Things to See in Guatemala

With Guatemala's best ocean beach and a sultry, tropical flavor, Monterrico is a hammock-swinging coastal village. What's more, the area is home to a large wildlife reserve and two centers for the hatching and releasing of sea turtles and caymans. Monterrico is fast becoming a popular weekend spot both with Guatemalan families and foreigners.

Semuc Champey is famed for its great natural limestone bridge, 300m (990ft) long, on top of which is a stepped series of pools with cool, flowing river water good for swimming. Though this bit of paradise is difficult to reach, the beauty of its setting and the turquoise perfection of the pools make it arguably the loveliest spot in the country.

Getting to El Mirador is not for the faint-hearted. The greatest Mayan city of the Preclassic era is buried deep in the jungle, a five-day return trek from the nearest end-of-the-road village. The reward is seeing the largest and most remote cluster of buildings in any single Mayan site, including the biggest pyramid ever built in the Mayan world.