Guatemala – Guide with tips for your holiday

Guatemala has a tropical climate, depending on the altitude varies greatly. In the area between about 900 and 2 400 meters, where the highest population density prevails, the days are warm all year and the nights cool. The annual average temperature there is around 20 ° C. In the coastal regions, the climate is warmer and humid here prevail annual average temperatures from 25 to 30 ° C. The rainy season lasts from May to October. The rainfall is determined by the northeasterly trade. In the north, the average annual rainfall between 1 500 and 2 500 millimeters. In Guatemala City, in the south of the country, will be around 1 300 millimeter achieved.

The lowlands are mostly of species, evergreen tropical rainforest covered. Drier in some places but there are also extensive pine forests. In the mountainous regions exist in the lower altitudes predominantly oak forests, then about 2 100 meters in pine forests there. Throughout the country countless grow orchids.

Deer, monkeys and Pekaris are especially in the sparsely populated lowlands widespread. To a much smaller number are jaguars, tapirs and pumas on. In some rivers bump live crocodiles. The species diversity of birds is extremely large, there are 458 species (2000). Among the best-known examples include the cardinals and the quetzal – a bird with a bright, colorful plumage, while Guatemala is heraldic animal.

Guatemala has approximately 14.3 million inhabitants (2004). The percentage of Indian population is around 45 percent, the highest of all Central American countries. Among these include the indigenous Maya-Quiché, Mam, Cakchiquel and Kekchí. Mestizos (Ladinos) comprise some 30 percent of the whites about 5 percent of the population. Other groups are mulattos, blacks and Zambos.

The annual population growth is 2.61 percent (2004). The population density is 132 inhabitants per square kilometer. About 60 percent of the population live in the country (2002).

Guatemala (or Ciudad de Guatemala), the capital and largest city in the country, has about 1 million inhabitants. Other major cities are Quezaltenango (152 000 inhabitants), the center of a wheat producing region, Escuintla (115 000 inhabitants); Puerto Barrios (39 400 inhabitants), the main port on the Caribbean Sea, Mazatenango (43 300 inhabitants), and Antigua Guatemala (27 000 inhabitants ).

The official language is Spanish. In addition, there are 23 recognized Mayan languages. 80 percent of Guatemalans are Catholic, 19 percent Protestant. A minority of the population belongs to the Bahai religion. In addition, many hybrid forms between altindianischen traditions and Christianity developed.

Besides Christmas and Easter will also be New Year’s Day (January 1) is celebrated. The national holidays are Labor Day (May 1), the day the army (June 30), the Independence Day (September 15), Día de la Raza (Kolumbustag, October 12), the day of revolution (20 October) and All Saints’ Day (November 1). Each city celebrates its annual Feria (festival) in honor of the patron saints or. This is the largest local festival and therefore many of the most important holiday, especially in rural areas.