The Highlands

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Zaculeu, old capital of the Mam people, Guatemala, Central America

James Strachan/Robert Harding

Overview

The highlands – El Altiplano – stretch from Antigua to the Mexican border; they comprise Guatemala's most breathtaking region by some degree. Maya identity is stronger here than anywhere in the country and over a dozen distinct groups dwell within the region, each with its own language and clothing. Indigenous tradition blends most tantalizingly with Spanish, and it is common to see Maya rituals taking place in front of and inside colonial churches.


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Beaches

Where to stay on Lake Atitlán

Nov 25, 2014 • 6 min read

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