Take the Kids Along Family Guide Book

Transcription

1 Take the Kids Along Family Guide Book Guatemala By: Marina K. Villatoro TravelExperta.com

2 Guatemala An.gua, Tikal Maya Ruins, Lake A.tlan and so much More Welcome to Guatemala Did you Know 1. Guatemala s official name comes from the Maya- Toltec language meaning Land of The Trees. 2. Guatemala is called "The Land of Eternal Spring" because of its great weather year round. 3. Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, but there are over 20 different Mayan dialects spoken around the country. 4. Resplendent Quetzal is Guatemala s na0onal bird. 5. Guatemala is home to 3 UNESCO site: An0gua, Tikal and Quirigua. 6. The first ever chocolate bar is believed to be invented in Guatemala during Mayan 0mes. 7. The ancient Maya civiliza0on were the first to use the concept of zero. 8. The first calendar, which is the Mayan astrological calendar computa0on was first excavated in Guatemala which is also believed to be a perfect calendar. Table of Contents I. Guatemala II. Recommended I0nerary III. When to Bring the Kids along IV. Fes0vals and Holidays V. Taking the Kids to Eat VI. Shopping with Kids VII. An0gua VIII. Lake A0tlan IX. Tikal X. Chichicastenango XI. Rio Dulce XII. Livingston XIII. Coban, Lanquin and Semuc Champey XIV. Monterrico XV. Xetulul & Xocomil XVI. Quetzaltenango

3 Must See in Guatemala Tikal Maya Ruins and Na.onal Park A UNESCO World Heritage Site - these amazing Mayan ruins and the Na0onal Park will leave you in awe and prac0cally speechless of what the Mayan Civiliza0on was capable of doing more than 1000 years ago - at it s peak. Fun Fact - The discovery of Tikal Ruins was completely unexpected. A gum collector accidentally sighted one of the temple's roof s comb from a distance. He immediately told the Governor and the rest of the discovery is history. My Take On It: Guatemala has everything you need for a great trip Ruins, Volcanoes, Lakes, Ci.es and Luxury. Your kids will love this place. For a complete tour visit: An.gua, Lake A.tlan and Tikal. You ll get a taste of it all. An.gua Also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The whole city is full of historic buildings, museums and churches some are restored while others are s0ll in ruins due to two earthquakes! An0gua is considered to be the last true colonial city in all of La0n America, preserved from when the Spaniards arrived with cobblestone streets and hacienda style homes. Lake A.tlan Lake A0tlan has been called one of the top ten most beau0ful places in the world! The lake is surrounded by lush mountains and three volcanoes that highlight the lake s splendor. Lake A0tlan is surrounded by villages where the Maya culture s0ll dominates. The best way to get around the largest crater lake in the world is by taking a boat tour (private) of the villages.

4 Recommended I.nerary Day 1 Arrive in Guatemala City and head directly to the colorful and the last 'True' Colonial city of La0n America - An0gua (45 minute drive) Day 2 Walking and/or do a horse carriage tour of An0gua then go market hopping. Day 3 Visit ruins and enjoy a relaxing aoernoon in the famous Central Park. Day 4 Bye Bye An0gua - Off to Lake A0tlan and Panajachel (2 hour drive) Relax and enjoy the views of the lake. Day 5 Boat tour of the Mayan Village around the lake and more market shopping fun. Day 6 Bye Bye A0tlan - head to Guatemala City for a flight to Tikal Mayan Ruins arrive in the evening and enjoy Flores. Day 7 Tikal Mayan Ruins tour. Day 8 Fly back to Guatemala City and home sweet home.

5 Fes.vals and Holidays Guatemala has two of the most special and unique holidays in the world November 1 - Day of the Dead Kite Fes.val This unbelievable custom is actually over three- thousand- years- old. Developed from a mixture of local religious prac0ces and Chris0anity. On this day, local residents dress up in tradi0onal bright- colored clothing and go to the graveyards to fly enormous kites in hopes that they can communicate with the departed. While the kites are constructed simply out of bamboo, cloth, paper and wire, they are amazingly durable even in strong winds. These kites are designed in a circular shape and usually with a religious or folkloric theme. When to Bring the Kids Guatemala is known as the country of Eternal Spring. There is a rainy season. However, in my years of living here and visi0ng, it s very mild. Technically, it starts in late May un0l Mid November. This usually means heavy rains for about 30 minutes and done. Or on bad days it can be a couple of hours. They are gigan0c! 24 to 36 meters in diameter and are known as Barilletes Gigantes in Spanish. The fes0val takes place in Sumpango during Dia de los Muertos. This is when is the tradi0onal fiambre, dish is cooked. It takes three to four days to prepare and is a mixture of meats, fish, sausages and vegetables. My Take on It There is good reason why this country is called Land of Eternal Spring. Few places in Central America have such absolutely PERFECT weather! Yes, it will rain during the rainy season, but it s the tropics. Thanks to this rain there s green beauty all around and the rains are mild, they won t be an issue at all.

6 What To Eat Typical Guatemalan Food Guatemala offers diverse dishes for each region which has a completely different style of its own. Most tradi0onal foods are based on Maya cuisines with the main ingredients of corn and beans. There are foods that are tradi0onally eaten on certain days of the week, like Tamales which are typically eaten on Saturdays. And on special occasions "fiambre" is only eaten during All Saints Day and Tamales every Christmas season. Even during the 0me of the ancient Maya, corn has been the cornerstone food of Guatemala. Tor.llas This is the staple food of Guatemala. No meal is complete without a tor0lla. They go with just about anything. They replace forks and spoons. With prac0ce anyone can learn to eat an en0re meal using the tor0llas as utensils. Guatemalan tor0llas are white, smoky- tas0ng and fluffy. You can buy them everywhere - Five tor0llas for 10 cents! Refried Black beans (Frijoles Volteados) All Guatemalans eat beans at least once per day. Black beans have been a base of their daily diet for centuries. Refried Beans or Frijoles Volteados are a common side dish in Guatemala. The black or red beans are slow- cooked all day long, mashed and then fried in oil with various seasonings including onions, salt and pepper.

7 Shopping with Kids Jade Prized by the Mayan kings and rulers, An0gua is known worldwide as a place to shop for Guatemala's high quality jade - one of the finest in the world. There are two types of jade: Nephrite and Jadeite. Guatemala has Jadeite, a precious stone sacred to the Mayans. In Mayan tradi0on, when a person of a lower social class died, a piece of Jade was placed in the mouth because the Maya thought that the spirit would always leave the body through the mouth. When leaving it would take the piece of Jade as the passport to Heaven. Coffee Guatemalan coffee is cul0vated and processed carefully by hand. An0gua s coffee is enriched by the three volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. The rich volcanic soil, low humidity, lots of sun, and cool nights characterize the An0gua's coffee region. Huehuetenango coffee has a taste that is subtle and mild yet s0ll complex and interes0ng. It has also won the second best coffee in the world. The best place to buy Guatemala s prized coffee, ironically, is at the airport before leaving this country. Tips: Bargain, bargain, bargain - it s all part of the fun. You can start by going half down, and then both you and the vendor will meet somewhere in between Shop in the markets, it s the best places for good bargains, they carry the same goods at much befer prices. However, for quality Jade, only shop in stores!

8 An.gua Colorful, Colonial and Simply Spectacular Welcome to An.gua

9 Map of An.gua

10 Did You Know: 1. An0gua was once known as Ciudad de San0ago, and was once the poli0cal, religious and economic hub of Central America. 2. It is surrounded by three volcanoes, which are visible when it s clear out and helps you stay oriented. 3. A series of earthquakes in 1773 destroyed the whole city and was abandoned. Most survivors leo to Guatemala City, which became the capital. 4. The survivors that didn t leave, slowly over the years rebuilt their city. Stopped calling it San0ago but called it "An0gua Guatemala" or the "Old Guatemala City. 5. An0gua is Guatemala's top tourist des0na0on and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. My Take On It: An0gua is one of those places that CAN NOT be missed if you are anywhere in the Central American region. It s without a doubt one of the most beau0ful ci0es to see with your family. There are so many things to do and experience that your kids will never want to leave! Plus, the shopping is fun, the choice of restaurants makes you feel as though you are in the epicenter of interna0onal cuisines, amazing luxury hotels and the best part The Price is So Right!

11 Casa Santo Domingo Address: 3a Calle Oriente No. 28 "A Rates: $125 and up This is one of the most luxurious, unique hotels in all of La0n America. Casa Santo Domingo at one point was one of the most grandest convents in Central America. Today this hotel also houses one of the best preserved ruins aoer the earthquakes. Aside from the amazing hotel rooms and suites and pool area, it also has a museum, catacombs and chapel. TIP: Even if you re not staying here, this will be a place you will visit as a point of interest. Kid Friendly Hotels Tip: An0gua is known for its bou0que, colonial hotel selec0on at amazing prices. If you splurge you will be gevng 5 star rooms for a frac0on of the price you are used to paying. Hotel Quinta de las Flores Address: Calle del Hermano Pedro No. 6 Rates: $100 and up This small, lovely hotel must have some of the best gardens in all of An0gua with a great pool area. Plus the rooms are adorable. It is a ligle bit of a walk from the center, but in a very quiet area. Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo Address: Calle del Arco, An0gua Rates: $90 and up Loca0on, Loca0on, Loca0on! This luxury hotel is right on An0gua s most popular street Arc Street. Even though it s so central, once you walk inside and are standing in their large colonial courtyard, the tranquility allows you to feel as though you are far from the ac0on.

12 An.gua Ruins Entrances fee is about $5 per person. A devasta0ng earthquake in 1773 rocked An0gua, destroying its churches, convents and monasteries. Some of the churches were rebuilt while acres of gardens, courtyards, cloisters and naves are s0ll in ruins. Now you can picnic at them while kids explore and climb what once were great buildings. Kid Friendly Ac.vi.es La Merced Church Address: 1 C. Poniente and 6 Av. Norte Rate - $5 entrance to the fountain This church was fully restored aoer the earthquake and is in service today. However, the monastery agached to it was leo in ruins. Within the ruined monastery is the largest fountain in An0gua, "Fuente de Pescados. Santa Clara Convent - Ruins Address: 2 Av. Sur at 6 C. Oriente The grounds of the Santa Clara Convent ruins are well kept perfect for a 0me out if the kids get too restless. You can only imagine the grandeur of this convent as you walk around and see the cloister with two- 0ered arcade and nine arches that surround the fountain. The nave and altar that is also in ruin can be best explored with a flashlight. Church Ruins

13 For the complete Guide and tons of Insider Fun BUY NOW! - Find the Best Family Friendly Hotels and Adventures - Free and Dirt Cheap Attractions for the Whole Family - Secret Spots to Explore - Insider Tips and So Much More! So Buy Now and Have a Trip of a Lifetime With Your Family Take the Kids Along! Guatemala Family Guide Book

14 Fun Info & Disclosure Time is so precious. Especially when it comes to planning your family vaca0on. So why waste it on looking through hundreds of websites (most of them outdated) and reading through 300 page guidebooks that barely touch upon REAL family travel and kid friendly places? With our family's hours of researching and personally experiencing each loca0on, hotel and tour I hope this book will help you with your trip and give you more 0me to do what you really love - being with your kids and gevng them excited for the new adventure! Each hotel and tour has been tested and approved by my family. We love the local and most authen0c experiences from bou0que, locally owned hotels to the most typical, and educa0onal tours! The guide specifically stays away from restaurant recommenda0ons because traveling with kids takes on a whole different feel and many kids are either picky eaters or don't like to sit through a fancy dinner. What the guide (and I) do recommend and highly promote is ea0ng (or at least trying) local cuisines. The guide helps you navigate through the most common cuisines of each country and region. And most importantly to get the kids excited about experiencing new foods! Now it's 0me to have some SERIOUS fun! Happy Travels, Marina K. Villatoro and The Villatoro Family Travelexperta.com All contents copyright 2012 by Travel Lat Am Corporation. All rights reserved This informa.on was accurate when it was published, but can change without no.ce. Please confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in ques.on before planning your trip.