⭑ G U A T E M A L A ⭑
⭑ Geography of Guatemala ⭑
➔ Climate + Best Time To Visit
⭑ Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands. Best time to visit is from November to April. Clear skies, warm/chilly weather (depends on location); many tourists prefer this season to travel to Guatemala.
➔ Physical Map
⭑ Tajumulco Volcano; the highest point of all Central America. Sierra de los Cuchumatanes; highest mountain range in Central America. Lake Izabal; largest lake in Guatemala.
➔ Political Map
⭑ Guatemala City - founded in 1776 to replace Antigua Guatemala, this city is the capital of Guatemala and a population of approx. 994,938 (2017).
⭑ Cobán - founded approximately in 1538, this city holds lots of festivals and events, such as the Folklore Festival; population was approx. 53,375 (2017).
⭑ San Benito - a municipality of Petén, this town is near rainforests and abundant with resources such as wood and oil; population is approx. 30,764 (2015).
⭑ Culture, Populations, Etc. ⭑
➔ Languages + Dialects Spoken
⭑ Guatemala has a lot of languages. A language used often is Spanish; there are also over 20 Mayan languages spoken.
➔ Festivals + Holidays
⭑ Many holidays and festivals are celebrated in Guatemala. For example, Guatemalans celebrate Folklore Festival, Day of the Dead, Holy Week (a.k.a. Semana Santa), Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Garinagu Festival, Festival of Saint Thomas, and more.
➔ Traditional Dishes, Music, Religion, etc.
⭑ Traditional dishes - fiambre, tamales de elote, turkey soup, horchata (a drink made from cold milk mixed with rice, cocoa, and cinnamon), stuffed peppers, and more.
⭑ Music - Guatemala has diverse music genres, but its major genres are ranchero, Tejano, reggaeton, and more. Guatemala's most popular instrument is the marimba.
⭑ Religion - The major religious populations in Guatemala are Roman Catholic, Protestant, Independent Christian, and traditional Mayan religions.
⭑ Government + Economy ⭑
➔ Government
⭑ Guatemala's government is a sovereign democratic republic and has a president. The government's power is divided into three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive. The nation is divided into departments, where leaders are appointed by the president.
➔ Currency
⭑ Guatemala's currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ). $1.00 GTQ is $0.13104 USD.
➔ Economy System
⭑ Industrial-- Guatemala is rich with agricultural resources, but it's also rich with industrial resources. For instance, oil, petroleum, minerals, and metals such as gold and silver are abundant in Guatemala.
⭑Activities ⭑
➔ Activities by Season
⭑ Winter - Festival of Saint Thomas
⭑ Spring - Explore Tikal
⭑ Summer - Cobán Folklore Festival
⭑ Autumn - Day of the Dead
➔ Historical Sites
⭑ Antigua - this colonial town has ancient colonial churches and buildings, indigenous villages, coffee plantations, and surrounded by volcanoes.
⭑ Tikal - one of the oldest cities in Guatemala, which dates back to 400 BC. The city consists of ruins, mainly pyramids, surrounded by rainforests.
⭑ Casa Santo Domingo Museum - a museum dedicated to colonial art and archeology.
⭑ Travel Estimates + Real Estate ⭑
➔ Major Airlines, Price, + Amenities
⭑ American Airlines - the durations of both flights are 9-10hr and the cost is a total of $7,303.80. AA offers free snacks, seat selection, Wi-Fi, free entertainment, and free carry-on.
⭑ Delta Airlines - the durations of both flights are 6-7hr and the cost is a total of $1,591.80; Delta offers 44 seats in the main cabin, snacks, entertainment, blankets, and Wi-Fi.
➔ Cost Estimates
⭑ Total cost ($2,739.80 with Delta and Barcelo Guatemala Hotel) - food ($60/person); transportation ($57 /person); souvenirs ($30 total).
⭑ Porta Hotel Antigua - $159/night (so, $795+ for five nights).
⭑ Better deal - Barcelo Guatemala City; $95/night (so, $650 for five nights)
➔ Real Estate
⭑ Planning on relocating to Guatemala requires a lot of planning before you arrive to your destination. For example, security and safety is a big issue, so many condos and houses have higher security. So, due to higher security, the prices will rise. Traffic is also a big issue.
⭑ Price is greatly dependent on location, convenience, and safety. For example, condos with one bedroom can range from $600-$1500/month. The more rooms, the more you'll pay each month.
⭑ Bibliography ⭑
⭑ The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Guatemala City.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Guatemala-City.
⭑ “The Absolute Best Time to Visit Guatemala Isn't What You Might Expect...” Build Abroad, 16 Aug. 2017, buildabroad.org/2017/06/01/best-time-to-visit-guatemala/.
⭑ The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Cobán.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Coban.
⭑ “Guatemala Population 2020.” Guatemala Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs), worldpopulationreview.com/countries/guatemala-population/.
⭑ “Experience Guatemala.” World Travel Guide, www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/north-america/guatemala/things-to-do/.
⭑ The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Guatemala.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 18 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/place/Guatemala.
⭑ Quixtan, Nestor. “Learning About The Guatemala Housing Market.” Centralamerica, 16 Oct. 2019, www.centralamerica.com/investing/real-estate/guatemala-housing-market/.
⭑ “Guatemala 2020: Best of Guatemala Tourism.” Tripadvisor, www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g292002-Guatemala-Vacations.html.
⭑ “Airline Tickets & Flights: Book Direct with Delta Air Lines - Official Site.” Airline Tickets & Flights: Book Direct with Delta Air Lines - Official Site, www.delta.com/.
⭑ “American Airlines.” American Airlines - Airline Tickets and Cheap Flights at AA.com, www.aa.com/homePage.do.
⭑ “Guatemala Maps.” Guatemala Maps - FreeWorldMaps.net, www.freeworldmaps.net/centralamerica/guatemala/.
⭑ “The World Factbook: Guatemala.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 1 Feb. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/gt.html.
⭑ “World Atlas - North America - Map of Guatemala.” GeographyIQ, www.geographyiq.com/countries/gt/Guatemalamapflaggeography.htm.
⭑ "Guatemala." Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2016, edited by Karen Ellicott, vol. 1, Gale, 2016, pp. 953-968. Gale eBooks, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3622300086/GPS?u=flbrwrd127&sid=GPS&xid=18420910.