Guatemala, volcanic land and cradle of Mayan culture, is a wild, intact, authentic country. Offering contrasting landscapes and a whirlwind of colors, it is a land of atypical encounters with very warm Indians. Located in the heart of Central America, between the Atlantic and the Pacific, Guatemala is a small country with an extremely diverse landscape: tropical forest in the North; altiplano covered with volcanoes in the West; stuck between this chain of volcanoes and the Pacific, a long fertile plain where sugar cane, cocoa and many exotic fruits are produced ; The east is crossed by two great rivers, the Polochic River and the Motagua River (the longest river in Central America), which flows into the Atlantic. While the country's administrative capital, Guatemala City, a metropolis of nearly 3 million, has no cachet, its tourist capital, Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a colonial jewel. A picturesque city with cobbled streets, tiled roofs and monuments, some of which are in ruins and covered with soft vegetation. The ascent of the volcano Pacaya (2 750 m) still in activity offers a magnificent panorama on the other volcanoes around. On the high plateaus, the majestic Lake Atitlan region is a must for any stay in Guatemala. Many boats go around the lake with stops in the villages. The markets offer a colourful festival like that of Panajachel, perfect for souvenir shopping or, the most famous of all, that of Chichicastenango, which brings together twice a week farmers, craftsmen and traders from all over the region. The remains of lost Mayan cities are omnipresent in Guatemalan soil. The most famous is the fabulous Tikal, in the Peten, in the north of the country, camouflaged in the middle of a thick tropical forest. Still in the Péten, the Mario Dary Rivera reserve, nicknamed Biotope du Quetzal, is a lush high tropical forest where with great luck you can observe the quetzal. Very fierce, this bird is particularly rare. The best time to see it is from February to September. To the east is the Río Dulce and the fort of San Felipe, on the shores of Lake Izabal. Boat trip on the river, a real vegetal canyon. On the Caribbean coast, Livingston is one of the curiosities of Guatemala with its black population, resulting from the mixing of the last Caribbean Indians and brown slaves. Only one solution to reach this fishing village: the boat. Its playa Blanca, with its white sand and coconut trees, is paradise. The ideal time to go to Guatemala is between November and the end of March: it is the dry season, humidity is very low (except late rains in the Peten) and mild temperatures in tropical regions. The light in the volcano region is very beautiful. Be careful, above 2 000 m, it can freeze at night. Guatemala is the last country in the world with an Indian majority and is inseparable from its Mayan heritage. Some of its lost cities, ceremonial centres, places of power, commerce and residence are still buried under the vines of the jungle. Guatemalans have preserved this culture: traditions, songs, customs... and even traditional clothes with bright colors and patterns specific to each of the twenty ethnic groups of the country. Long associated with Mexico, Guatemala is a destination in its own right that has much to offer: volcanoes still in activity and secular villages on the highlands, lakes, lush forests, archaeological sites, colonial cities and seaside resorts... Its colorful markets are an opportunity to meet its people, very attached to Mayan traditions and folklore. A trip to Guatemala is an unforgettable experience. Many Indians do not speak Spanish, or hardly know a few words (lack of schooling). They speak their Mayan heritage language. There are about 24: Kiché, Cakchiquel, mam, kekchi... In Livingston, black people speak Garifuna. Art and culture in Guatemala Weaving is the main art in Guatemala, in which women excel. They wear a garment made of güipil, similar to a poncho, and corte, a piece of fabric wrapped around the waist in a long skirt, held by a belt. The most beautiful can sell for several hundred dollars each. In Guatemala, there are holidays every day of the year. The Easter celebrations, the feast of the Dead and of all Saints which gives rise to a release of giant kites, the patronal feast of Chichicastenango (21 and 22 December) are worth seeing. What to visit in Guatemala Guatemalan markets are particularly typical and bright in colour.