Lake Atitlan – Guatemala

Starting in Central America in the Guatemalan Highlands of Lake Atitlan.

From active volcanoes and hidden jungle sanctuaries Guatemala is arguable the most beautiful country in all of Central America. Guatemala is known for its ancient Mayan ruins, steep mountain ranges, and sprawling coastline.

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• History of Guatemala:
  First ever human habitation of Guatemala began in 18,000 BCE, making one of the oldest civilizations in all of Central America. Guatemala is also home to the core of the Maya civilization. Places like the ruins of Tikal in Northern Guatemala hold as a focal point of the indigenous Mayan civilization. Attempts were made in order to bring tourism to Guatemala The Guatemalan Civil war spread in the late 1960’s and greatly devastated the country and the way of life. Since 1996, the end of the Guatemalan Civil War, Guatemala has seen an influx of tourism, bringing a new way of life and influencing the local economy.
• Lake Atitlan:
  Lake Atitlan is home to over 500,000 inhabitants living in various cities and villages along the coast in the Sierra Madre mountain range. At a depth of 340 meters Lake Atitlan is the deepest in all of Central America. Hidden from the rest of the world in plain sight Lake Atitlan was made famous in 1955 when Guatemala made it a National Park and attracting travelers in the 1960 made it a popular place on the map.
  
  There are no roads that circle the lake making the surrounding towns only connected by water. All the travel and trade done in these communities are done by rafts and boats. Lake Atitlan is home to three volcanoes ranging in a variety of elevations and seismic activity. The stratovolcano San Pedro which towers above the community with the similar name holds as the focal point of the lake resting at a stunning 3,020 meters.

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Home to the Maya Culture, which is still prevalent, you can experience a culture and community that has lasted the test time.
History is held dear to indigenous people whom live in the way of their ancestors by respecting and sharing the knowledge that has been passed down through hundreds of generations. Artisans of the surrounding communities specialize in weaving and dying natural fibers to create a wide array of beautifully colored fabrics, and textiles.

Inhabited Art

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