Belize

Belize

Belize's Caribbean Coast

Belize's Caribbean Coast

Altiplano and Cuchumatanes

Altiplano and Cuchumatanes

Antigua

Antigua

Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast

Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Izabal and The Caribbean

Izabal and The Caribbean

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

Peten

Peten

The South East

The South East

Los Verapaces

Los Verapaces

Les destinations coup de coeur

 Belize

1. Belize

Belize

Nested between Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is a small country often unknown to the general public with a population of less than than 350,000. On one side, 250 kilometers of coast line with the Caribbean Sea on the horizon. On the other one, a luxuriant jungle protecting exclusive archaeological sites. Belize is the only English-speaking country of Central America, but it's roots are distinctly Mayan. We invite you to discover it's rich archeological sites and exceptional coral reefs that make Belize as one of the best diving destinations in the world. Watch out! A trip to Belize is not without risks. As Francis Ford Coppola famously warned, you risk falling in love with the country!

 Belize's Caribbean Coast

2. Belize's Caribbean Coast

Belize's Caribbean Coast

Belize is home to the second biggest coral reef in the world. Here, you'll find there more than 70 types of corals, 400 kinds of fish and 200 deserted tropical islands. The Blue Hole, near the center of the Lighthouse Reef atoll, is one of Belize's most alluring locations. This ancient calcareous cave, 300m in diameter and 125m deep, was made famous by French oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau who considered it to be one of the 10 best diving sites in the world. During your stay in the Caribbean, you'll have the chance to go diving or snorkeling...or just simple enjoy some sun on the beach!

 Altiplano and Cuchumatanes

3. Altiplano and Cuchumatanes

Altiplano and Cuchumatanes

North East of Lake Atitlan, you'll find the highlands known as Altiplano. The region is known for it's traditional Mayan villages and ancestral culture. One of the most important markets of Latin America is held in Chichicastenango, known for it's lively colors and with unique exotics tastes. Every village has it's own traditional costumes. The traditional dress holds important meaning, indicating social or marital status.

Further north, clouds cover the mountains of Cuchumatanes. It is cold on the highlands and hot and humid in the lowlands. Spanish, Quiche and Mam are the most spoken languages in this region. The cool pine forests offer relief from the heat and are a great spot for hiking or horseback riding.

Discover the Altiplano and Cuchumatanes region. Take the unbeaten path and learn more about local life.

 Antigua

4. Antigua

Antigua

From 1543 to 1773, Antigua was the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala which stretched then from Costa Rica to Mexican Chiapas. The colonial city suffered throughout its history of many natural disasters: earthquakes, floors, and volcanic eruptions. After the earthquake of 1773, the government decided to re-locate the capital about fifty kilometers in Guatemala City.

Ever since Antigua looks as though time has stood still. The city is a roofless museum, counting more than thirty monasteries, convents and cathedral. Streets laid with cobblestones adjoin the flower filled patios of colonial houses. Walk along the arcades of Park Exchange and notice the volcanoes Fuego, Agua and Acatenango. Coffee breaks, nightlife and handicraft markets are all to be found here. Antigua is a must-see on your trip!

 Pacific Coast

5. Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast

The Pacific region offers 300 kilometers of volcanic sand beaches appreciated by surfers and amateur sports-fishermen alike. The environment is perfect for sailfish and marlins!
Keep your eyes opens for whales and dolphins or witness turtle or, depending on the time of the year, turtles laying their eggs on the black sand beaches.

Take a walk along a volcano, observe tropical birds or visit a coffee plantation. The archaeological site of Takalik Abaj retains the influence of Olmec culture, an ancient pre-Colombian civilization that existed 1,200 to 500 years before our time.

 Guatemala City

6. Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Guatemala City is the most thriving city in Central America. With modern buildings and business centers, this colonial and bohemian city is a mixture of ancient buildings and deep-rooted customs and traditions.

Guatemala City is the cosmopolitan city in the Central American region. As such, it is the ideal place to hold meeting and conventions, enjoy playing golf, receive medical treatments, tour the many shopping malls, and more. Visit the Historical Center with its cathedral, centennial buildings and museums, which reflect the history of the country.

Vist the Zona Viva, where exclusive hotels, restaurants and nightclubs can be found or wander around the cafes, restaurants, and culture of neo-urbanist Cuatro Grados Norte.

 Izabal and The Caribbean

7. Izabal and The Caribbean

Izabal and The Caribbean

In the East, Lake Izabal is encircled by a tropical jungle. The region is home to a rich and varied fauna with more than 350 kinds of birds, monkeys, dolphins and manatees. The famous Río Dulce linkshe lake Izabal to the Caribbean coast through the Amatique Bay. The Colonial fort of San Felipe reminds visitors that the region was regularly subject to pirate attacks.


In Caribbean side the Garifuna culture and language dominate. The Garifuna people are a mixed African and indigenous people. The village of Livingston is the Guatemalan cradle of the Garifuna culture. Here, you'll be rocked by the sounds of waves and Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

 Lake Atitlan

8. Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

Located in the Southwest of the country, Atitlan is a volcanic lake 1,5000 meters above sea level. The Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro volcanoes surround the lake, offering and exceptional panoramic view. The ethnic groups Cack'; chiquel, Quek'; chi, Mam and Tzutujil call fertile soil of this mountainous landscape home.

The lake is surrounded by picturesque villages. Hop aboard a fisherman's boat to discover local markets, traditional costumes and artisanal products. Stop to admire the traditional weaving methods, indigenous paintings, and étals of fruits and exotic vegetables. Considered by the English writer Aldous Huxley to be the most beautiful lake in the world, Atitlan and its villages surroundings mert several days of exploration.

 Peten

9. Peten

Peten

Boarding Mexico in the North and in the West and Belize in the East, the department of Petén is covered with a thick rain forest protected by huge national parks. Petén shelters an extremely varied fauna filled with jaguars, pumas, monkeys spiders, howler monkeys, tapirs, macaws, toucans and all types of parrots. Here, the jungle surprises us with it's noises, smells and colors.

The forest conceals other treasures as well: the invaluable Mayan relics. Th most famous of which is Tikal, an UNESCO worldwide heritage site since 1979. The Mayan city plunges us into a mystical ambience, surrounded by the sound of howler monkeys and toucans. In the true spirit of adventure, some sites such as El Mirador require a several day hike to reach.

New archeological techniques have revolutionized the work in the region. In 2018, an international team discovered a network of highways linking dozens of Mayan cities. Petén has not revealed all of it's mysteries just yet...

 The South East

10. The South East

The South East

Guatemala is boarding in the South by Honduras and El Salvador. The cordillera Sierra de las Minas is one of the green lungs of the country. It shelters 800 kinds of mammals and 20 kinds of exotic birds.
The volcano Ipala is one of the most popular regions for running. You can reach the top in 1 hour and 30 minutes! At the top - 1,650 metres in altitude - stop to appreciate the view of the lagoon formed in the crater. Here, you can cool down with a swim before attacking the descent.

 Los Verapaces

11. Los Verapaces

Los Verapaces

Verapaces is characterized by lush forests, waterfalls, natural swimming pools and caverns. The region is divided into two... On one hand, Alta Verapaz, with it's foggy cool climate. On the other hand, you'll find Baja Verapaz with it's hot, tropical climate. Verapaces is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Take a swim in the natural in the heart of the region at the natural swimming pools and waterfalls of Semuc Champey or discover the depths of the Lanquín or Candelaria caves. The region also shelters many kinds of birds, such as the rare Quetzal owhich which is the famous emblem of Guatemala. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of one of these splendid birds or spot one of the of 800 kinds of orchids that dot these forests.