Guatemala City is one of the largest urban areas in all of Central America. The city may be largest in Central America, but it certainly isn’t the prettiest. If you are willing to put up with the hustle of the city and its massive transportation problem, there are a few things Guatemala City can offer.
Location
Guatemala City is located in a mountain valley in the South central part of the country. Guatemala City, or Guate as the locals call it, is the capital city of Guatemala.
Guatemala City is subdivided into 25 zones. These zones have their own streets and avenues, making it very easy to find locations based on address alone.
How to get to Guatemala City
Many visitors get to Guatemala City by way of the La Aurora International Airport which is located in the Southern part of the country. This airport is the main gateway to and from the country.
To make your way from the airport to the city, you can either take one of the main taxi services or buses. Traveling inside the city by bus costs Q1.00 and prices are always higher on Sundays.
Weather
The weather in Guatemala City comes in two season, wet and dry. The wet season starts in May and ends around November. There are occasionally dry spells during the months of July and August. During the rainy season the early morning is cloudy and eventually leads to pouring rains for the rest of the afternoon to the evening.
What to do
La Arurora Zoo is one of the few things to do in Guatemala City that doesn’t involve museums or theaters.
The Torre del Reformador is worth seeing if you are nearby. This mini Eiffel tower stands at around 75 meters high and is probably the last thing any tourist expects to see in downtown Guatemala.
On the North side of the Parque Central, in the older part of Guatemala City centre, you will find the popular Palacio Nacional (National Palace). While the outside is impressive, the inside is even more impressive. You will have to make reservation to get a tour of the inside.
Located in zone 4 there is a with a very bohemian feel called 4 Grados Norte. Here there is park with lost of musicians, street vendors, and more.
If you want to learn a little more about the Maya culture before you venture off to explore the Mayan Ruins, you may want to visit the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Etnolgia. Here you can learn all about tribes, carvings, and fabrics that are part of the Mayan Culture.
If you are into people watching, make your way to Central Park on a Sunday. The park its self is is a beautiful place to visit any day of the week, but it is especially fun on Sunday. Markets and street vendors with everything from food to typical Guatemalan clothes line the streets. You can also see Guatemalans walking around in ornate indigenous dress.
The Central Park, or Parque Central, is surround with other popular and famous buildings. One of these being the Cathedral Metropolitana. this building is one of the most important religious buildings in Guatemala.
The best possible thing to see in Guatemala City is the bus out of the city. There’s so much more to see than the hustle and bustle of this city.
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