{"id":156906,"date":"2025-03-26T02:33:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T02:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/12-guatemala-facts-that-you-probably-dont-know\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T02:33:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T02:33:01","slug":"12-guatemala-facts-that-you-probably-dont-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906","title":{"rendered":"12 Guatemala Facts That You Probably Don&#8217;t Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Ancient Maya ruins nestled in the jungle, the colorful town of Antigua and magnificent volcanoes all throughout the country\u2026 <a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\">Guatemala <\/a>has plenty of noteworthy sites to explore.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But, compared to its neighbors in Central America (we\u2019re looking at you, <a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/costa-rica\">Costa Rica<\/a>), this beautiful country remains pretty under the radar.<\/p>\n<p>So, to give you some insider tips, we\u2019ve curated a bunch of surprising and curiosity-inducing Guatemala facts. They prove that Guatemala is worthy of the spotlight, and maybe, just maybe, they\u2019ll entice you to visit for yourself.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. There are 21 dialects spoken in Guatemala<\/h3>\n<p>Spanish is the official language and is spoken by 90% of the population. However, there are long-standing Mayan, Xinca and Gar\u00edfuna roots too. Since the Maya civilization (a group of Indigenous people of Mesoamerica) was first developed, the language has evolved into around 21 dialects that can be heard today on a true <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\/maya-encounter-160423\">Mayan encounter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/indigenous-tour-leader-guatemala\/\">Read more: Intrepid\u2019s Operations Manager in Guatemala shares how he embraces his Maya heritage<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Blue denim flourishes in Guatemala<\/h3>\n<p>Many Maya women are crafty textile producers. And Guatemala is actually a leader in blue denim production.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles.jpg\" alt=\"Guatemalan woman holding bright coloured textiles\" class=\"wp-image-23762 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles.jpg\" alt=\"Guatemalan woman holding bright coloured textiles\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23762\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_local-selling-textiles-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Today, textile weaving is still ever-present in towns like San Antonio Aguas Calientes, just outside Antigua. Guatemalans wear Huipiles (an incredible garment typically woven by local women) with a sacred meaning based on region.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Guatemalans invented the first-ever chocolate bar<\/h3>\n<p>All of us (well, the chocolate lovers among us) would agree with the Maya people who worship the cacao tree. They call chocolate \u201cthe food of the Gods.\u201d And they believe that chocolate holds incredible nutritional benefits, like reducing blood pressure.\u00a0Today, Guatemala is a mass producer and exporter of chocolate products.<\/p>\n<p>But don\u2019t worry \u2013 there\u2019s still plenty of quality chocolate to enjoy while in the country. Many of the best places are in shops around Antigua. And when there, be sure to visit\u00a0ChocoMuseo, a museum that\u2019ll teach you about its history and nutritional values.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. There are more than 30 volcanoes in Guatemala<\/h3>\n<p>The insane number of volcanoes in Guatemala is surely enough to put it on the map. Of these, the most noteworthy volcano is Tajumulco. It\u2019s the highest peak in Central America at a whopping 4,202 metres. Out of over 30 volcanoes, only three are active: Fuego, Pacaya and Santiaguito.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano.jpg\" alt=\"Agua volcano viewpoint in the streets of Antigua\" class=\"wp-image-23761 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano.jpg\" alt=\"Agua volcano viewpoint in the streets of Antigua\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_street-houses-volcano-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Oh, the beauty of Guatemala\u2019s volcanoes. Extra fact: the bath by Quetzaltenango\u2019s volcano is naturally heated by a volcanic vent.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cOnce at the base of the volcano, you have the opportunity to roast some marshmallows in a pit to celebrate all that effort you put in for climbing this active volcano. If you are lucky, you can even roast them over molten rock.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Dennis Asturias, one of Intrepid\u2019s local leaders in Guatemala, shares a snippet of his experience on the hike<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>An experience you won\u2019t want to miss is a hike up Pacaya volcano. Whether you trek by foot or take a horse ride up, the view from the top of Pacaya is simply spectacular.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Tikal National Park is the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/h3>\n<p>Tikal National Park has earned its title as <a href=\"http:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/64\">the first mixed UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a> for its cultural and natural wonders. Tikal\u2019s Maya ruins are embedded in the jungle. From a distance, you can spot them pop out of the rich green canopy\u00a0\u2013 it\u2019s breathtaking.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of Tikal ancient ruins\" class=\"wp-image-23760 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial view of Tikal ancient ruins\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala_Tikal_NP-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Climb to the top of the ruins to spot local residents (we\u2019re talking toucans and macaws). Find out about the history behind the 5 granite temples by a fantastic local guide (we\u2019ve got you covered on Intrepid\u2019s 17-day small group adventure from Mexico to Belize).<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Some Guatemalans worship a Saint named\u00a0Maxim\u00f3n<\/h3>\n<p>Arguably, one of the most mysterious Guatemalan facts is the worshipping of Maxim\u00f3n. A shocking legend about him says that when the village men would head off to work,\u00a0Maxim\u00f3n slept with all of their wives! Consequently, the men cut off Maxim\u00f3ns arms and legs in a fit of anger, which explains why most effigies of him are made without arms.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Coffee is Guatemala\u2019s biggest export business<\/h3>\n<p>Coffee is big in Guatemala. Like, really big. By 1880, coffee accounted for 90% of Guatemala\u2019s\u00a0exports, and even today, it\u2019s one of the country\u2019s main exports and sources of income.\u00a0The coffee has a distinct flavor to it, typically full-bodied and has rich chocolate and cocoa flavors.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest.jpg\" alt=\"Coffee beans being harvested in Guatemala\" class=\"wp-image-23767 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest.jpg\" alt=\"Coffee beans being harvested in Guatemala\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_coffee-beans-harvest-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cIf you are an avid coffee drinker like myself, I would recommend going to places that show you the whole process of acquiring coffee. About 2 km away from the main plaza in Antigua is a place called La Azotea. Take a tuk-tuk to this place for an authentic, yet practical experience. At La Azotea, you can visit the coffee museum as well the music museum. The coffee museum is set in an old mill and visitors are provided explanations of the history, processing, marketing and brewing of coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Coffee experience recommendation from Dennis,\u00a0one of Intrepid\u2019s local leaders in Guatemala<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. A hurricane unveiled a \u2018Rhode Island-sized\u2019 jade mine<\/h3>\n<p>Guatemala is among the biggest jade producers in the world. The Maya people used these rare stones for ideological rituals. On a visit, you can buy your own precious stones from the jewelry stores around Antigua.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Old American school buses live their second lives as \u2018chicken buses\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>When big yellow American school buses near 10 years or clock in 150,000 miles, some are auctioned off and driven down to Guatemala. The buses are revived by locals with strokes of paint in every color of the rainbow. Guatemalans then use it for local transport. Riding Guatemala\u2019s public transit is a thrilling ride. Opting for this budget-friendly travel alternative will give you an eclectic local experience.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street.jpg\" alt=\"Traveler standing in front of a colorful bus\" class=\"wp-image-23757 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street.jpg\" alt=\"Traveler standing in front of a colorful bus\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_bus-traveller-street-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. At Tortugario Montericco, you can help release turtles into the sea<\/h3>\n<p>Who doesn\u2019t want to see and help these cute creatures take their steps in life? At Tortugario Montericco, you have the opportunity to help with conservation efforts.\u00a0They\u2019ve set up nested protection for the eggs along the beach (an area that\u2019s an important nesting site for olive ridley turtles).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The nesting season runs from June to December and peaks in August and September. So if you are in Guatemala around this time, this is a fabulous opportunity for wildlife lovers to engage in releasing of the turtles.<\/p>\n<p><cite>Dennis,\u00a0one of Intrepid\u2019s local leaders in Guatemala, gives tips on when to go<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Guatemala\u2019s Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America<\/h3>\n<p>Just as deep as it is beautiful! Only 4 hours away from Antigua, it\u2019s a fantastic spot for enthusiastic photographers to capture some of the best volcano views.<\/p>\n<p>San Jorge La Laguna is a small village that overlooks Lake Atitlan and is home to locals eager to let you in on their traditional crafts. Better yet,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/guatemala\/maya-encounter-160423\">stay with a local host family<\/a> to really immerse yourself in the culture.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full wp-image-23758\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the sunset from a rickety wooden pier on Lake Atitlan.\" class=\"wp-image-23758 lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset.jpg\" alt=\"A view of the sunset from a rickety wooden pier on Lake Atitlan.\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-23758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_lake-atitlan_dock-pier-sunset-585x329.jpg 585w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. Guatemalans fly kites to honor their dead<\/h3>\n<p>All Saints Day Kite Festival is Guatemalans\u2019 way of honoring their dead. Every year on November 1st, Guatemalans partake in this ritual that has been around for more than 3000 years. People flock to the cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones. Then, Guatemalans fly massive and intricately decorated kites high in the sky\u2014it\u2019s quite the sight to behold.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ipf-title\">Why not learn more about Guatemala&#8230; in Guatemala?<\/h2>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p><em>A major thank you to Intrepid\u2019s local Guatemala tour leader, Dennis Asturias, for his on-the-ground insights!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ancient Maya ruins nestled in the jungle, the colorful town of Antigua and magnificent volcanoes all throughout the country\u2026 Guatemala has plenty of noteworthy sites to explore.\u00a0 But, compared to its neighbors in Central America (we\u2019re looking at you, Costa Rica), this beautiful country remains pretty under the radar. So, to give you some insider [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":156907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[4629,6024,24724],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-156906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-dont","tag-facts","tag-guatemala"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>12 Guatemala Facts That You Probably Don&#039;t Know - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"12 Guatemala Facts That You Probably Don&#039;t Know - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ancient Maya ruins nestled in the jungle, the colorful town of Antigua and magnificent volcanoes all throughout the country\u2026 Guatemala has plenty of noteworthy sites to explore.\u00a0 But, compared to its neighbors in Central America (we\u2019re looking at you, Costa Rica), this beautiful country remains pretty under the radar. So, to give you some insider [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-26T02:33:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_st-catarina-arc-volcano.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b85e3c3dc0e1daea076524dc8810c371\"},\"headline\":\"12 Guatemala Facts That You Probably Don&#8217;t Know\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-26T02:33:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\"},\"wordCount\":1256,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Intrepid-Travel-guatemala_antigua_st-catarina-arc-volcano.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Dont\",\"facts\",\"Guatemala\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Adventure\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=156906\",\"name\":\"12 Guatemala Facts That You Probably Don't Know - 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