Guatemala

Location: Located in Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize.  Guatemala consists of a land area of a little more than 42,042 square miles (slightly large than the state of Tennessee).

Climate: Guatemala’s climate varies according to altitude. The coastal regions and the northeast are hot throughout the year with an average temperature of 68°F sometimes rising to 99°F. Generally, nights are clear all year round.  The rainy season extends from May to October inland and to December along the coast, and the dry season from November (or January) to April. Because of its consistently temperate climate, Guatemala has been called the “Land of Eternal Spring.

Appearance: The general prosperity has procured Guatemala the name of the Paris of Central America.  Spanish is the official language, but since the end of the civil war in December 1996, twenty-two indigenous languages, mostly dialects of the Mayan linguistic family, have been recognized.