even the location on the Tropic of Cancer, temperatures, and therefore also the landscape is influenced by altitude. In the lowlands, below 1000 meters the climate is very humid and temperatures are high, between 26 º and 35 º.

Half the land in 1000 to 2000 meters the temperature is warm and spring-like climate throughout the year with averages between 15 º and 25 º.

Above the 2000 meters with the cold start taking over the day between the 10th and 15th and arriving at night at temperatures from 0 ° at elevations exceeding 3000 meters.

Even so, common throughout the country is the rainy season from May to October and dry season from November to April.
To travel there is a saying that says "any time is good, but if there is preferable to choose the rainy season, where they are intense but not indefinite, and usually only at night, is also time of sowing and harvest, and where green is greener.

Miguel Angel Asturias said that there is no light blue sky more transparent than in Guatemala.

HEALTH

With regard to health no vaccine is not mandatory, but as almost everywhere, are the recommended tetanus and typhoid.

In areas of forest and P.N. Tikal is, there is risk of malaria. It is imperative to consult with the Health Service before leaving Exterior.

CURRENCY

The black market for currency exchange exists, but the difference with the official bank of speed is only in the banks and the bureaucratic process is so heavy. With the money changers is fast and give you the official exchange rate, although one should always be cautious. To realize the main sites are the borders.

Travelers' checks are changed very bad, only in banks and not all of them. The tarjetras credit are used only in large hotels and restaurants in major cities.

COMMUNICATIONS

To call by phone is best to buy a phone card and perform the operation in any of the many booths that exist throughout the country. There is Internet access in major towns.

ELECTRICITY

The electricity is 110 V. The American type plug and socket.