Guatemala, 14N90W

Guatemala is a country inhabited by about 17 million people of different backgrounds. Originally the land of The Maya, now it is home to a diverse and rich population. Our country is distinguished by its tropical climate and particular geography, its eclectic food, many of its export goods such as coffee, bananas, and chocolate, and also by its exceptionally warm people, among many more things. This part of the continent has the blessing of being bathed by both the Pacific ocean to the south, and the Atlantic ocean to the northeast. Also, we have very interesting geographical features: The Sierra Madre crossing the entire territory; beautiful lakes such as Atitlán and Petén Itzá; many important rivers such as Cahabón, Usumacinta, La Pasión and Motagua; and also more than 25 volcanoes like Tajumulco and Fuego.

The tropical climate and fertile soil allow for the country to grow different crops that can be consumed locally and also be exported to different parts of the world. Coffee from Guatemala is sold in important shops accross the globe. The best coming from high altitudes is called “café de altura”. Bananas, on the other hand, are cultivated in lower areas like Izabal and Costa Sur, and they even appear in important books such as the Trilogía Bananera from Nobel Prize Laureate Miguel Angel Asturias.

It can be said of its people that they are warm and kind by nature. However, it has been noted that they can be sarcastic, can have a very dark sense of humor, and are prone to discussions and debates. They can be very friendly after strangers have gained their trust. One of their main features is that they can be very “cuenteros”: having great short story authors is a tradition in Guatemala.

Guatemala has a tasty and rich diet that includes local plants such as beans, corn, tomatoes, chiles, cacao, squash, nances and anonas, and these are fused with food from different parts of the world to make Jocón or Pepián, Tamales rojos, rellenitos, paches, chiles rellenos, etc. In a Time-Life book from the 70s, the Guatemalan diet, with its beans, squashes and corn, appears as one of the healthiest and more nutritious of the region: Mostly a plant based diet without many processed foods. But even with the evolution of gastronomy, boiled beans and tortillas con chirmol y chile are always present in all homes.

Full of surprises from the geographic to the culinary and beyond, this latitude welcomes both visitors and expats alike and invites them to plunge into the wild waters of the unexpected, hoping to give them at least unforgettable and special memories.