Puerto Quetzal Guatemala. The modern port city of Puerto Quetzal is your gateway to the delights of Guatemala. Situated on the Pacific coastline, 67 miles south of Guatemala City, Puerto Quetzal is one of the major ports serving the Central American country. Explore the World Heritage Site of La Antigua Guatemala, head for the highlands to take in Lake Atitlan, and uncover a colorful history dating back to Mayan times. On your travels, you’ll see a completely different lifestyle in the roadside villages surrounding Puerto Quetzal and encounter breathtaking landscapes, punctuated with verdant mountains, dormant volcanoes, rolling hills, and a mesmerizing coastline.
Exploring Guatemala by sea begins in Puerto Quetzal but it’s outside the city that you’ll encounter the region’s most celebrated sights. A short journey to the Western Highlands brings you to Lake Atitlan, one of Guatemala’s most attractive beauty spots and home to around a dozen villages. The former capital of Guatemala, Antigua, is also a short commute from Puerto Quetzal and well worth a visit. Arguably, the most splendid of South America’s old colonial cities, Antigua is now a World Heritage site with much to admire. Many buildings date back to the 16th Century and the museums and architecture offer a fascinating insight into the city’s past.
Guatemalan dishes reflect Mayan, Spanish, and Mexican influences. Food is often of a high standard, but the cost of the meal doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality. Comedores (typical Guatemalan restaurants serving local food) can be found all over and are very reasonable although, in the more remote areas, a little Spanish would be helpful to understand the menu. Seafood, tortillas, and black beans are very popular and serve most meals. Corn on the cob, grilled beef, chicken, and guacamole are other Guatemalan culinary staples. Beer and rum are among the most common alcoholic beverages consumers, while the local firewater – Quetzalteca – is extremely potent.
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