Travel to Guatemala

Browse listings of  Home Exchange, Vacation Rentals,Homestay, B&B (furnished apartments, villas, cottages, condos, farmhouses and other types of accommodations) of Guatemala:

Vacation Rentals

Home Exchange

Bed and Breakfast

Homestay

Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Guatemala

• Time Zone: GMT/UTC -6
• Electricity: 120V, 60 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellular phone etc.)
• Currency: Quetzal (Q)
• Country Dialing Code: 502

Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List

• Antigua Guatemala
• Tikal National Park
• Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua

Guatemala

Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Capital
Guatemala

Population
14,655,189 (July 2005 est.)

Regions
22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Largest cities of Gatemala
Guatemala City, Mixco, Villa Nueva, Petapa, San Juan Sacatepéquez

Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

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

Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Government type
constitutional democratic republic

Background
The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.

Flag of Guatemala
the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and purity

Guatemala Travel and Accommodation – Your Tips for Travelers

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