Discover the Secrets of Guatemalas Unique Nationality Unbelievable Facts You Wont Believe

Today we are discovering 6 amazing facts about Guatemala that you probably didn’t know before! Bordered by Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras, Guatemala has a rich history, a diverse ecological climate and a fascinating linguistic past and present. There’s no better way of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!

The word “Guatemala” comes from the Náhuatl “Quauhtemallan”, which means “land of abundant trees”. This name really suits the country since this territory has big forests and mountain ranges. Guatemala is also known as “The Country of Eternal Spring” due to its warm weather throughout the whole year.

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Guatemala has a diverse ethnic, linguistic and cultural landscape. Even though Spanish is the official language, the Republic of Guatemala shows a great variety of languages in all its territory. Among the other 25 languages spoken, 22 are Mayan variations which come from Protomayan.

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Tikal is an ancient village located in the very heart of the Guatemalan jungle. Such is the historical significance and beauty of this spot, the site achieved status as an official Cultural Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1979.

Interestingly, the Mayans abandoned this city in the 9th century. But why? A recent study concluded that the Mayans abandoned this place because they had poisoned their own water tanks!

The Mayan civilization that lived in Tikal used cinnabar (composed of 85% Mercury and 15% Sulphur) for their rituals and building decoration. It just turns out that cinnabar is one of the most toxic minerals on Earth. After losing many villagers, the village was abandoned.

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Quetzal is the official currency in Guatemala, but it’s also the name of their national bird. This majestic, green-feathered bird used to be sacred for the pre-Hispanic civilizations, who used their feathers as currency and as a symbol of power.

The Atitlan Lake is one of the most magical places in Guatemala. It is surrounded by three inactive volcanoes: Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro.

“Atitlan” comes from Nahuatl, and it means “between the waters”. They say it is the deepest lake in Central America, at 450 meters deep.

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Legend says that Maximon took advantage of men who were working in the fields to enter the city and seduce their wives. This saint also represents vices such as drinking and smoking!

That’s all, amigos! I hope you have enjoyed these amazing facts about Guatemala. You can find more interesting facts about Spanish speaking countries on the Culture section of this website. And if you want to continue learning about Hispanic culture, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!

If you’re a teacher looking for these facts in a useful format for lessons, you can find this and other useful resources in PDF and PowerPoint format on my shops at TES and TPT.Ancient Mayan ruins nestled in the jungle, the colorful colonial town of Antigua, magnificent volcanoes all throughout the country… Guatemala has plenty of noteworthy sites to explore.

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But, compared to its neighbors in Central America (we’re looking at you, Costa Rica), this beautiful country remains pretty under the radar.

So, to give you some insider tips, we’ve curated a bunch of surprising and curiosity-inducing Guatemala facts. They prove that Guatemala is worthy of the spotlight and maybe, just maybe, they’ll entice you to visit for yourself.

Guatemala

Spanish is the official language and is spoken by 90% of the population. However, there are long-standing Mayan, Xinca, and Garífuna roots too. Since the Mayan civilization was first developed by the Maya (a group of Indigenous people of Mesoamerica), the language has evolved into 21 dialects that can be heard today on a true Mayan encounter.

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Today, textile weaving is still ever-present in towns like San Antonio Aguas Calientes, just outside of Antigua. Guatemalans wear Huipiles (an incredible garment typically woven by local women) that hold a sacred meaning based on region.

All of us (well, the chocolate lovers among us) would agree with the Maya people who worship the cacao tree. They call chocolate “the food of the Gods”. And they believe that chocolate holds incredible nutritional benefits, like reducing blood pressure. Today, Guatemala is a mass producer and exporter of chocolate products.

But don’t worry – there’s still plenty of quality chocolate to enjoy while in the country. Many of the best places are in shops around Antigua. And when there, be sure to visit ChocoMuseo, a museum that’ll teach you about its history and nutritional values. (You can visit the museum and get some coffee to go along with it on this 13-day trip through Guatemala and Mexico!)

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The insane number of volcanoes in Guatemala is surely enough to put it on the map. Of these, the most noteworthy volcano is Tajumulco. It’s the highest peak in Central America at a whopping 4, 202 metres. And out of over 30 volcanoes, only three are active: Fuego, Pacaya and Santiaguito.

An experience you won’t want to miss is a hike up Pacaya volcano. Whether you trek by foot or take a horse ride up, the view from the top of Pacaya is simply spectacular.

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Once at the base of the volcano, you have the opportunity to roast some marshmallows in a pit to celebrate all that effort you put in for climbing this active volcano. If you are lucky, you can even roast them over molten rock.

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Tikal National Park has earned its title as the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and natural wonders. Tikal’s Mayan ruins are embedded in the jungle. From a distance you can spot them pop out of the rich green canopy – it’s breathtaking.

Climb to the top of the ruins to spot local residents (we’re talking toucans and macaws). Find out about the history behind the 5 granite temples by a fantastic local guide (we’ve got you covered on Intrepid’s 13-day small group adventure from Guatemala to Mexico).

Arguably one of the most mysterious Guatemala facts is one that exists around the worshipping of Maximón. A shocking legend about him says when the village men would head off to work, Maximón slept with all of their wives! Consequently, the men cut off Maximóns arms and legs in a fit of anger, which explains why most effigies of him are made without arms.

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Coffee is big in Guatemala. Like, really big. By 1880, coffee accounted for 90% of Guatemala’s exports and even today, it’s one of their main exports and sources of income for the country. The coffee has a distinct flavor to it, typically full-bodied and has rich chocolate and cocoa flavors.

If you are an avid coffee drinker like myself, I would recommend going to places that show you the whole process of acquiring coffee. About 2 km away from the main plaza in Antigua is a place called La Azotea. Take a tuk-tuk to this place for an authentic, yet practical experience. At La Azotea, you can visit the coffee museum as well the music museum. The coffee museum is set in an old mill and visitors are provided explanations of the history, processing, marketing and brewing of coffee. A hurricane unveiled a ‘Rhode Island-sized’ jade mine

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Guatemala is among the biggest jade producers in the world. The Maya people used these rare stones for ideological rituals. On a visit you can buy your own precious stones from the jewelry stores around Antigua.

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When big yellow American school buses near 10 years or clock in 150, 000 miles, some are auctioned off and driven down to Guatemala. The buses are revived by locals with strokes of paint in every color of the rainbow. Guatemalans then use it for local transport. Riding Guatemala’s public transit is a thrilling ride. Opting for this budget-friendly travel alternative will give you an eclectic local experience.

Who doesn’t want to see and help these cute creatures take their steps in life? At Tortugario Montericco, you have the opportunity to help with conservation efforts. They’ve set up nested protection for the eggs along the beach (an area that’s an important nesting site for olive ridley turtles).

The nesting season runs from June to December and peaks in August and September. So if you are in Guatemala around this time, this is a fabulous opportunity for wildlife lovers to engage in releasing of the turtles. Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America

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Just as deep as it is beautiful! Only 4 hours away from Antigua, it’s a fantastic spot for enthusiastic photographers to capture some of the best volcano views.

San Jorge La Laguna is a small village that overlooks Lake Atitlan and is home to locals eager to let you in on their traditional crafts. Better yet, stay with a local host family to really immerse yourself in the culture.

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All Saints Day Kite Festival is Guatemalans’ way of honoring their dead. Every year on November 1st, Guatemalans partake in this ritual that has been around for more than 3000 years. People flock down to the cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loves ones. Then, Guatemalans fly massive and intricately-decorated kites high in the sky — it’s quite the sight to behold.