Guatemala City Overview

By Christopher Minster

Minster

Guatemala City, (Guate to locals) the sprawling capital, is considered by most travelers simply a place to catch a plane or pass through on the way to a more pleasant part of Guatemala. This is a little bit unfair, as the city – the largest in Central America – does have much to offer.

The city is divided into zones, which start at the center and radiate outward. The center area, zone 1, is the colonial part of the city and home to many governmental buildings, cathedrals and impressive architecture. It is packed with locals during the day, who sell goods to each other at very low prices. Some of the more inexpensive hotels, popular with backpackers and budget travelers, can be found here.

Another zone of interest to travelers is zone four, a commercial zone which also houses the national theater, the Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias, named after Guatemala’s greatest writer. Along Avenida de la Reforma are zones 9 and 10, a pleasant area with tree-lined streets, small parks, and the best hotels and restaurants in the city. The area has the nickname “zona viva,” or “lively zone” due to the number of clubs and bars.

Archaeology buffs will appreciate a glimpse of Guatemala’s history. The Museo Nacional de Arqueologia and Etnologia is in Guatemala City, with displays of pre-Columbian artifacts found at Mayan sites all over the country. The Kaminaljuyu ruins, which boasts about 100 small structures, is not far from the center of town.