About Guatemala

Holy Week in Guatemala

Published at March 20th, 2008 in Attractions and Events.No Comments

It is one of the most important season and celebrations during the year. Easter is the commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and there are solemn processions in the city and all Guatemalan territory, specially Antigua Guatemala. There are a lot of generations who keep doing this particular tradition, elaborating colored sawdust carpets on the streets, outside their houses, giving the processions reverence when they pass on them. The processions are floats carried by church members’ shoulders, joined with clouds of incense, and church musicians playing mournful dirges. Processions started from Monday to Sunday, all the week. We also wrote about this in Easter in Guatemala.

For a better idea of the traditions, check the following timelapse video of the procession of Jesús Nazareno del Calvario in Guatemala City:

Maya, Rise & Fall in National Geographic Magazine

Published at August 3rd, 2007 in News.One Comment

Maya, Rise & Fall in National Geographic Magazine This month’s cover of National Geographic features the article: Maya, How a Great Culture Rose and Fell.

Learn about this amazing culture and experience amazing photographs from several mayan sites in Mexico and Guatemala.

The cover includes a picture of Gran Jaguar by Simon Norfolk. The Pyramid is the jewel of Tikal in Peten and was enhanced with all kinds of lights during an evening to become the cover of August magazine.

The printed version of the Magazine includes a map of the Mayan world. In the online version you’ll find an interactive map and a quiz to test your Mayan knowledge.

Picture: Simon Norfolk, National Geographic.

Hostal San Martín

Published at July 23rd, 2007 in Hostels.6 Comments

Hostal San Martin When IRTRA decided to build the first hotel in the southern department of Retalhuleu it decided to get inspired by the Guatemalan Colonial architecture. Hostal San Martín resembles the Spanish government buildings of La Antigua Guatemala. It consists of four separated arcaded buildings with a spacious plaza between them and a fountain in the middle.

Hostal San Martín offers 192 double rooms, 96 of them equipped with air conditioning and 96 with a fan, all with private bathroom and hot water. The rooms in this hotel can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children of up to12 years old. Room rates for Hostal San Martín range from $43 to $69.

Casa de Don Ismael

Published at July 20th, 2007 in Hotels and Antigua.6 Comments

Casa de Don Ismael This nice little bed & breakfast inn, certified by the Green Deal program of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, is a 7 room lodge conveniently located in La Antigua Guatemala, about three blocks away from the central plaza and really near from the bus station.

The rooms feature cable TV, fan and shared bathrooms with hot water. Purified water bottles and clean towels are delivered daily to each room. Laundry service and internet service is available for guests. A little courtyard and a rooftop terrace with a view to the volcanoes around Antigua offer a nice place to rest after a long walk in the city.

Room rates during the low season range from $16 - $19 and $22 - $28 during the high season , and includes complimentary breakfast.

Hotel Soleil Pacífico (Villas del Pacífico)

Published at July 19th, 2007 in Hotels and Activities.6 Comments

Hotel Villas del Pacífico Hotel Villas del Pacifico Resort & Conference Center is located on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala, a renowned destination for volcanic sand beaches and Marlin fishing. Palm trees and gardens of tropical vegetation surround the hotel complex, the restaurants and the pools. Villas del Pacifico is a good choice for families traveling to the nice weather of the Pacific shores of Guatemala.

The Resort features 62 standard rooms, 24 mini-suites, 14 suites, 11 four people bungalows and 11 six people bungalows, all decorated in an elegant tropical style. The amenities include double beds, cable TV, radio, telephone, wardrobe, closet, balcony, safe deposit box and private bathroom with hot water. The suites and the bungalows are equipped with a complete kitchen and living room.

Two large swimming pools with recreational activities, tennis courts, basketball and soccer fields, ping pong tables, a mini disco, an outdoor theater and six different musical shows compliment the recreational services of Villas del Pacifico. Other services available for guests include airport transportation, medical service, laundry service and babysitting service.

Villas del Pacífico is also a convention center, offering 5 different meeting rooms fully equipped to hold events of up to 400 persons. If you decide to visit Villas del Pacifico you can choose from three different paying options: American plan, European plan and the All inclusive plan, with rates starting at $120.

Hostal Santa Cruz

Published at July 18th, 2007 in Hostels.No Comments

Inspired by the Mediterranean culture and architecture, Hostal Santa Cruz is part of a series of 4 hotels in the IRTRA hotel complex. This beautiful hotel offers 151 rooms elegantly decorated in the Mediterranean style distributed in 10 buildings.

Each room in Hostal Santa Cruz is equipped with private bathroom with hot water, air conditioning and hair dryer. You can choose from several options to accommodate your group:

* 2 Double rooms are available exclusively for 2 adults ($67-$114)

* 93 Double rooms can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children of up to 12 years old ($67-$114)

* 26 Junior suites equipped with a king size bed and a sofa-bed for 2 adults and two children ($92-$160)

* 12 Junior suites equipped with 2 beds, sofa-bed and living-room for 2 adults and 3 children ($103-$177)

* 18 Junior suites of two bedrooms, living-room and sofa bed for 4 adults and 4 children ($155-$262)

Xetulul

Published at July 17th, 2007 in Attractions and Activities.3 Comments

Xetulul The most recent theme park created by IRTRA is called Xetulul, a Mayan name that means “under the trees”. This modern park features 7 plazas that represent different cultures from around the world. It comes to no surprise to find among them three plazas dedicated to Guatemala. The Plaza Chapina welcomes the visitors with replicas of historic buildings such as the Railroad Station and the Royal Palace, the Mayan Plaza features an impressive 112 feet-high recreation of a Mayan temple painted in the colors archaeologists believe the original Mayan cities were decorated. And the Guatemalan Town brings together several Guatemalan towns into one harmonic and charming plaza.

The Italy Pavilion features a collection of buildings inspired in the Florentine and Venetian architecture, including recreations of the Ufizzi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio and a wonderful replica of the Fontana di Trevi. The France Pavilion include recreations of the Moulin Rouge and a functional Grand Theatre with regularly magic shows. The Germany Pavilion is designed to look like a true German town and the Spain Pavilion features a replica of the Alhambra and houses with architecture from different regions of Spain. All the pavilions include restaurants selling the representative meals from each culture.

But definitely the most exciting part of Xetulul are its collection of rides and entertainment attractions. From thrilling roller coasters and chair-o-planes to bumper cars, carrousels and screamin’ swings. You will certainly be able to experience an adrenaline rush if you’re up to the challenge. Complimentary transportation to IRTRA’s hotels is provided all day long and the entrance fee is just $27.

Xocomil

Published at July 16th, 2007 in Attractions and Activities.5 Comments

Xocomil Xocomil is not only the biggest water-park of Guatemala, it’s also the most visited and complete. Designed around a recreation of a Mayan pyramid, this fantastic 77,300 m² amusement park features a full day of fun for the entire family. Xocomil is part of IRTRA’s successful project of theme-parks and hotels developed in the southern department of Retalhuleu.

Four different pools inside the park provide hours and hours of fun. Two different wave pools, one for children and one for adults, feature six different kinds of waves and a beach designed resting area. The lazy river Tumala is a fun way to get around the park floating on a tube, taking you through gigantic replicas of Mayan masks with waterfalls, water cannons and a recreation of a Mayan tomb.

The seven options of water rides will thrill you to the core. Rapidos de Xocomil features five different options of speed slides in a 148 m ride, Mululja takes the five-person tubes through a series of curves and steep drops. On El Caracol riders float through a dark tunnel that propels them into a big funnel. At Nido de Serpientes you can take your choice of 7 different courses of twisting flumes. Xibalba features 2 options of vertical high speed rides. El Regreson takes a two-person tube back and forward and Samala takes riders through dark tunnels and close turns.

If the speed makes you hungry, you will have six snack bars available throughout the park and several ice cream parlors. Forgot you sun tan lotion or your bathing suit? Don’t worry, three shops inside the park can provide you with everything you need, from disposable camaras to souvenirs.