Tikal

long considered the largest of Maya ruins (although the ongoing investigations of El Mirador may challenge this claim), this huge and impressive ancient Maya site is probably worth the trip to Guatemala by itself. Stay in the park or in nearby Flores the night before in order to organise an early morning trip to Tikal, to see the sun rise over the ruins. Tours are easily organised from the surrounding areas.

Monterrico

The beach closest to Guatemala City and Antigua, volcanic sand.

Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey is a set of crystalline pools over the Río Cahabón in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. It consists of a natural 300 m limestone bridge, under which passes the Cahabón River. Atop the bridge is a series of stepped, turquoise pools, a popular swimming attraction. Semuc is part of the backpacker trail in Guatemala.

Quetzaltenango

capital of Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala

Panajachel

Municipality of Sololá Department, Guatemala

Flores (Guatemala)

Municipality and capital of Petén Department, Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala

city in the central highlands of Guatemala

Guatemala City

capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala

Lake Atitlán

Beautiful lake region in the mountains surrounded by many picturesque villages and volcanoes, which is becoming more and more touristic

Rio Dulce

Known as "a ‘one of a kind’ ecological and cultural heritage for humanity", and home of one of the largest bridges in Central America, the area surrounding this emerald "Sweet River" has many sites to see and things to do. From jungle hikes to the Hot Springs Waterfalls (Rio Dulce is home to Finca Paraiso), visiting Castillo San Felipe de Lara, sailing & watersports, seeing the colorful, friendly surrounding villages & landscapes to taking a Lancha tour through the Majestic Canyon from Livingston. There are plenty of places to stay, including some sweet spots right on the water. Rio Dulce is also a huge hub of access to not only places within Guatemala, such as Antigua, Tikal, Cobán, Semuc Champey and more, but is equally a point of access to the surrounding countries of Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

San Miguel Dueñas

Municipality of Sacatepequez Department, Guatemala

Uaxactun

ancient sacred place of the Maya civilization, in present-day Guatemala

Quiriguá

ancient Maya archaeological site in south-eastern Guatemala

Kaminaljuyu

archaeological site

El Mirador

Pre-Columbian Maya settlement

Aguateca

some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in Guatemala where you are more likely to encounter archaeologists at work than tourists with cameras

Museo Popol Vuh

maya archaeology-colonial art museum in Zona, Guatemala

Moho River

river in Belize

Arco de Santa Catalina

bridge in Guatemala

Tikal Temple IV

The tallest temple in the park, measuring 70 m (230 ft).

Iglesia de La Merced, Antigua Guatemala

Erected in 1767 by friars from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or Mercedarians, La Merced was one of the few buildings in Antigua to withstand the Santa Marta earthquake that struck seven years later. This was due to the ingenuity of architect Juan de Dios Estrada, who designed the building with his memories and observations of the tremor of 1751 fresh in his mind: the building's modest height, bottom-heavy orientation, wide arches, and robust columns were intended to withstand earthquakes. La Merced was abandoned in 1829 when President Francisco Morazán expelled all clergy from what was then called the Federal Republic of Central America; the church wasn't reopened until 1853, by which time the attached monastery had fallen victim to looters who plundered its building materials for use elsewhere. Today, visitors can take in a distinctive yellow facade that has been called the most beautiful example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Antigua, pay the admission fee for the ruins of the monastery whose courtyard boasts what is reputed to be the largest fountain in Central America (the Mercedarian monks once raised fish in it), or — if you happen to be in town during semana santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter) — check out the processions that wind through the streets of old Antigua on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, beginning and ending at the church.

Nojpetén

Maya-state

Tikal Futura

Mundo Perdido, Tikal

To the west of the Plaza of the Seven Temples. It is the largest ceremonial complex dating from the Preclassic period at Tikal

Central Highlands (Guatemala)

The Central Highlands is the region around Guatemala City, stretching northwards to the Northern Lowlands in Guatemala.

Central Acropolis

A palace complex just south of the Great Plaza

North Acropolis, Tikal

Together with the Great Plaza, it is one of the most studied architectural groups in the Maya area.