Guatemala, in the heart of Central America, is a country defined by its deep indigenous heritage, colonial legacy, and dramatic landscapes. Once the core of the ancient Maya civilisation, it later became part of the Spanish Empire before gaining independence in 1821. For a brief period it formed part of the Federal Republic of Central America (1823–1841), alongside present-day Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, until the union dissolved and each became a separate republic. Its history has also been shaped by a long-standing (on-going) border dispute with Belize, a former British colony that began as a pirate settlement. Today, Guatemala’s mountains, volcanoes, and fertile highlands frame a nation where vibrant indigenous traditions, languages, and textiles remain central to its cultural identity.

Ciudad de Guatemala

Image ©Highbury Nomad

Guatemala City

Guatemala City (Ciudad de Guatemala in Spanish), the capital and largest city of Guatemala, is built on the site of the ancient Maya city of Kaminaljuyú and has served as the nation’s political, economic, and cultural centre since the late 18th century. It was established in 1776, after devastating earthquakes destroyed Antigua, the former colonial capital.

Remnants of Kaminaljuyú remain within the modern city, making it one of the few capitals in the Americas where pre-Columbian ruins sit alongside colonial and contemporary structures. The city is laid out around broad avenues and plazas, with the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura and the Metropolitan Cathedral on the central Plaza de la Constitución serving as reminders of its political and religious importance.

In the 20th century, Guatemala City became the hub of the country’s modernisation. The city also houses the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología which is world-famous of its Maya artefacts. More recently, Guatemala City's rapid growth has led it to have numerous environmental issues which threaten its long-term urban sustainability.

Antigua

Antigua Guatemala (commonly called Antigua), is one of the country’s most historically and culturally significant cities. Founded in the 16th century as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, it became the capital of the Spanish Captaincy General of Guatemala, which governed much of Central America until 1773, when devastating earthquakes forced the relocation of the capital to present-day Guatemala City.

During its colonial peak, Antigua was a major centre of education and culture. It housed important schools and universities and was home to the first printing press in Central America, which spread religious and political ideas across the region. The city’s cobbled streets, baroque churches, convents, and colourful houses set against surrounding volcanoes still showcase its former prominence. In recognition of this preservation, Antigua’s historic centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Antigua has also remained a cultural heart of Guatemala. Religious festivals, most notably its elaborate Semana Santa (Holy Week - Easter) processions, draw national and international attention, with streets covered in alfombras (intricate carpets of flowers and sawdust) to mark the occasion.

Tikal

Tikal, is one of the most important archaeological sites of the ancient Maya world. The city was first settled around 600 BCE and rose to prominence between the 4th and 9th centuries CE, becoming a major political, economic, and religious centre. At its height, Tikal is thought to have housed tens of thousands of inhabitants and controlled vast networks of trade and alliances across Mesoamerica.

The ruins of Tikal reveal the scale and sophistication of Maya civilisation. Towering temple-pyramids, such as Temple I (Temple of the Great Jaguar - Templo del Gran Jaguar in Spanish, pitcutred), which rises above the rainforest canopy. The city’s collapse around the 10th century remains the subject of debate, with theories pointing to environmental stress, warfare, and political instability. Abandoned and gradually reclaimed by the jungle, Tikal was effectively “lost” to the outside world for centuries.

Among Tikal’s greatest achievements was its mastery of astronomy and urban planning. Temples and plazas were carefully aligned with celestial events, allowing priests to track solstices, equinoxes, and the movements of Venus with remarkable precision. These astronomical observations were central to the Maya Calendar and ritual life, and they guided the construction of monuments that still stand as evidence of a highly advanced understanding of both science and religion.

The site’s rediscovery in the 19th century drew global attention to the scope of Maya achievements. Archaeological work in the 20th century revealed not only monumental structures but also the everyday artefacts of a thriving urban society. In 1979, Tikal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, both for its archaeological significance and for its location within Tikal National Park.