As a matter of fact, there are Guatemalan beaches on two coasts: the Pacific and the Caribbean. Because the majority of the country’s most popular attractions are inland, most travelers don’t make it to the coast.
What is the coastline of Guatemala?
Does Guatemala have a Caribbean coastline?
Guatemala’s steamy Caribbean coastline”El Atlántico”zigzags for 94 lush miles along the Bay of Amatique and the Gulf of Honduras. Over half of this coast lies within the Punta de Manabique protected zone.
Located in Central America, Guatemala shares borders with four countries (Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize) and has two coastlines, one on the Caribbean Sea and one on the Pacific Ocean.
What is the geographic location of Guatemala?
Guatemala is a country of volcanoes, mountains, and beaches on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. From the Cuchamatán Mountains in the western highlands, to the coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, this small country is marked by contrasts. Three of Guatemala’s 30 volcanoes are still active.
Where is the Pacific Coast in Guatemala?
The tropical Pacific coast of Guatemala stretches around 250km / 155mi from the Western Mexican border through the Eastern border of El Salvador.
How many bodies of water are there in Guatemala?
5 OCEANS AND SEAS. In the east, Guatemala borders on the Caribbean Sea at the Gulf of Honduras. To the south lies the Pacific Ocean.
How many beaches are in Guatemala?
Guatemala is home to 3 types of beaches: black sand beaches, white sand beaches, lakeside beaches. Black sand beaches are typically found along the Pacific Coast and are more common than white sand beaches, located on the Caribbean Coast.
Is Guatemala mountainous?
Mountains. The highest of Guatemala’s mountains are actually volcanic peaks. There are 33 of them in total with a handful now active. Volcán Tajumulco, at 4,220 meters (13,845 feet), is the highest point in all of Central America, followed closely by nearby Volcán Tacaná, at 4,110 meters (13,484 feet).
Does Guatemala have islands?
Flores Island in Guatemala is located in Peten, one hour south of Tikal. It is surrounded by the third biggest lake in Guatemala, Lake Peten Itza.
How many volcanoes are in Guatemala?
In total Guatemala is the home to 37 official volcanoes, three of them being in constant activity”Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito.
Does Guatemala have nice beaches?
While it’s true that the countries on either side of Guatemala may have more white sandy beaches, there are enough tropical oases to go around here. For those who want to relax, soak up some sun or try their luck at surfing, here are the country’s five best beaches: Playa Blanca.
What are all the provinces of Guatemala?
Guatemala is divided into 22 administrative departments: 1 Alta Verapaz, 2 Baja Verapaz, 3 Chimaltenango, 4 Chiquimula, 5 Petén, 6 El Progreso, 7 El Quiché, 8 Escuintla, 9 Guatemala, 10 Huehuetenango, 11 Izabal, 12 Jalapa, 13 Jutiapa, 14 Quetzaltenango, 15 Retalhuleu, 16 Sacatepéquez, 17 San Marcos, 18 Santa Rosa, 19 …
What are the geographic regions of Guatemala?
The country consists of 3 main regions ” the cool highlands with the heaviest population, the tropical area along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and the tropical jungle in the northern lowlands (known as the Petén).
What is the geography and climate of Guatemala?
Guatemala has a tropical climate, and weather that is largely determined by geography and altitude. The highlands tend to be cooler than the coastal areas and lowlands. You’ll find comfortable spring-like temperatures in major cities like La Antigua, Guatemala City, and Quetzaltenango throughout much of the year.
Is Guatemala landlocked?
Guatemala is not a landlocked country. It means that is is bordered by at least one major body of water.
Where are the mountains in Guatemala?
The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is a crystalline range of block mountains extending to the southeast along the Pacific coast from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into western Guatemala (where it is called the Sierra Madre).
What is Guatemala known for?
Guatemala is best known for its volcanic landscape, fascinating Mayan culture and the colorful colonial city of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But this small Central American country has a wealth of homegrown produce and talent.
How far is Guatemala City to the beach?
Yes, the driving distance between Guatemala City to Monterrico Beach is 131 km. It takes approximately 2h 6m to drive from Guatemala City to Monterrico Beach.
How many seasons does Guatemala have?
Guatemala enjoys a climate that’s often described as the ‘Eternal Spring’. However, two seasons exist in the country: the rainy season, which lasts from May to October, and the dry season, from November to April.
What are 5 interesting facts about Guatemala?
What is the capital of Guatemala?
Guatemala City
What is black sand called?
Basalt fragments Much of the debris is small enough to be considered sand. A large lava flow entering an ocean may produce enough basalt fragments to build a new black sand beach almost overnight.
Are there beaches in Antigua Guatemala?
Of the Atlantic and Pacific, the black sand beaches are the most visited, primarily due to proximity. From the tourist base of Antigua, you can reach Monterrico and El Paredón on the Pacific coast in a 2-2.5 hour shuttle (or not much longer from Guatemala City).
Where are the black sand beaches in Guatemala?
The town of Monterrico is situated on the Pacific coast of Guatemala in the departament of Santa Rosa. Known for its volcanic black sand beaches and annual influx of sea turtles, the town also serves as a major weekend beach resort for citizens of Guatemala City.
Is Guatemala in the northern hemisphere?
Guatemala is a country located in Central America. It is positioned in the Northern and Western hemispheres of the Earth.
What are the mountains in Guatemala called?
The Sierra Madre de Chiapas is a crystalline range of block mountains extending to the southeast along the Pacific coast from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into western Guatemala (where it is called the Sierra Madre).
What are some major mountains in Guatemala?
Some of the major peaks in Guatemala include Tajumulco, Tacaná, Acatenango, Volcán Santa Maria, Volcán de Fuego, Volcán Attilán, and Volcán de Agua.
Is Guatemala a Pacific island?
The Pacific Ocean coastline of Central America extends along the western to southwestern shores of six countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama (Fig.
Who are the Caribbeans?
The use of the words “Caribbean” and “Caribbeans” to refer to a West Indian or West Indians is largely known in the English-speaking Caribbean. Spanish-speaking Caribbeans do not like to be called Hispanics or Latins due to the significant differences between the South and Central American countries.
When was Antigua the capital of Guatemala?
Antigua, the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala, was founded in the early 16th century. Built 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773 but its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins.
Did Guatemala invent chocolate?
In fact, Guatemala is often called “the birthplace of chocolate,” where the ancient Mayans considered cacao, the plant and bean from which chocolate is made, a gift from the gods.
When was the last earthquake in Guatemala?
Is the volcano in Antigua active?
It sits about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of Antigua, one of Guatemala’s most famous cities and a tourist destination. It has erupted frequently since the Spanish conquest, most recently in June and November 2018 and 23 September 2021 (ongoing in 2022). Fuego is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level.
Is Guatemala safe travel?
Crime. Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Although the majority of serious crime involves local gangs, incidents are usually indiscriminate and can occur in tourist areas. Despite the high levels of crime, most visits to Guatemala are trouble-free.
Can you swim in Lake Atitlan?
We have found that Lake Atitlan is safe to swim in so long as there are no algae blooms. And trust me, you’ll know if there is a algae bloom. But we recommend finding a swimming spot away from one of the villages where it is usually cleaner. We swim off the private dock at Pasajcap Rentals nearly every day.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
Spanish
Is there a country called Guatemala?
Guatemala, country of Central America.
Where are the Guatemalan highlands?
The Guatemalan Highlands is an upland region in southern Guatemala, lying between the Sierra Madre de Chiapas to the south and the Petén lowlands to the north.
Does Guatemala have grasslands?
The Guatemalan subalpine grassland plant community occurs above 3,050 m (10,000 ft) on the high volcanoes on the border between Guatemala and Mexico’s Chiapas state, including Volcán Tacaná and Volcán Tajumulco.
What crops are grown in Guatemala?
The agricultural sector is a crucial component of Guatemala’s economy representing around 25% of the GDP and employing 50% of the labour force. The main crops are coffee, sugarcane, bananas and cotton, but also palm tree, celery, cauliflower and asparagus for a shorter period.
What is the vegetation of Guatemala?
The rough topography of the mountainous southern part of the country causes a highly diverse vegetation coverage ranging from mountain broadleaf forest, mountain coniferous forest, and subtropical humid forest in the highlands, arid thorn scrub in interior valleys, and tropical humid forest, tropical rainforest and …
Is Guatemala a third world country?
In summary, Guatemala is a third world country. Even though it is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions, it continues to struggle with the effects of its long civil war. During the cold war, Guatemala was not a part of the east and west conflict.
Where did Guatemala get its name?
Etymology. The name “Guatemala” comes from the Nahuatl word Cuauht”mallān (nahwiki), or “place of many trees”, a derivative of the K’iche’ Mayan word for “many trees” or, perhaps more specifically, for the Cuate/Cuatli tree Eysenhardtia.
Does Guatemala get snow?
Guatemala is a South American nation that is known as the ‘Land of the Eternal Spring’. With that moniker, it should come as no surprise that there is no snowfall across the majority of Guatemala.