Guatemala

This fascinating country is found nestled between Mexico in the north and Honduras, Belize and Salvador. The name Guatemala is said to originate from the Aztec words Quauhtemallan meaning "land of trees" as well as Guhatezmalha meaning the mountain that vomits water! Guatemala was occupied by the Spanish like the majority of Latin American countries in the 16th century, but today its native cultures are predominant and proudly exist. Guatemala has been inhabited by these people for the past 20, 000 years. There are 22 native languages in Guatemala with 21 indigenous Mayan civilisations making the country a fantastic cultural destination to visit. The country is a mountainous region with valleys and sandy regions. There are two main mountain ranges in the country which vide Guatemala into three regions, the highlands, the Pacific coast and the Southern mountain regions. Because Guatemala is situated between the Pacific and the Caribbean oceans, the country is prone to hurricanes which over the years have devastated the country, causing mudslides and flooding. Guatemala consists of 14 different ecological regions including mangrove forests, two coastlines, highlands and wetlands. The Maya bio-reserve in Peten is considered the 2nd largest forest in the whole of South America. The country has 1246 species of which 6.7 % are endemic to the country. Despite its violent and politically turbulent history, the natural, cultural and historic appeal of the country is fascinating and attracts many travellers and backpackers to the country. This, combined with the extremely low cost of living, make it a popular destination for all types of travellers.