Travel to Central America

Peak Sailfish Season

January is the peak of the sailfish season off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala (about 60 miles from Guatemala City), although sailfish are caught year-round here. A happy coincidence of ocean currents makes nutrients and the big fish that eat them plentiful, leading to record catches. Numerous companies run all-inclusive package tours, picking fishers up in Guatemala City, providing transportation, meals, equipment and even entertainment, although the real draw is reeling in the giants. (

Chichicastenango Santo Tomas Celebration

Renowned for its colorful market days (Thursdays and Sundays), Chichicastenango also stages one of Guatemala's best religious celebrations, the week-long tribute (December 13-21) to Santo Tomas, the city's patron saint. The ceremonial center of the festivities is the Church of Santo Tomas, but rituals in this ancient Mayan city mix Catholic with native traditions. Visitors can expect abundant food, lively music and any number of native dances. Also watch for the acrobatic Palo Volador stunts in which performers fly on ropes around a central pole.

Holiday Shopping at Mercado de Artesanias

If you need to do last-minute gift shopping before leaving Guatemala or otherwise don't have time to visit the native craft markets in remote parts of the country, tour the 30-plus stalls of this market for a sense of what's available from various regions. Browse arrays of woolen goods, wood carvings, leather goods, pottery and jewelry. Prices are reasonable. Also, sample regional dishes and sweets, or have a full meal in the Don Emiliano restaurant, open daily. Some market stalls close on Sundays. Parking is available.

Music and Dance Events

Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias is the biggest theater in Guatemala and regularly puts on music concerts, choral concerts, classical and modern ballets, as well as operas and zarzuelas. Its building includes a smaller theater for plays and conferences and a small open-air theater.

Mayan New Year

On this day, Mayans celebrate the cycle of life coming full circle. Followers of Mayan ritual practice celebrate in sacred sites around the country. New priests are initiated into community service for a full cycle, a solemn honor. The uninitiated may observe some rituals, and should be respectful at all times. Dates and locations of ceremonies in Guatemala City TBA.

Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

This is a kinda conflicted holiday in Guatemala as in much of Latin America. Some celebrate Columbus's discovery of the Americas. Others celebrate the survival of indigenous cultures in spite of that discovery and the European conquest that followed it. The designation Dia de la Raza or "Day of the Race," namely a race mixed of colonial and indigenous elements, represents this duality. Celebrations in Guatemala City, centering around the Plaza Mayor, may meet protests. Such meetings, while most often peaceable, do warrant caution.

Museo de los Niños

Designed for children over five years old. Their main objective is to support formal education in a fun but safe place; a space  where the kids can learn through interactive games. There are plans for a shop specializing in educational material and stimulating toys for the smaller ones. The customer service is excellent and the attendants are always on hand to provide information for visitors in each part of this interesting museum.

Peak Sailfish Season

January is the peak of the sailfish season off the Pacific Coast of Guatemala, although sailfish are caught year-round here. A nice coincidence of ocean currents makes nutrients and the big fish that eat them plentiful, leading to record catches. Numerous companies run full package tours, picking fishers up in Guatemala City, providing transportation, meals, equipment and even entertainment, although the real draw is reeling in the giants.

Chichicastenango Santo Tomas Celebration

Renowned for its colorful market days (Thursdays and Sundays), Chichicastenango also stages one of Guatemala's best religious celebrations, the week-long tribute (December 13-21) to Santo Tomas, the city's patron saint. The ceremonial center of the festivities is the Church of Santo Tomas, but rituals in this ancient Mayan city mix Catholic with native traditions. Visitors can expect abundant food, lively music and any number of native dances. Also watch for the acrobatic Palo Volador stunts in which performers fly on ropes around a central pole.

Holiday Shopping at Mercado de Artesanias

If you need to do last-minute gift shopping before leaving Guatemala , tour the 30-plus stalls of this market. Browse arrays of woolen goods, wood carvings, leather goods, pottery and jewelry. Prices are reasonable. Also, sample regional dishes and sweets, or have a full meal in the Don Emiliano restaurant. Some market stalls close on Sundays.