Guatemala: A Natural Destination, 2nd edition by Richard Mahler (John Muir Publications, 336 pages, color and B&W photographs, maps, index, $16.95, ISBN 1-56261-075-9)/The New Key to Guatemala by Richard Harris (Ulysses Press, 272 pages, color photographs, B&W line drawings, maps, index, $14.95, ISBN 1-56975-039-4)
Guatemala has emerged as the fastest-growing destination in Latin America with the number of visitors increasing four fold since the formation of a democratic government in 1986. Over the past decade, this small country (roughly the size of the state of Tennessee) has established no less than 25 national parks and wildlife preserves, including the four million acre Maya Biosphere Reserve, home to jaguars, tapirs, toucans and monkeys. It is a land of colorful contrasts, from the black sand beaches along the Pacific Ocean to icy peaks of its 33 volcanoes to the sidewalk cafes of its cities to ancient Maya ruins and remote Indian villages. Both are complimented complete information on lodging, dining, and travel necessities.
With either of these two guidebooks, you can gain an interesting and memorable Guatemalan adventure. Both of these guides (which I propose were written by the same person) emphasize eco-tourism as this is a prime land of beauty and great ecology. These writers explain how to cope with the realities of traveling in a developing country while maximizing the pleasures of exploring an exotic land.
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