Guatemala was and remained the most interesting country in Central America. Its unmatchable combination of traditions and adventure destinations makes this country an easy choice for lots of travelers.

The heart of the country resides in the highlands, a place that is preserved like few places on Earth. The Maya is a general name for a variety of people that used to live in a large territory that spanned from Chiapas and Yucatan, in today Mexico, to San Salvador and Honduras and further down. Conquered and enslaved by the Spaniards and forced to convert to Catholicism, the Mayas were able not only to resist all these vicissitudes but to outlive the occupation and preserve their traditional way of life.

We traveled in Guatemala from the highlands to the jungle of Peten. Starting in Antigua, where the ruined churches represent a symbol of the power of the Catholic Church, we continued to Chichicastenango, experiencing the mystic atmosphere surprisingly powerful despite the flock of tourists.

Lago Atitlan is an expanse of serene waters surrounded by volcanoes with its charming villages thrown around its shores. Nearby is the traditional market of Solola and up in the mountains is the “real” Guatemala, in Todos Santos de Cuchumatan, a traditional village hard hit by the past civil war. We backtracked to Quetzaltenango, the second-largest city in the country visiting charming villages full of lively markets, like Almolonga and Zunil and bathing in the thermal springs of Fuentes Georgina.