Flying High in Guatemala, Central America

Guatemala, in Central America, embraced the Mayan culture more than any other country.  Its people still speak the dialect and its Mayan temples are a major tourist attraction.  Guatemalan architecture still incorporates Mayan symbolism.  I had my first experience of a zip wire here.

Tikal Park in Guatemala

Curious Spider Monkey in the Canopy in Tikal Park, Guatemala
Curious Spider Monkey in the Canopy in Tikal Park, Guatemala Credit: Valery Collins

The temples of the Mayan City of Tikal are central to Tikal Park that has been created around them.  On the outskirts of the park is a seven-stage zip wire, the Tikal Canopy Tour.  Encased in a harness I climbed up a tall, swaying tower behind my guide.  We stood on a small platform at the top, in the canopy of the trees, and my guide clipped my harness to the wire.  A spider monkey straddling the branches above me, watched us curious to see what would happen next.  A large glove was handed to me.  I had to wear this on my right hand which I would be using to control my speed by putting pressure on the wire.  Then we were off – flying down each stage through the jungle until we reached the ground again.  It was amazing.  Next stop, Yaxhá, and a temple cli

Temple 216 at Yaxhá in Guatemala

Temple 216 at Yaxhá in Guatemala
Temple 216 at Yaxhá in Guatemala Credit: Valery Collins

The area known as Yaxhá embraces several sites featuring Mayan Temples.  Information boards and maps guide visitors through the many ruins.  I accepted the challenge of my guide to attempt the climb to the top of a complete temple.  There were no railings to assist me as I clambered up the narrow steps barely wide enough to accommodate my feet.  In places these steps had crumbled to nothing and I had to edge my way across to find another route.  I had a great sense of achievement when I finally reached the top and could enjoy the panorama of temples surrounding me.  Under the scrutiny of some exotic birds in the tree tops.  My next experience involved livestock and locals at Chichicastenango market.

Market in Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Market in Chichicastenango, Guatemala Credit: Valery Collins

Chichicastenango market in Guatemala

Twice a week a huge market takes place on an open area in Chichicastenango.  Small herds of cows, sheep, goats and pigs mingle with hens, chicks, dogs and brightly clad sellers and buyers.  Stalls are piled high with fruit, vegetables, pots and pans, shoes – everything a household might need.  It is the largest, most chaotic market I have ever seen and great fun.

 A Catholic Church at San Andrés Xecul in Guatemala

The bizarre façade of its catholic church dominates the centre of the small village of San Andrés Xecul.  This bright yellow building features symbols from the Mayan and Christian faiths interspersed with agricultural scenes.  Another delightful memory of Guatemala.

Article by Valery Collins the Experienced Traveller

Subscribe to our Weekly Digest!




More News

Travel Radar
Travel Radarhttps://travelradar.aero/
Articles from guest contributors wishing to remain anonymous are credited to this account. Want to contribute to Travel Radar either in-name, or anonymously? Get in touch: [email protected]

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!


>
Wordpress themeseotakipçi satın alankara implant fiyatları11yol kapanıpassport psdbatman evden eve nakliyatbalkon köşe takımılastik patlatanevden eve nakliyatkartal evden eve nakliyatfatih antika eşya alanlarfenerbahçe antika eşya alanlarnakliyatantika alanlarantika alanlarwoocommerce baselJannah themeeskişehir inşaat şirketlerieskişehir uydu tamirkitap alanlarantika alanlarantika alanlarseoEskişehir uydueşya depolamapgcdpgcdpmsaAccident LawyerDental Implantiqos tereatuzla evden eve nakliyatAntika alan yerlergaziantep evden eve nakliyateskişehir saç protezihayır lokmasıtuzla evden eve nakliyatodunpazarı emlakhayır lokmasıpendik evden eve nakliyatgölcük evden eve nakliyatgölcük evden eve nakliyatistanbul evden eve nakliyatankara evden eve nakliyatbestwhoziporselen kaplama dislerankara diş estetiğidiş teli tedavisimersin evden eve nakliyatEtimesgut evden eve nakliyattuzla asansörlü nakliyatkartal evden eve nakliyatgebze evden eve nakliyatankara evden eve nakliyatankara parca esya tasımaankara gülüş tasarımıankara gülüş tasarımıankara implant fiyatlarıniğde evden eve nakliyatEskişehir yabancı dil okuluvozol 12000puffistanbul saç ekimiankara çıkışlı günübirlik turlarEtimesgut evden eve nakliyatEtimesgut evden eve nakliyatkadıköy evden eve nakliyatmersin evden eve nakliyatçankaya evden eve nakliyatankara parca esya tasımamaltepe evden eve nakliyattuzla evden eve nakliyatankara implant fiyatlarıankara gülüş estetiğiyenimahalle evden eve nakliyaten yakın çekiciAntalya Çittereaseo çalışmasıistanbul hayır lokmasıata şehir evden eve nakliyatmaltepe evden eve nakliyatüsküdar evden eve nakliyatkepenk tamiriİstanbul evden eve nakliyatmaldives casinospoodleistanbul hayır lokmasıKartal evden eve nakliyatçankaya evden eve nakliyatataşehir evden eve nakliyatankara ofis taşımacılığıboğazda özel tekne kiralamadiş eti ağrısıtuzla nakliyateryaman evden eve nakliyateskişhir uydu servisieskişhir uydu servisitimepoodlepomeranianzibilyonbet girişraydium market idGaziantep Evden Eve Taşımacılıkdextools trendingdextools trending botdextools trending costdextools trending servicedextools trending algorithmdextools botcoinmarketcap trendingcoinmarketcap trending botpinksale trendingpinksale trending botpancakeswap botuniswap botpancakeswap sniper botuniswap sniper botfront running botfront run botmev botzibilyonbetzibilyonbet girişLibraNewsHair Transplantyks kitaplarıdextools botdextools trending algorithmpinksale trending botprediction botpancakeswap prediction botEtimesgut evden eve nakliyatankara gülüş tasarımıbatman nakliyatmersin nakliyatköpek ilanlarımersin evden eve nakliyatankara evden eve nakliyatMedyumeskişehir uydu servisimersin evden eve nakliyatetiler antika alanlarataşehir antika alanlar
deneme bonusuCasinoslot girişbig bass bonanza oynaAviator oynasugar rush oynasweet bonanzagates of olympus oynaBahisnowdiyarbet girişCasinoslotwild west gold demo oynaredbullholdenracing.comdenemebonususiteler.commarsbahisMatadorbetMatadorbetEscortSaatlik escortManisa escortGümüşhane escortfethiye escortDeneme Bonusu Veren SitelerDeneme Bonusucasibomcasibom girişŞişli escortizmir escortDenizli escortMalatya Escortşanlıurfa escortHacklinkBeşiktaş escortAtaşehir escortBeylikdüzü escortkadıköy escortcialisViagraBahis siteleriEsenyurt escortbets10masözmasözantalya escortcasibombonusbetturkeyfixbetcasibomessbahisdeneme bonusu veren sitelerdeneme bonusu 2024casibombets10bahisbetajojobet girişpusulabetbetmatik twitterbaywinGrandpashabetcasibomholiganbetbettilt girişcasibom girişslot sitelerisekabetbetmatikbetkanyonsekabetholiganbetbetmatikcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomcasibomJetbahishitbetsahabetsahabetbettiltvdcasinoilbetcratosroyalbettümbetbaywindinamobetelexbetsekabetbetkanyonbetmatikbetinetumbetrexbetgrandpashabet girişgrandpashabet twittergrandpashabetmarsbahisholiganbetholiganbetonwinholiganbetmarsbahisslot sitelericanlı casino sitelericasino sitelerislot siteleribahis siteleribaywinİnterbahiscasibomcasibomcasibomqueenbetmostbetlunabetmadridbetartemisbetcasibommariobetgrandpashabetBetsatBetturkeybetkomcasibomEsenyurt EscortBursa EscortErzincan EscortKayseri EscortMuğla EscortAlanya EscortBahçeşehir Escortcasibom