Guatemala Travel Planner - (Page 13)

inGuat (2 ) P u tting the Accent o n S p ecial I nterest Trav el F rom archaeological discoveries to diving, Guatemala offers a feast of special interest vacations. Diverse and historically rich, Guatemala is not only an especially interesting destination, but one that offers natural history on a grand scale and five-star adventure to suit every skill and spirit. Let’s look at some of the ways Guatemala is just right for travelers seeking more active, adventurous and involving vacations. C u ltu ral H ighs ARCHAEOLOGY—From history buffs to museum and alumni groups, Guatemala offers a treasury of special interest tours, featuring a grand trove of Maya history and the largest concentration of ancient cities, some recently uncovered such as El Mirador in El Peten. Well-planned itineraries include not only the monumental ruins of major sites, but observation of traditional ceremonies (such as the Pascual Abaj shrine at Chichicastenango, or the altars on the shores of Laguna Chicabal outside Quetzaltenango) and village festivals that combine Maya and Christian beliefs. While Guatemala has the grandest inventory of Maya sites, as well as a population well represented by Living Maya, touring here is only part of L a Rut a M a y a , which is easily explored traveling overland to Copan in Honduras and to the ceremonial centers of Caracol and Xunantunich around San Ignacio in Belize. ARTS & CRAFTS—Guatemala is world famous for the artistic quality and variety of its crafts, drawing everyone from avid folkart aficionados and international artisans to shopping mavens. Weaving tops the craft list, with each village producing its unique style, patterns and colors. Among the most fascinating handwoven pieces are h uip iles , blouses embroidered with flowers, birds or bolts-of-lightning motifs in a dizzying array of colors. Wood carvings are a major craft, with ceremonial masks made in Chichicastenango and other highland villages; El Ramate on Lake Peten-Itza is another center. ade jewelry mined from local quarries is a popular craft, and primitivist paintings from the villages of San Pedro and Santiago are well-worth crossing Lake Atitlan to see in galleries and artists’ workshops. Outside Antigua, visit the painters’ studios in the village of Comalapa, well-known for its tradition of naïve painting. 13-15 SpeciaIntFF.indd 13 NEBAJ & THE IXIL TRIANGLE—The remote northern Quiche province was once ground zero in the civil war campaign against indigenous populations. Today, in the triangle formed by Nebaj, Cotzal and Chajul, with dozens of outlying villages and hamlets, the people (with the help of development organizations and NGOs) are working towards a better future. This is the best area to glimpse into the country’s timeless rural life and landscapes; observe proud traditions; hear the Ixil language; visit sacred Maya sites still in use; see the Nebaj women in their beautiful purple, green and yellow pompommed hair braids and embroidered huipiles and r eb oz os (shawls), or the women of Chajul wearing maroon cor t es (wraparound skirts), earrings made from silver coins, and bright-blue or purple huipiles. Special guided treks are available to seven parts of the Ixil region. CUISINE—A sure recipe for a top culinary experience includes dining out in elegant to rustic restaurants, visiting the wildly colorful food markets all over Guatemala, and taking cooking lessons with accomplished Guatemalan chefs in Guatemala City and Antigua. Basically everyone learns that the traditional Guatemalan diet centers around tortillas, t a m a les (cornmeal-wrapped meat pies), black beans, white rice and p la t a n os (bananas). Meat is essential to meals, served up as b is t ek (beefsteak), and p a r r illa m ix t a (mixed grill of chicken, beef, pork and sometimes a German-style sausage). Guatemala’s most famous regional dish is p ep ia n d e p ollo, chicken smothered in a greenish sauce made from pumpkin seeds and spices. C h ich a r r on es (bits of pork crackling) are also hugely popular. Dishes often come with a side accompaniment of guacamole and ch ir im ol (a red tomato sauce). Cuisine-oriented travelers will also want to know of additional Guatemalan riches, including the country’s superb coffee. A must is a visit to a coffee plantation to observe the process of coffee production from harvest to roasting. Coffee farms are largely centered in the Western Highlands. Some properties are on large private reserves and combine birdwatching, hiking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities with a visit to the coffee farm. 13 6/20/13 12:01 PM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Guatemala Travel Planner

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Eleven Experience
Tour Talk: DuVine Cycling Adventure
Expedition Cruising: Explore the Unexplored
Eleven Experience's Chalet Pelerin
Brazil Travel Planner
Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa
Guatemala Travel Planner
Latin America Specialist Courses
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
5 Ways to Adventure in North America
Swain Tours Shines in the Land Down Under
Seeing African Wonders Through a Viewfinder
Trinidad & Tobago
Soaring to New Heights in Saint Lucia

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