Santo Tomas De Castilla, Guatemala tourism
Santo Tomas De Castilla (Matías de Gálvez) - Guatemala tourism
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Santo Tomás de Castilla, also known as Matías de Gálvez is a port city in the Izabal Department, Guatemala.
Seaport
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The seaport of the city was built in 1976, after an earthquake had severely damaged the port of Puerto Barrios. Today it is among the busiest in Central America and currently expanding. The port is located next to a free trade zone, the Zona de Libre Industria y Comercio Santo Tomás de Castilla, called Zolic. The port currently employs 2,100 workers. In 2004, 4.56 million tons of trading goods went through the port from 1,372 ships.
Cruise industry
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In 2004, a cruise ship terminal was completed and Santo Tomás de Castilla started receiving cruise ships. The cruise ship terminal has been a tremendous boost for the Guatemalan tourism industry. Four cruise ships a month, carrying 1,500 passengers each, make a stop here. Cruise ship passengers visit Guatemala chiefly for its Mayan culture, which sites are located throughout the country. Puerto Barrios Airport is being refurbished in order to handle small planes to transport ship passengers for day trips to Tikal or other places in Guatemala. Nearby attractions include Rio Dulce, Lake Izabal, the towns of Puerto Barrios, Livingston and San Felipe Castle, and the Mayan ruins of Quirigua.
Morgan Freeman Visits El Mirador in Guatemala!
Discover the full interview of Morgan Freeman life lesson during his visit to El Mirador in Guatemala!
Aereal Shots & Editing: Magnetico
Santa Cruz del Quiché - PICSPORADIC PLACES - Guatemala
Short video from my trip to Quiche this past week - even on a Monday the markets were bustling and full off activity!
Originally founded in the fifteenth century as the K’iche’ capital of K’umarcaaj Santa Cruz del Quiché was one of the first major cities and department heads of Guatemala. The city lies in the southwestern Chuacús Mountains at an elevation of 6,631 feet (2,021m). The town also functions as a market center for the Indian villages in the vicinity.
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From Quetzaltenango to La Mesilla, Guatemala, Central America, North America
Huehuetenango is one of the 22 departments of Guatemala. It is situated in the western highlands and shares borders with México in the north and west; with El Quiché in the east, with Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango, and San Marcos to the south. The capital is the city of Huehuetenango. Huehuetenango's ethnic composition is one of the most diverse in Guatemala. While the Mam are predominant in the department, other Maya groups are the Q'anjob'al, Chuj, Jakaltek, Tektik, Awakatek, Chalchitek, Akatek and K'iche'. Each of these nine Maya ethnic groups speaks their own language. The department of Huehuetenango takes its name from the city of the same name, which serves as the departmental capital. The name is derived from the Nahuatl language of central Mexico, given by the indigenous allies of the Spanish conquistadors during the Spanish Conquest of Guatemala. It is usually said to mean place of the elders but may be a corruption of place of the ahuehuete trees. Huehuetenango covers an area of 7,403 square kilometres (2,858 sq mi) in western Guatemala and is bordered on the north and west by Mexico. On the east side it is bordered by the department of El Quiché and on the south by the departments of Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos. The department encompasses almost the entire length of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes mountain range although there is a wide difference in altitude across the department, from heights of 3,352 metres (10,997 ft) above mean sea level to as low as 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, encompassing an equally wide variation in local climate, ranging from mountain peaks where the temperature sometimes falls below freezing to tropical lowland rainforest. The department possesses various rivers that flow into the Chixoy River, also known as the Río Negro, which flows into the system of rivers forming the drainage basin of the Usumacinta River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The most important tributaries of the Chixoy in Huehuetenango are the Hondo and Xecunabaj rivers, which flow into the department from the neighbouring departments of El Quiché and Totonicapán. The Cuilco River enters the department from neighbouring San Marcos and crosses into the Mexican state of Chiapas, where it joins with the Grijalva River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Its most important tributaries in Huehuetenango are the Apal, Chomá and Coxtón rivers. The Ixcán River has its source near Santa Cruz Barillas and flows northwards towards Mexico where it joins the Lacuntún River, a tributary of the Usumacinta. The Nentón River is formed in the municipality of San Sebastián Coatán by the joining of the rivers Nupxuptenam and Jajaniguán. It flows westwards across the border into Mexico where it empties into the Presa de la Angostura reservoir. The Selegua River has its source in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and flows northwards, crossing the border into Chiapas, where it joins the Cuilco River to form the Grijalva River, to flow onwards to the Gulf of Mexico. Its principal tributaries are the Pino, Sibilá, Ocubilá, Naranjo, Colorado, Torlón, Mapá ahd Chicol rivers. The largest body of standing water in the department is Laguna Yolnabaj, in the extreme north, close to the border with Mexico. Smaller lakes include Laguna Maxbal, Laguna Yolhuitz, and Laguna Seca, all in the northeast of the department. In 2004 the department was recorded as having 988,855 inhabitants, by 2008 this had grown to 1,056,566, making the department the second most populated in Guatemala, after the capital. Over 70% of the population are calculated to be living in poverty, with 22% living in extreme poverty and being unable to meet basic necessities. The majority of the population (variously estimated at 64--75%) belong to indigenous Maya groups with the remainder being Spanish-speaking Ladinos. The Ladinos tend to be concentrated in towns and villages including Huehuetenango, Cuilco, Chiantla, Malacatancito, La Libertad, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia, which have a relatively low indigenous population. In the rest of the department, the Maya groups make up the majority of the population as much in the towns as the countryside. Huehuetenango has the greatest number of Mam Maya in Guatemala, although there are also Mam speakers in the departments of Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, and in the Mexican state of Chiapas. In 2008, 58% of the population of the department was aged 19 years or under.
The Western Highlands of Guatemala Greg-adrienne's photos around Huehuetenango, Guatemala
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Entry from: Huehuetenango, Guatemala
Entry Title: The Western Highlands of Guatemala
Entry:
Before leaving on our trip we had envisioned Mexico and Central America to be full of markets where we could buy exquisite handicrafts at dirt cheap prices. Not so. Or at least not in the places we had been so far. Most of the markets we had visited were stocked with cheap imported goods from Asia. But Guatemala's Western Highlands were different, as they are populated by various Mayan groups that have lived there for over 2000 years and managed to hold on to their ancient languages, dress and traditions. And it was the Mayan presence and their bedazzling markets that made our 9 days here the most interesting leg of the entire trip from a we are experiencing another culture perspective. We had left La Libertad, El Salvador early in the morning on September 29 which allowed us to arrive in Antigua, Guatemala's former capital, by mid afternoon. With cobblestone streets, beautifully restored colonial-era buildings and towering volcanoes flanking it on 3 sides, Antigua was easy to like and we immediately placed it on our top 3 of cities we had been to on the trip. The area around El Arco (The Arch) de Santa Catalina in particular had enough charm to rival Europe's finest neighborhoods, and is no doubt one of the reasons why Antigua was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The number of tourists in Antigua also rivals that found in Europe's great cities, with the year-round spring climate (we wore sweaters at night-a first in 8 months of travel) and abundance of Spanish schools (Guatemalans are known for speaking Spanish with a particularly clear accent) also adding to its appeal. Although the influx of foreigners has led to the opening of things that cater to them - upscale hotels, restaurants and stores - Antigua is still home to a large Mayan population, as is most evident on market days (Mondays and Thursdays) when the vendors come armed with big baskets full of fruits, vegetables and other goods to sell. The mixing of these two worlds - Mayan and foreign - provided us with some wonderfully incongruent images: like standing in line at a McDonalds behind a Mayan family that was in its traditional dress and speaking an unrecognizable tongue. Although Antigua was largely spared from the horrific violence that rocked Guatemala in recent decades (leaving 100,000 dead and creating, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees), and although the peace agreement that ended Guatemala's civil war was signed over 10 years ago, there was a more vigilant approach to security in western Guatemala than in any of the other countries we had visited. For example, there was a strong military/police presence on the streets, no one left their car on the streets at night, and many businesses, including our hotel, kept their front door locked at all times. Because of this, we followed our guide book's advice and opted for the escorted (2 police officers) 20-minute walk that took us from the centre of town up to Cerro de la Cruz, a small hill with a cross that overlooks the city. After 4 nights in Antigua we made our way northwest to Panajachel, a small but growing town on the north side of Lago Atitlan, Guatemala's largest lake. Panajachel is one of the few towns on the lake that can be accessed by vehicle, albeit by way of a windy and very steep road that hugs the side of a cliff and that ...
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Photos from this trip:
1. . View over Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz
2. . View Of Main Plaza & Church, Antigua
3. . Artist & His Buddy, Antigua
4. . Arco de Santa Catalina, Antigua
5. . Street Scene, Antigua
6. . Street Vendor Enjoying An Ice Cream, Antigua
7. . Market, Antigua
8. . Guatemalan Masks
9. . Mountain Summit, Pacaya
10. . Pacaya Volcano & Recent Lava Flow
11. ...My Shoes Are Melting
12. . Lone Campers At Lago de Atitlan
13. . Night Watchman, Campsite On Lago de Atitlan
14. . I Swear This Wasn't My idea
15. . Celebrations in Panajachel
16. . Bailo de la Conquistadores
17. .Two Men from Solola
18. . Waldo's Not Hiding
19. . Tortilla-Making, Solola Market
20. . Mother with Son, Solola Market
21. . Vendor with his Woven Mats, Solola Market
22. . Our Evening At the Campsite, Lago de Atitlan
23. . Religious Procession Behind Flower Vendors
24. . Offerings to Ancestors, Front Steps of Church
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What is EXOTIC GUATEMALA TRAVEL Like?
Guatemala is an incredible country well worth exploring. Aaron has gone there and trekked around, so now he shares his experience with you. He’ll share the dangers and the joys of traveling in the country. He’ll share some tips to keep you safe and having fun. Plus he’ll reveal the location part of the first Star Wars was filmed in.
Tim's videos on the migrant caravan from Guatemala and Honduras:
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About Aaron Linsdau
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Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America, North America
Guatemala City, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala, and the most populous in Central America. The city is located in the south-central area of the country and has a large number of green areas. In 2009, it had a formal population of 1,075,000, but the metropolitan population is believed to be at least 2.3 million. Guatemala City is also the capital city of the local Municipio de Guatemala, and Guatemala Department.
The city is located at 14°38′N 90°33′W, in a mountain valley called Valle de la Ermita in the south central part of the country Guatemala. Guatemala City is the economic, governmental, and cultural capital of the Republic. The city also functions as the main port of entry into the country, with international airport, La Aurora International Airport and most major highways in the country originating or leading to the city. The city continues to be a pole for the attraction of immigrants from the country's rural areas as well as foreign immigrants. In addition to a wide variety of restaurants, hotels, shops, and a modern BRT transport system (Transmetro), the city has a wide variety of art galleries, theaters, sports venues and museums (including some fine collections of Pre-Columbian art) and continually offers an increasing amount of cultural activities. Guatemala City offers all the modern amenities along with important historic sites that a world class city can be expected to have ranging from an IMAX Theater to the Ícaro film festival (Festival Ícaro) featuring films produced in Guatemala and Central America. Despite its location in the tropics and the many micro climates found within the country, Guatemala City's elevation and the resulting moderating influence of the higher altitude enable it to enjoy a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb), though depending on location, it also borders on a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw). Guatemala City is generally mild, almost springlike, throughout the course of the year. It occasionally gets warm during the dry season, but not as hot as other sea-level cities located in the tropics. The hottest month is April. The rainy season extends from May to October while the dry season covers the remainder of the year. The city is also very windy, which may decrease the apparent temperature. The average annual temperature ranges from 22 to 28 °C (72 to 82 °F) during the day, and 12 to 17 °C (54 to 63 °F) at night. Guatemala City is subdivided into 22 zones designed by the urban engineering of Raúl Aguilar Batres, each one with its own streets and avenues, making it pretty easy to find addresses in the city. Zones are numbered 1-25 with Zones 20, 22 and 23 not existing as they would have fallen in two other municipalities territory. Addresses are assigned according to the street or avenue number, followed by a dash and the number of meters it is away from the intersection further simplifying address location. The zones are assigned in a spiral form starting in downtown Guatemala city. The city's metro area has recently grown very rapidly and has absorbed most of the neighboring municipalities of Villa Nueva, San Miguel Petapa, Mixco, San Juan Sacatepequez, San José Pinula, Santa Catarina Pinula, Fraijanes, San Pedro Ayampuc, Amatitlán, Villa Canales, Palencia and Chinautla forming what is now known as the Guatemala City Metropolitan Area. Zone One is the Historic Center, (Centro Histórico), lying in the very heart of the city, the location of many important historic buildings including the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (National Palace of Culture), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress, the Casa Presidencial (Presidential House), the National Library and Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Plaza, old Central Park). Efforts to revitalize this important part of the city have been undertaken by the municipal government and have been very successful thus far. In an attempt to control rapid growth of the city, the municipal government (Municipalidad de Guatemala) headed by longtime Mayor Álvaro Arzú, has implemented a plan to control its growth based on transects along its important arterial roads and exhibitting Transit-oriented development (TOD) characteristics. This plan denominated POT (Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial) aims to allow taller building structures of mixed uses to be built next to large arterial roads and gradually decline in height and density as you move away from such. It is also worth mentioning, that due to the Airport being in the city, to the south, many Aeronautic Height Limits have been applied to the construction code. This limits the maximum height for a building, at 60 Meters in Zone 10, up to 95 Meters in Zone 1. The city is located in the South-Central area of the country and has a lot of green areas. The city offers a portfolio of entertainment in the region, focused on the so-called Zona Viva and the Calzada Roosevelt as well as four degrees North.
Chicken Bus Panajachel Lake Atitlan to Coban, Guatemala
Going off the beaten trail in Guatemala by traveling from Panajachel Lake Atitlan to Semuc Champey or Flores Tikal via Chichicastenango, Santa Cruz del Quiche, Uspantan, and Coban. Some travelers prefer to spend the night in Uspantan and continue the next day to Flores Tikal or Semuc Champey, via Coban (Santo Domingo de Cobán, the capital of the department of Alta Verapaz). The problem is Uspantan has very limited accommodation options compared to Coban so I decided to go all the way to Coban from Panajachel in one day.
The last bus from Uspantan to Coban leaves at 3:30 PM, be sure to be in Uspantan in time to get it.
You will need to change buses several times (in Solola, Los Encuentros, Chichicastenango, Santa Cruz del Quiche and Uspantan) before arriving in Coban. However, changing buses is very easy and the frequency between all these cities is very good (buses every 20 min, on average). You can also stop in Chichicastenango for some quick shopping if you are doing the trip during the market days of Thursday and Sunday. Just be sure to be in Uspantan before 3:30 PM, when the last bus to Coban leaves. Otherwise, you are stuck in Uspantan (which is not bad but Coban is a much better city to spend the night).
Coban Guatemala Attractions - Templo El Calvario
Coban Guatemala Attractions - Parque Nacional Las Victorias
Chicken Bus Panajachel Lake Atitlan to Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala:
Chicken Bus Panajachel Lake Atitlan to Chichicastenango:
Chicken Bus Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel Lake Atitlan:
Boat prices for traveling between towns Lake Atitlan Guatemala
Chicken Bus Guatemala City To Antigua:
Chicken Bus Antigua to El Hato - Earth Lodge:
Chicken Bus Panajachel Lake Atitlan to Los Encuentros, Guatemala
Chichicastenango Guatemala Walking Tour
Chichicastenango Guatemala Market (Mercado de Chichicastenango)
October 2017
En lancha a Belice, Julio 2015
En lancha a Belice, dejando el crucero Monarch de Pullmantur, Julio 2015
Guatemala Mysteries
Mysteries of the Mayans