Guatemala is the heart of the Maya world and it is mysterious, compelling, magical and tragic all at once. Layers of history envelop this country like a patchwork quilt. There are enigmatic Maya ruins alongside grandiose cathedrals built by the Conquistadors. The diversity of the landscapes is astonishing. In a matter of hours you can go from a windswept mountain peak to steamy mangroves by tropical waters.

But the real reason to come to Guatemala is for the Maya people. Over 55% of the population is Maya Indian, 35% is Ladino (Maya and European descent), and the remainder is of mixed heritage. There are 24 recognized Maya dialects and tribes throughout the country. The Maya have held onto their language, culture and traditions against an onslaught from the Western world that began with Conquistadors and continues with the United States; and they proudly celebrate their heritage through everyday dress, religious rituals, music and dance. In this age of anonymous, mass-produced culture, they are unique.

Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It shares its northwestern border with Mexico and its northeastern border with Belize. To the south it touches El Salvador and Honduras. The eastern coastline has only a small section that opens up in the Bay of Honduras, providing access to the Caribbean Sea. The western coastline is much larger and stretches along the South Pacific Ocean with beaches of black volcanic sand.

The country itself is divided up into 22 departments, the equivalent of states or provinces. Often, the capital city has the same name as its department.

Guatemala is also a relatively small country covering 42,355 square miles (108,430 square km), but it has a very diverse landscape. Limestone plateaus sit next to majestic mountain ranges dotted with pristine lakes and rivers; active and inactive volcanoes are located alongside rainforests and tropical beaches. What’s great for travelers is that they can easily move from one environment to another in a short period of time.

Because of it location and geography, Guatemala possesses great biological diversity. In order to protect this natural heritage the Guatemalan government began establishing protected national parks, reserves and biospheres. The first park was created in 1955 and the most recent one was designated in 2002. Today, there are over 30 protected areas and another 40 are being proposed.

Politics is a complicated business in Guatemala, with more than 40 political parties in action there now. Guatemala had its first democratic election in over 50 years in November, 1999.

Guatemala GDP for 2001 was an estimated $20 billion. Since the signing of the peace accord in 1996, Guatemala’s economy has been growing rapidly. Eighty-five percent of the economy is generated by the private sector. Most of the manufacturing is light assembly and food processing, geared to the Central American marketplace as well as the US. The majority of Guatemala’s exports are agricultural goods – sugar, bananas and coffee are the main exports. Recently, the country has started exporting textiles, apparel, winter vegetables (such as broccoli and potatoes), fruit and cut flowers. Tourism is also becoming important.

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