Guatemala

Guatemala luxury travel means journeying to the heart and soul of Mayan civilization. Every year, countless visitors venture to jungle shrouded ruins of Guatemala’s once great Maya cities. Of these archaeological sites, Yaxhá, El Mirador, and Tikal take top prize.

Living Maya Culture

What most visitors are surprised to learn is that Maya civilization didn’t simply die with its cities. Indeed, it is still alive and thriving here. More than half of Guatemalans are descendants of the indigenous Maya peoples. They continue to carry out the traditions of their ancestors to this day in the country’s Western Highlands. Perhaps the most evident example of this is the lively market of Chichicastenango, or “Chichi.” Here, thousands of Quiche Mayans make the pilgrimage to buy and sell their handicrafts, flowers, poetry, and textiles. The result is the most colorful native market in the Americas.

Picture Perfect

Meaning “land of trees,” Guatemala might be the size of Ohio, but it remains Central America’s most diverse country. It boasts 14 recognized eco-regions ranging from mangrove forests to ocean littorals. Pacific Coast lowlands in the south rise to the volcanic Sierra Madre and the heavily-forested and mountainous highlands. They then descend to Guatemala’s narrow Caribbean coastline. It is Central America’s most populous state, but only two-percent of its landmass remains urbanized. This leaves plenty of room for some superb natural scenery. Some highlights include the national parks of Petén, the lush canyons of the Río Dulce, and the volcano-ringed beauty of Lake Atitlán. These postcard-worthy spots that have captivated travelers for centuries.

Time Capsule Cities

Luxury travel to Guatemala includes dozens of historical and natural landmarks to explore. However, you cannot overlook the colonial charms found here. The Spanish left behind a wealth of stunning architecture. It can be witnessed in Antigua’s time capsuled cobblestone streets and Guatemala City’s romantic central plaza. Even the smallest towns maintain vestiges of their glory days. Colonization has also left behind a fusion of Mayan-meets-contemporary flavors and a distinctly Guatemalan culinary identity. Indeed, many of our favorite foods—think: guacamole, tamales, and chocolate—were discovered, developed, and refined centuries ago by Guatemala’s ancient Maya world.

Luxury Travel to Guatemala with Ker & Downey

Luxury travel to Guatemala with Ker & Downey lets you delve into this fascinating culture. Discover the country's culinary traditions and the fascinating timeless history of this beautiful country by contacting Ker & Downey to incorporate Guatemala luxury travel into your next Central America journey. Meanwhile, browse our completely customizable Guatemala vacation packages for further inspiration.