Guatemala is bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean sea. It has many things to offer a visitor, immersing them in its culture, from its biodiversity to its pre-Columbian historical sites. It is a small adventure waiting to happen That will immerse you in the culture of the people through the pleasure of experiencing its traditional and the modern together, giving you a fully rounded picture of the cultural diversity of this country.
1. To truly immerse yourself in the Guatemalan culture you need to experience some of its past. The best way to see and learn about Guatemala’s past is to visit historical locations that can be found. To begin with go visit the Peten Mayan archaeological site in the northern part of the country, and the Mayan ruins, also the Cathedral de Santiago, a beautiful building hit by numerous earthquakes. It is a good point to start in your immersion into Guatemalan culture.
2. A second way to continue with your Guatemalan cultural immersion is to experience the natural preserves that can be found around the country. Experience your natural surroundings as you tour the natural and ecological preserves that are around the country. Embrace the natural beauty of the nature preserve Biotopo de Chocon Machacas with its 60 species of tree and 180 migrating birds, its volcanic beaches and the tropical jungles. You can appreciate and get to know the environment better, finding out how the people interact with different parts of their environment.
3. Continuing your immersion into the culture of Guatemala it must be remembered that history and nature are only a start. Hungry by now? the next place on our agenda should be a stop for some authentic traditional food in one of the small restaurants to be found here near the town square, and run by locals. The best place to start is with some paches as well as tamales de frijol con chiltepe. This is an excellent way to taste the cuisine within Guatemala.
4. If you want to travel to Guatemala there is no best time to go though the rainy season makes unpaved roads difficult from mid May to mid December. The dry season is from about November to April and you will get sweltering heat along the coasts, yet cooler in the highlands. The height of the tourist season is Christmas to Easter when you would be able to see how Christmas, New Year and Easter are celebrated by the people of Guatemala. These holidays will show you how the Guatemalans celebrate and immerse you further into their culture.
5. Communities gather in Guatemala in the town squares as with the Antigua, Parque Central with its old colonial buildings is a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists. Town squares are always good places to people watch, many dressed in the traditional clothing of their beautiful country. Here you can immerse yourself in the culture with the traditional costumes, crafts and food of Guatemala. Walking through the streets, markets or just sitting you will see all walks of life in Guatemala. You can enjoy and take in the smells and taste of all on offer of the local culture, and with everything you taste or smell you will find yourself wanting more.
6. Another step to immersing yourself in the culture of Guatemala is to meet people, talk to them about their lives, making new friends in the process. The markets and the local shops are perfect for this. You can meet local artisans in their shops, learn about their family’s roots and their ancient traditions first hand. This is a good way to relax and unwind, a good time to mingle in an unstressed atmosphere.
7. A final way to immerse yourself in the culture of Guatemala is to volunteer in one of the programs from around the world involved in rural education, development projects, and other social projects most affected by war. You could get involved with volunteers and teach English to small groups of children, giving them an essential advantage if they are ever going to attain success in Guatemala. In Guatemala City for example volunteers are involved with caring for infants and children, teaching children, caring for the elderly, assisting local health professionals, caring for people with disabilities. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to experience Guatemala as tourists rarely get the opportunity to do so.
Any of these steps above is the perfect opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a foreign culture. To see the world through the eyes of the inhabitants of that country is often an eye opener, yet a great experience. However you choose to do it you will be forever changed by your experiences. So plan your trip carefully, making sure you make the most of the time there. Following these guidelines will help make your trip to Guatemala unforgettable.
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