Gorgeous Guatemala. A country rich in traditional culture from ancient Maya to Garifuna that live along the coasts. Belching volcanoes, sweltering tropicals, dense jungles & chilly highlands. Stunning.
Guatemala is the heart of Maya civilisation. Greatest cities of Tikal & El Mirador. Mayan’s ruled the area until 1000 AD. Nearly 40% of Guatemala is indigenous & majority are of Mayan descent. K’iche, Kaqchikel, Mam, Q’eqchi are the recognised Mayan groups. Additionally, a non-Mayan group, Xinca are 1% of population. There are 21 Mayan languages.
Corn features prominently in Guatemalan cuisine. Ground & fashioned into fresh tortillas. Served with beans, rice, corn masa – dough to make traditional tamales. Tamales are beloved, traditional Guatemalan food, wrapped in a special green leaf called maxan. A similar dish called chuchitos are wrapped in corn husks. Pepian is a stew with chunky meat & potatoes. The sauce is made of ground pepitos (pumpkin) & sesame seeds. A dizzying assortment of dried chilies.
Mayan people were inventors of chocolate, started with hot chocolate spiked with an assortment of spices – cardamom & cinnamon. There is an abundance of tropical fruits – pineapple, bananas, papayas & mangoes. Served as licuados, a smoothie. Licuados are a mixture of fruits with water, milk & juice.
Guatemala is most famous for the marimba music, constructed of wood. Diatonic rows of wooden bars are struck with mallets by multiple players. Caribbean-influenced music, with African-style drumming ensembles, rhythmic singing, circular dances & reggae. Ancient Mayan art of large murals & stone carving’s.
There are 30 volcanoes in Guatemala, 3 are still active. Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America. Rio Dulce (Sweet River) is the largest lake. Maya Biosphere Reserve is the largest tropical forest, full of ancient Mayan ruins, plethora of wildlife, flora & fauna. Beautiful.