History

Guatemala [1]’s history is complicated and fascinating, though it often reads like a tragic novel. An understanding of its history is a crucial element for the well-informed traveler hoping to get the most out of a visit to this mystifying land of culture and contrasts.

This section will familiarize you with the basics of Guatemala’s past and what it means in relation to its present, with an emphasis on Guatemalan history in the years since the end of its civil war.