The dry season from November to April has the most pleasant travel weather in Guatemala. In addition to the summer holidays, this time is also the most touristy. The rainy season from May to October (in the north and east to November / December) can limit some activities and make roads difficult to pass. It can be worthwhile to travel during this time, however, as many accommodations are cheaper.
According to bridgat, the high point of the foreign tourist season extends from Christmas to Easter. Especially around Christmas, New Year and Easter you have to reserve rooms or transport in many places. The second holiday season runs from June to August when droves of North Americans and Europeans flock to Guatemala. If you plan to be in Guatemala during Easter, try setting this up for Semana Santa (Holy Week). It is the highlight of the festivals in Guatemala.
Guatemala – landmarks
Guatemala is a country with many attractions and sights. That’s why you can be sure that your vacation there won’t be boring.
So you should definitely see the ruins of Tikal, which is one of the most important of the Mayan culture. The ruins were even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. The ruins are located in the middle of the jungle in the national park of the same name and comprised one over 3000 buildings. The first buildings were built over two thousand years ago.
The town of Flores is ideal to find suitable accommodation there. From there you can go on tours in the rainforest to the ruins or take other excursions, such as. b: to the lake, to various viewpoints on the opposite side or to some caves, e.g. B. Aktun Kan.
Livingston is a small town in eastern Guatemala and is very popular with tourists. From here you can go on many wonderful excursions on the water. An excursion on the Rio Dulce is a must for nature lovers, you get to see a wonderful landscape, settlements of straw huts and different species of animals. The main attraction is of course a visit to the beautiful Castillo San Felipe, which was built by the Spaniards to defend against pirates.
Tourists interested in the history of the country should visit the ancient Mayan site of Quirigua. The site has the largest and best preserved stelae from the Mayan period, like no other such detailed stone carvings from this period.
Coban is the starting point for many different exploration tours in Guatemala. From here you can best make your way to the Quetzal Sancturary, the Lanquin Cave or the multi-level cascades of Semuc Champey.
A detour to the city of Antigua is also worthwhile. This is a colonial city in the country with most of the buildings still standing. Because of the well-preserved historical buildings, the city is one of the most important sights in the country and is also a World Heritage Site.
The Chichicastenango market is also something special. It takes place weekly every Sunday and Thursday. On both days there is a large number of different traders, advertisers and tourists in the village of the same name to trade.
Other places of interest would be the cities of Quezaltenango and Monterrico.
In Guatemala, water sports enthusiasts also get their money’s worth.
Guatemala – important addresses
Guatemala Tourist Office: c / o Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in Berlin
Phone: (030) 20 05 8770, Fax: (030) 20 05 8890
email: [email protected]
Opening times: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tourist office for Central America: Severinstrasse 10 – 12,
50678 Cologne
Telephone: (0221) 931 1093, Fax: (0221) 310 1843
email: [email protected]
However, the tourist office does not answer any personal or telephone inquiries.
Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo: 7a Avenida 1-17,
Centro Cívico, Zona 4, GT-01004 Guatemala City
Telephone: 331 1333, Fax: 331 4416
email: [email protected]
Embassy of Guatemala in Germany: HE Mr. Gabriel Edgardo, Aguilera Peralta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (since 07.07.2008),
Joachim-Karnatz-Allee 47, 2nd floor., 10557 Berlin
Telephone: (030) 206 4363, Fax: (030) 20 64 3659
email: [email protected]
Opening times: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Guatemala maintains honorary consulates in Düsseldorf (phone: (0211) 67064590/626896, email: [email protected]), Munich (phone: (089) 406214) and Hamburg (phone: (040) 345194).
Embassy of Guatemala in Austria: Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 21 / Top 9,
1030 Vienna
Telephone: (01) 714 3570, Fax: (01) 714 35 7015
email: [email protected]
Opening times: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. (public access by arrangement).
Guatemala has an honorary consulate in Vienna (without issuing a visa).
Consulate General of Guatemala in Switzerland (with visa issuing):
10 to Rue du Vieux-Collège, 1204 Genève
Postal address: CP 3194, CH-1211 Genève 3
Telephone: (022) 311 9945, Fax: (022) 311 7459
email: dupontwillemin @ dupontwillemin.ch
Opening times: Mon – Fri 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Embassy of Germany in Guatemala: Peter Linder, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,
20 calle 6-20, Edificio Plaza Maritima, Zona 10, Ciudad de Guatemala.
Postal address: Embajada de la República Federal de Alemania, Apartado Postal 87a, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Telephone: 23 64 6700, Fax: 23 33 6906
email: [email protected]
Germany maintains an honorary consulate in Panajachel (phone: (00502) 77 62 10 15, email: [email protected]).
Embassy of Switzerland in Guatemala: Edif. Torre Internacional,
16 Calle 0-55, Zona 10, GT-01010 Guatemala City
Postal address: Apartado 1426, GT-01901 Guatemala City
Telephone: 23 67 5520, Fax: 23 67 5811
email: [email protected]
Opening times: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
