There are many activities you can do during your visit to Guatemala, such as hiking to natural sites, bird watching, zip-lining, caving, exploring Mayan ruins, kayaking, white water rafting, surfing, volcano climbing, biking, horseback riding, swimming, and more.
Guatemala is more than just adventure and culture. However, you must experience these two profiles of the country to get to know it better. Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez invites you to learn about the following activities you can do if you are in Guatemala.
Enjoy its beaches
The extensive coasts of volcanic sandy beaches welcome you to an area of beautiful natural reserves. On these beaches of more than 280 kilometers long, you can surf. There are ideal conditions for sport fishing, for which the country has been recognized as number one in the region and second worldwide.
Less developed, but just as impressive, is the Caribbean side, where the Garifuna culture predominates. To visit Guatemala’s Caribbean coast you should travel to Livingston, a fishing village, from where you can transport yourself to the white sand islands.
Visit the lakes, lagoons and rivers
Due to Guatemala’s location, you will be able to find several lakes, lagoons, and rivers. One of the most visited lakes due to its beauty is Lake Atitlan, which is located in the highlands, between 3 volcanoes and mountains; this lake is reputed to be the most beautiful in the world.
For nature lovers and the more adventurous, Semuc Champey is a great destination. The minerals and water in this place have created unique geological formations, forming a series of pools of water that cascades into the forest of Alta Verapaz.
Guatemala also has Lake Peten Itza, located in the north of the country, in the department of Peten, 45 minutes from Tikal National Park.
Ascend a volcano
Guatemala has almost 300 volcanoes and most of them are inactive. The Pacaya volcano is a big attraction for tourists, as it is not very high and, although it is an active volcano, you can climb it and get almost to the top. On a good day, people can get as close as they can to the lava coming down from the volcano.
Other active volcanoes are Santiguito and Fuego. The highest volcanoes are located in San Marcos, such as Tajumulco, which is the highest in Central America. Agua volcano is an inactive volcano of 3,766 meters above sea level.
Discover the archaeological ruins
There are archaeological sites all over the country, but it is in the department of Peten where the largest and most important sites are concentrated. These are located in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, such as Tikal, one of the most important sites.
It was recently discovered that Tikal is surrounded by a complex network of structures and causeways never seen before, including more than 60,000 Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle. It is believed that millions of people used to live here.
Other archaeological sites worth mentioning are Aguateca, Yaxha, Uaxactun, Ceibal, and El Mirador, located in Peten, as well as Quirigua in Izabal and Iximche in Tecpan.