Need A Reason To Visit Guatemala?
September 8th, 2010 by Marina K. Villatoro, under Vacations. No Comments
Have you ever thought of traveling to Guatemala? If not I’m sure you don’t know about all the great things this country has to offer. Let me give you a general idea of what is:
First there is the astonishing cultural diversity of this country. It is home to several Mayan communities. But that’s not all, whether you want to watch the natural beauty of the lakes, volcanoes, jungles, black sanded beaches; the living culture of the modern Mayan or the Ancient Maya Civilizations remaining cities, Guatemala has it all in a very small place.
For such a small country it has a very varied landscape. In only 109 thousand Km2 you will find the most varied things. But the size is not what’s important because it hosts 37 volcanoes (many of them are active); several mountain ranges; 35 river systemseach with lots of small creeks that flow into 3 different oceans. There are 6 beautiful major lakes and almost 1,000 smaller lakes. When it comes to bio diversity there are 4 major climatic regions that contain 14 life zones with over 8,000 species of plants and more than 1,500 species of animals.
Want so more facts about Guatemala?
This country lies on top of the junction of 3 tectonic plates, moving in different directions, pushing against each other. That’s the reason for its particular landscape. A volcanic range runs parallel to the Pacific coast, which is why the sand of these beaches is black. On the other hand the central part of the country is characterized by highlands and mountains that are the result of the Earth’s crust folding due to the pressure of the plates. Finally the Northern and Eastern regions rest on a limestone bedrock, which favors the formation of caves, sink holes, and travertine pools such as the famous Lanquin Caves.
I bet that after reading this Guatemala will be in your must visit list.
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
