POP 3.4 MILLION / ELEV 1500M

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Best Places to Eat ¨ Ambia (p57)

¨ Arbol de la Vida (p56)

¨ La Cocina de Señora Pu (p55)

¨Café de Imeri (p55)

¨ Kacao (p56)

Best Places to Sleep

¨Dai Nonni (p54)

¨Hotel Colonial (p53)

¨ Theatre International Hostel (p52)

¨ Eco Suites Uxlabil (p54)

¨ Posada Belen (p52)

When to Go

Mar & Apr The capital makes a good base for day trips to over-crowded Antigua during Easter.

Aug The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Asunción on the 15th features fireworks, parades and folk dancing.

Nov–Mar The drier, cooler months are a perfect time to visit the otherwise muggy city.

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Guatemala CityWhy Go?Depending on who you talk to, Guatemala City (or Guate as it’s known) is either big, dirty, dangerous and utterly forget-table or big, dirty, dangerous and fascinating. Either way, there’s no doubt there’s an energy here unlike anywhere else in Guatemala. It’s a place where dilapidated buses belch fumes next to BMWs and Hummers, and where skyscrapers drop shadows on shantytowns.

Guate is busy reinventing itself as a people-friendly city. Downtown Zona 1, for years a no-go zone of abandoned buildings and crime hot spots, is leading the way with the pe-destrianized 6a Calle attracting bars, cafes and restaurants.

Many travelers skip the city altogether, preferring to make Antigua their base. Still, you may want, or need, to get acquainted with the capital, because this is the hub of the country, home to the best museums and galleries, transport hubs and other traveler’s services.

Includes ¨Sights ........................... 44Activities ...................... 49Tours ............................ 49Sleeping ....................... 52Eating ........................... 54Drinking & Nightlife ..... 57Entertainment ............. 57Shopping ...................... 58Information .................. 58Getting There & Away ....59Getting Around .............. 61

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See Guatemala City North Map (p46)

See Guatemala City South Map (p50)

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1 Visiting the capital’s surprisingly leafy and animal-friendly La Aurora Zoo (p49).

2 Heading straight for the rejuvenated Zona 1 (p57) for the best night out on the town.

3 Being oddly mesmerized by the Mapa en Relieve (p45) 3D representation of the

country – part engineering marvel, part tourist curio.

4 Joining pretty much everybody else in town for a stroll/bike ride/dog walk at Pasos y Pedales (p49).

5 Catching buskers, wandering preachers, free concerts and other random stuff in the always-bustling

Parque Central (p44), or just stopping by to feed the pigeons.

6 Taking a journey through Guatemala’s rich cultural heritage in Museo Ixchel (p48), devoted to indigenous textiles.

Guatemala City Highlights