Location Central America ( bordering Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador)
Capital Guatemala City
Surface 108.889 km2
Population 13.276.517 (July 2009)
Religion Roman Catholic, protestant, Maya religion
Form of government Republic
Weather and climate On the coast and the north east warm and a average temperature of 20 degrees, in the mountains it’s cooler, especially in the evening.
Dry season from October to April. Rainy season from May to September.
Holidays
January 1 New Year’s Day - Año Nuevo
February Carnival
March / April Easter - Semana Santa
(starting on Good Friday, ending on Easter Monday)
July 21 Rabin Ajau (traditional Indian holiday in Coban)
September 15 Independence Day - Día de la Independiencia
November 1 Día de los muertos
December 25 Christmas - Navidad
 
 

General
The rare and once mythical bird the Resplendent Quetzal is the symbol of Guatemala and can be found on the national flag as well as the country’s banknotes and coins. . Guatemala has a turbulent history, after the fall of the Mayan empire; the country was colonized by Spain and in the 19th century it was a state of the United Provinces of Central America. The 20th century was marked by changing dictatorships and the influence of multinationals such as the United Fruit Company from the U.S.
In 1996, a long-time civil war ended and since then the country is trying to get back on its feet. Guatemala is truly beautiful and an unforgettable travel destination, because of the Mayan influences and the impressive nature (including active vulcanoes). Tourism is on the rise, but the country is largely an off the beaten track destination.
 

       

                                                
 

Money
The currency in Guatemala is the Quetzal. One dollar is 8 Quetzales (November 2010). In places like Guatemala City, Antigua, Flores and some other cities it’s possible to withdraw money. Therefore we recommend to always carry a small amount of dollars with you, bank notes of 1, 5, 10 and 20 USD are the most practical. More information about withdrawing money can be found at www.mastercard.com/atm. A Visa or MasterCard is accepted in the larger hotels and restaurants.

Visa
European travelers do not need to purchase a visa before departure. Please note that your passport needs to be valid at least for 6 months from the date of return. Guatemala tourist visa is nog required for citizens of the United States and Canada for a stay up to 30 days.

 
Safety
If your goal is to make the most of your visit to Guatemala take note of these practical safety tips (www.visitguatemala.com)
-   Keep an eye on your luggage and don’t ask strangers to watch it for you
-      Carry a copy of your passport with you. Make sure it has your picture and date of entry to Guatemala
-       Store your return ticket, cash, documents and traveler’s checks in a safe place
-      Don’t wear expensive jewelry and carry only the amount of cash you need for the day
-      Keep a low profile with you video, photo camera, phone, laptop etc.
-      Exchange money in your hotel, never on the street
-      Do not pay special attention to local children and don’t take photographs without parental consent. In general you need to be careful taking photos or people, because it’s not always appreciated by the locals
-      Be aware of recent events which can influence the safety of your trip.
Keep an eye on the local news or ask your hotel for the latest travel information.
You can also contact the Guatemalan Office of Tourism INGUAT or your embassy in Guatemala