Guatemala City Holidays
Guatemala City was crowned the capital of Guatemala after Antigua was devastated by an earthquake during 1773. Home to one-fourth of the country’s entire population, Guatemala City is a sprawling megalopolis clinging to the ravines of a giant highland plateau and spectacularly cradled by a medley of volcanoes and mountains, most notably the active rumblings of Pacaya.
At the core of this dramatic landscape lies the hustle and bustle of Guatemala's historical district, Zona Vivre. Dominated by the stately blue tiled domes of Cathedral Metropolitana and the ornate façade of Palacio Nacional de la Cultura, the Plaza Mayor is busiest on Sunday's when Guatemalans congregate at the weekly handicraft market that fills the square. The New City resides in Zonas 9 & 10 south of Plaza Mayor, where you will find an array of cosmopolitan restaurants, bars and shops. Head toward Zona 13 to browse a selection of excellent museums including the Museo Nacional de Etnología y Arqueología (National Museum of Ethnology and Archaeology) exhibiting an impressive collection of Mayan artefacts, and the Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena (Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Dress) to name just a few.