Guatemala - Photo Gallery

The church La Merced in Antigua.

Antigua's cathedral was begun in 1545, wrecked by the quake of 1773, and only partially rebuilt over the next century.

Antigua.

Early morning, it is possible to buy milk directly from a goat.

Corn was the staple of the Maya people for millennia and remains the main ingredient in the cuisine of Guatemalans.

Antigua.

The older buses, colloquially called, "chicken buses" are very popular mean of transport. The name chicken bus is a nickname that derives from the cargo taken taken by passengers in those buses like livestock ie. chickens.

Antigua.

The church La Merced in Antigua.

An active Volcano El Fuego.

Antigua partially in the shade of inactive volcano De Agua.

Library building in Antigua.

The communal graveyard in Antigua.

There are many churches in Antigua centre and suburbs. Many of them declined and ruined by frequent earthquakes in the region.

Extinct volcano Tolimán (3258 m a.s.l.) adjoining lake Atitlán that lies at the altitude of 1563 m.

Evening cruises on the lake Atitlán.

The town Flores is located on an island which is part of the lake Petén Itzá. The level of the like rises up permanently, submerging the shore of the island.

The centre of the island Flores, atop a small knoll, rises a double-domed cathedral, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, in front of which local meet to socialise.

The wheel on the right side is part of an ice grinder. The vendor shreds blocks of frozen water in to a cup adding different flavours of juice and sometimes topping it with dried fruits and nuts.

On the island of Flores, a few times a day, locals participated in spectacular parades with dancing effigies and live band playing on large cymbals and drums.

During Christmas time, according to some tradition, some shopkeepers cover the floor of their shop with a layer of needles from pine trees.

Local market in Santa Elena. The vendor sells hens suspended in the baskets.
After killing the birds, the unformed eggs are sold separately in plastic bags.

I stopped in a former biological field station in "Bocas del Polochic Wildlife Reserve". It used to be in the centre of big forest. Now it just a small patch of forest enclosed between swamps and oil palm plantation. In the picture a truck transporting fruits of oil palm.

Semuc Champey. Natural limestone bridge, on top of which is a stepped series of pools with cool, flowing river water. The main stream of the river flows in a naturally made tunnel for about 300m.

Water pools in Semuc Champey, are irresistible for tourist to have a dip.

A girl collecting resin for burning as an incense in their church.

In Guatemala system of recycling is almost non existent.
Most people burn the rubbish where the plastic is dominant.

Ancient ruins in Tikal. In front of many temples there are small altars on which the Maya burned perhaps offerings or some incense.

Temple V build around 700 AD. It is a second highest temple in Tikal complex, its height is 59m.

The temples are not overgrown and many are rebuilt or reconstructed, nevertheless the presence of surrounding jungle gives an awesome experience.

"The Gran Plaza" is the very centre of the ancient town of Tikal.

Strolling through the ruins of Tikal we can see mostly walls, stairs or chambers but bas-reliefs or other ornaments are not a common site.

When I was returning to my tent on the camp site a crocodile passed through.

Along west coast there is a stretch of 20 km Nature reserve Monterrico. Among mangroves, ferries shuttle people, goods or lorries.

Guatemala grapples with crime. Some coach companies implemented personal controles of passengers before each entry on the board.