For first-time visitors to the heart of Central America, Guatemala can feel like multiple trips in one. Smoke plumes from volcanoes along the Pacific. Lush forests engulf the north. And in the highlands, small towns are stitched together by craft traditions that bind past and present.
Part of Guatemala’s appeal lies in the ongoing discovery of its history. One such example can be found in the northern lowlands of Petén, where dense and impenetrable rainforest stretches toward Mexico and Belize. In 2018, a major LiDAR survey supported by the PACUNAM Foundation mapped 800 square miles of jungle, revealing tens of thousands of previously unknown Maya structures.
It’s findings like these that are constantly reshaping what we know about the scale and sophistication of Maya life in Guatemala, offering travelers new avenues to explore a country whose history is still being uncovered.
Stepping back in time
For most visitors, the most direct way to experience Guatemala’s ancient past is at Tikal National Park, one of the largest archaeological sites of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Now a UNESCO-listed national park, the site was inhabited from the 6th century BCE through to the 10th century CE and reveals a glimpse of Maya life, culture, and power.
Many visitors choose to arrive at dawn, when early entry tours make the most of cool weather and birdsong that carries across the park’s 57,600 hectares. The park also protects the ruins of an ancient city, with palaces and plazas rising out of the jungle, and a thriving ecosystem that includes jaguars, pumas, monkeys, and hundreds of bird species.
First light is also the best time to see one of Tikal’s most famous structures, Templo IV, rising majestically from the mist. Standing at roughly 70 meters, it’s an iconic landmark – and one that has been immortalized in the hearts of millions around the world as a filming location in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Cloth and craft
Leaving the jungle behind, Guatemala’s highland communities show a different side of the country’s history.
Set against a dramatic backdrop of towering volcanoes, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Antigua Guatemala is far more than a former colonial capital. Its cobblestoned streets, meticulously preserved churches, and 16th-century ruins tell stories of history and resilience while its vibrant culinary scene, boutique hotels, artisan workshops, and cultural festivals reveal a city constantly reinventing itself.
Blending Spanish colonial charm with contemporary creativity, Antigua Guatemala invites visitors to slow down, explore local flavors, connect with living traditions, and experience a destination where both past and present elegantly coexist.
Continuing into the highlands, art lovers should head to Lake Atitlán and nearby towns, where weaving remains one of the most visible links between modern life and Indigenous heritage.
Nearly half of Guatemala’s population identifies as Indigenous and, across the country, Maya communities continue to preserve the craft traditions that have been passed down through generations. The backstrap loom, still widely used, is central to this identity. Tensioned by the weaver’s body, with one end tied to a post or tree and the other wrapped around the waist, it produces textiles rich in symbolism.
Travelers can ensure these traditions remain economically viable by visiting weaving cooperatives around Lake Atitlán to see the process unfold firsthand. Demonstrations often include natural dyeing techniques and explanations of how patterns reflect local community identity. Meanwhile, markets such as nearby Chichicastenango – best known for its Thursday and Sunday market days – offer further opportunities to support the local artisans whose work remains a vital part of daily life and enduring cultural heritage.
Making adventure meaningful
Guatemala’s geography is built for adventure, and travelers are increasingly choosing exhilarating experiences that also support the communities making such exploration possible.
Community-run rainforest enterprises in the Maya Biosphere Reserve have been promoted as a model for protecting rainforest and local livelihoods. For hikers, a trek to Acatenango, a 3,976-meter climb known for its views of neighboring Volcán de Fuego, can be paired with time spent in communities working to protect the landscapes visitors come to enjoy, including women-led recycling initiatives that are tackling plastic waste in waters that are both ecologically vital and culturally sacred.
Similar work is being done in the department of Alta Verapaz at Semuc Champey, where the Cahabón River disappears beneath rock and creates stepped turquoise pools popular with tourists. Here, local communities have embraced eco-tourism as both a source of income and a way to protect and preserve the site’s spiritual importance. As a result, visitors can enjoy the site’s panoramic views and swimming spots while supporting environmental protection, cultural preservation, and thriving community life.
Guatemala rewards travelers who begin with its most famous sights and stay long enough to understand what sustains them. Time spent exploring weaving villages, engaging with local communities, or immersing in nature reveals a remarkable country where history is not only being preserved, but actively practiced today.
Discover the magic of Guatemala here.
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