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Culture
Guatemala is characterized by its ethnic and cultural diversity.
Divided into two clearly marked groups are the Indigens and
the Ladinos (Mestizos and westernized Maya). The Indigens are
descendants of the Maya and are subdivided into several native
groups that form the Quiché-Maya group. The other half of the
population is made up of European descendants and mestizos.
Despite the fact that Spanish is the official language
of Guatemala, the indigenous groups living in the
western highlands speak variations of the old Mayan
languages. Over the centuries, these people have not
only continued to use their native languages, but
have also maintained many of their traditions
and customs. It is truly a fascinating experience
to visit the many small indigenous communities
and see firsthand how these people live.
If you have the time, visit some of the
local religious sites where Catholicism
has been mixed with pre-Columbian rituals.
If you are interested in history,
Guatemala is a great place to visit.
Throughout the country are thousands of
colonial churches and buildings.
The most impressive colonial city
in the Americas is Antigua. This
city was once one of the three
most important cities during
the Spanish colonial rule
(Lima and Mexico City were the other two).
The architecture of the entire city is
done in colonial style. Surrounding the
city are three volcanoes. The combination
of old style architecture and the
three volcanoes towering nearby the city is breathtaking.
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Learn
Spanish in Antigua.
