Las Americas Avenue
After leaving your hotel or starting point, you´ll experience the “Americas Avenue”, a place that has different monuments and plazas dedicated to different countries in America´s continent. The countries are represented by different characters that were important in their history and other monuments that are artistic manifestations. If that´s not enough you'll be able to appreciate all the contemporary buildings and the most expensive residential zone of Guatemala City.
La Reforma Avenue
At the end of “Americas Avenue”, you will find the Obelisco, which also connects with “Reforma Avenue” which is considered one of the main boulevards of Guatemala City. Today many of the residential homes have been replaced by modern buildings and it is now considered a business and commercial district. Also, a cycleway was built along the avenue in 2013. Part of the Avenida Reforma is closed to traffic on Sunday mornings, as part of a program implemented by the Guatemala City Municipality. Throughout the 20th century, more sculptures were added, honoring diverse people such as Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross; Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Benito Juárez, Mexican leaders; José Joaquín Palma and Rafael Álvarez Ovalle, creators of the national anthem of Guatemala; and Miguel Ángel Asturias, winner of the 1967 Nobel Prize in Literature. Other notable monuments are the Monumento a la Madre, which honors motherhood, and several statues of animals such as lions, bulls, and wild boars.
Central Park
The place to start a sightseeing tour through the historic center of Guatemala City must be the Constitution Square (officially: Plaza Mayor de la Constitución), which has also been called Central Park, since it is in the heart of Zone 1, the city downtown. In this area there are the most important government, financial and administrative buildings of the country.
Metropolitan Cathedral
For those history and architecture lovers out there, this is a spot that can´t be missed. Is an imposing twin-towered structure. It stands 300 feet long and 100 feet wide on the east side of the Constitution Square. It was designed by the Spanish architect Marcos Ibáñez and built in the neoclassical style with completion in 1815. The cathedral has survived three major earthquakes: 1830, 1917, and 1976. Here you will appreciate the image of the Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), the oldest catholic image in Guatemala, brought by Hernán Cortés in 1522. Without a doubt is one of the most valuable, historical, and artistic properties in Guatemala´s modern history.
National Palace
Built between 1939 and 1943 to be the National Palace or house of the government, it was declared Historic, Cultural, and Artistic Patrimony of Guatemala in November 1980. It is now open to the public as a museum, an art gallery for permanent and temporary exhibits. The ballroom and other big areas within the palace are used now to celebrate official ceremonies, like the signing of Guatemala's historic Peace Accords, held on December 28, 1986.
Mayan Textile and Culture Museum
The Ixchel Museum is one of the most modern and beautiful museums in Guatemala City. It has the largest collection of Mayan clothing items used over time and continuously. 181 communities are represented in this collection with garments dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries to the present day.
This collection includes skirts, huipiles, and all kinds of everyday and ceremonial garments for men and women. Your visit will be perfect in the company of a tourist guide, an expert on the matter and with years of experience who will explain every detail so that you understand the immense history and culture of Guatemala. Enjoy this visit!
Handicraft Market
Interesting Crafts from all over the Country are located where, Visitors can take a look of the different products that Guatemala export and also take the chance of buying some travel souvenirs.
Hotel Drop-Off
At the end of the day, we will take you back to your hotel safely. We hope that you enjoy the tour and come back soon!
