Explore Guatemala

Founded in 1543, Antigua served as the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala until a series of earthquakes led to its abandonment in 1773. The ruins of convents, churches, and civic buildings were never fully demolished, leaving the city with a remarkable layered quality where colonial grandeur and natural force coexist. Today Antigua is also a center for Maya textile trade, with markets offering some of the finest handwoven pieces in the country.

Highlights: Colonial ruins, the Central Park, Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, local textile markets, and the dramatic volcano backdrop.

The lake and its surrounding communities have been inhabited by the Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel Maya for thousands of years. Villages like Santiago Atitlán, San Pedro La Laguna, and San Juan La Laguna each maintain distinct weaving traditions, ceremonial practices, and community structures. The lake itself holds deep spiritual significance in Maya cosmology.

Highlights: Boat rides between villages, textile workshops, local markets, volcano hikes, and the extraordinary scenery of the caldera.

San Juan La Laguna is home to several women's weaving cooperatives that have preserved and revitalized traditional backstrap loom weaving using natural plant-based dyes. The village's murals depict Maya cosmology, agricultural cycles, and community history. Visiting here offers direct insight into the textile traditions that connect to the pieces carried by The Quetzal Collective.

Highlights: Weaving cooperatives, natural dye demonstrations, community murals, and the quiet beauty of the lakeside setting.

The painting tradition of Comalapa grew from the work of Andrés Curruchich, a Kaqchikel Maya farmer who began painting in the 1930s. His work and that of the artists who followed him documented Maya community life with a directness and color that was entirely their own. Today the village has dozens of active painters and a community museum dedicated to preserving this artistic heritage.

Highlights: Galleries and studios of local painters, the community museum, the colorful market, and the authentic highland atmosphere.

Alta Verapaz was never fully conquered by the Spanish through military force — it was evangelized by Dominican friars, giving the region a distinct colonial history. The Q'eqchi' Maya of the Verapaz region maintained significant cultural continuity through this period and remain one of the largest Maya language groups in Guatemala today. Cobán's orchid festival and local markets reflect this layered heritage.

Highlights: The misty highland atmosphere, local coffee culture, proximity to natural wonders, and the Q'eqchi' Maya heritage of the region.

The Las Conchas area is part of the broader Alta Verapaz watershed that sustains both the natural ecosystem and the agricultural communities of the region. The Q'eqchi' Maya relationship with water, forest, and land is expressed throughout this landscape, and visiting sites like Las Conchas offers a window into the natural world that has shaped Maya culture and spirituality for generations.

Highlights: Natural turquoise pools, jungle cascades, dense tropical vegetation, and the quiet beauty of an undervisited natural monument.

The Garifuna people arrived on the Caribbean coast of Central America in the early nineteenth century following their expulsion from the island of St. Vincent by the British. Their culture blends West African, Arawak, and Carib traditions and has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Livingston is the primary Garifuna community in Guatemala and a place where this living heritage can be experienced directly.

Highlights: Garifuna culture, Caribbean food and music, the boat approach, beaches, and the unique atmosphere of a town that exists outside the main tourist circuit.

Tikal was occupied from around 900 BCE and reached its greatest power between 200 and 900 CE. The city's rulers built some of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Americas, and its political and cultural influence extended across the Maya world. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and remains one of the most important archaeological destinations in the Western Hemisphere.

Highlights: Temple I and Temple IV, the Grand Plaza, jungle wildlife, sunrise and sunset experiences, and the overwhelming scale of the site.

Volcanoes shape much of Guatemala's visual identity and have influenced settlement, agriculture, and regional culture for generations. Pacaya stands out because it remains active and visually dramatic, giving travelers a direct encounter with the volcanic energy that defines so much of the country's landscape. It complements heritage-focused travel by reminding visitors that Guatemala's natural history is central to its identity.

Highlights: The guided hike, active volcanic terrain, wide views, the sense of adventure, and the unique experience of volcano-cooked food on site.