FULL COUNTRY NAME:    REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA

AREA:  108, 889 sq KM ( 42,500 sq mi)

POPULATION:  11 MILLION (GROWTH RATE 2.5%)

CAPITAL CITY:  GUATEMALA CITY (POP 2 MILLION)

PEOPLE:  56% SPANISH DESCENT, 44% MAYAN DESCENT

LANGUAGE:  SPANISH AND 21 MAYA LANGUAGES

RELIGION:  ROMAN CATHOLIC, PENTECOSTAL, MAYAN-CATHOLIC FUSION

GOVERMENT:  DEMOCRATIC

PRESIDENT:  ALFONSO PORTILLO

GENERAL INFORMATION

Guatemala is central America's westernmost country, bordering Mexico to the northwest, Belize to the north-est and Honduras and El Salvador to the east.  Guatemala's volatile topografhy is a mountains and forest jumble of volcanoes and jungle...

The western highlands are home to over 30 volcanoes, which reach heights of up to 3800m.

Guatemala's many Mayan ruins and colonial buildings are its most impressive architectural attributes. One of the most intriguing cultural aspects is the ifinite ans exotic variety of the handmade, traditional clothing of Guatemala's Maya Population.

Also, Guatemala offers great hiking and climbing in the highlands and the volcanoes surrounding "Lago de Atitlan & Antigua" .