2. Founded in 1543, it was distinguished during colonial times as the
most beautiful city on the continent, displaying magnificent
Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Earthquakes over time
were destroying much of the ancient monuments of the city, some
being restored while others were left in ruins.
Today declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is probably
one of the most attractive tourist places in Guatemala, displaying
cobblestone streets that wind between ancient churches, convents
and colorful houses richly ornamented. It is worth mentioning
among its attractions the Convent of the Capuchins,
corresponding to the best preserved ruins of the city.
3. It is a unique place that is famous for its landscapes and
monuments, for its rich culture, a place to soak up Mayan life,
whose descendants keep alive, their colorful clothes, a diversity of
dialects and ancient rituals.
Its traditional market on Thursdays and Sundays is the main
attraction of the city, a place where you can find everything from
handicrafts to daily life supplies, traveling through hundreds of
stalls whose sellers negotiate in their own languages. A few
meters from the market the Church of Santo Tomás complements
the Mayan experience, a temple built on the ruins of an ancient
pyramid of which are still appreciable the staircases that climbed
to the top, among which today it is common to find shamans
practicing the most varied Rituals
4. Once the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms of
the ancient Maya, it is undoubtedly one of the most
fascinating tourist places in Guatemala for lovers of
archeology, a city founded around the 5th century BC,
which would have reached its maximum splendor 200 and
900 AD, dominating much of the region in the political,
economic and military spheres.
The architecture of the ancient city is built of limestone and
includes vestiges of temples that rise more than 70 meters,
large royal palaces, as well as a series of smaller pyramids,
palaces, residences, administrative buildings, platforms and
stone monuments.
5. One of the most surprising natural scenery in
Guatemala, recognized as one of the most beautiful
lakes in the world, marveling with its crystal clear
waters and the three imposing volcanoes that surround
it: Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro.
Among its singularities are the 12 surrounding
villages, accessible through boats that run through the
lake, each with inhabitants dressed in typical costumes
that vary significantly between town and town. The
most common access is through the city of Panajachel.
6. Dos sitios naturales ubicados cercanos uno del otro, el
primero sin duda es el más espectacular, correspondiendo a
un curioso accidente natural donde el Río Cahabón fluye
por una longitud de 300 metros bajo la roca, dejando en la
superficie un grupo de pozas escalonadas de aguas
turquesas y calmas con profundidades de entre 1 a 3 metros,
en las cuales es posible bañarse rodado de un exuberante
bosque tropical.
Debido a su proximidad vale visitar las Cuevas del Lankin,
un interesante complejo de salones, cúpulas y curiosas
formaciones de piedra caliza que son posibles de recorrer
por un circuito abierto al turismo de 400m.
