When in Guatemala
Guatemala City is far less touristy than the picturesque Antigua but that is not to say that the tourist will not find much to enjoy in the capital. Based around the ancient Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu, which is thought to be around 9,000 years old, Guatemala City now spreads itself out on a grand scale, with nothing but the extremely confusing zonal system to help you around.
Luckily, zone one, which includes the Centro Histórico, contains many of the sights you will want to take in.
The Parque Central, a large square that is used as a general meeting place and the nearby cathedral and National Palace can be found in the Centro Histórico. Free and brief guided tours around the palace take place regularly throughout the day. You will be shown official rooms, courtyards as well as some fine murals.
Although being the most historical site of all, the remains of Kaminaljuyu are in zone seven. What remains is sadly just a part of the large conurbation that once existed here but there is still much of interest. Indeed, much of the city's archaeological discoveries, such as former Mayan temples, lie under 20th century structures, although there has been a concerted effort on behalf of the government to preserve the remaining historical edifices in recent years.
Those wishing to learn more about Kaminaljuyu should head to the Museo Miraflores in zone 11 although zone 13 is generally the place to go for museums and art galleries. It is here that you will find the Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, which houses a large number of finds from the Mayan civilisation and the famous Tikal mask. Across the road is the Museum of Modern Art, which has a number of interesting works by local and foreign artists.
La Aurora airport welcomes a fair number of flights each day from the Americas. There are many taxis in to town but these are generally quite expensive. Far cheaper, but more hassle, is the bus service that will drop you in zone 10, the hotel and entertainment district. From here there are plenty of buses to get you in to zone one.
The country does a good line in long-distance bus services, although those looking to economise and go second class will find them extremely busy. First class buses are available from some major towns to Guatemala City and from neighbouring countries such as Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.
Once in town the visitor will be pleased to discover that taxis are much more reasonably priced than at the airport, with yellow ones generally the safest. Buses are plentiful and run until around 20:00. Walking around the city is looked upon as decidedly odd behaviour.
The city is almost 5,000 feet above sea level meaning those arriving from the coast or abroad may take a day or two to acclimatise. Average maximum temperatures are fairly constant, ranging from 22C in December to 29C in May. May to October is rainy season.
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Introduction
