Inaugurated in 1925, the zoo is mostly visited by families on weekends, when it gets really busy, and by school groups during the week. It has a wide variety of animals from Guatemala and other parts of the world. Animals are placed in cages which resemble their natural habitats, and there are many information boards. A tour around the zoo can take from a half to a full day. Food, sweets and drinks are available from stands at the entrance and around the park. There are also recreation areas for children and benches strategically placed for adults needing a rest.
Founded in 1945, the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology houses a collection of Mayan archaeological remains. These are mainly jade and obsidian, though there are also pottery pieces and objects taken from royal tombs. The building dates back to the 1940's and its architecture is in the style of that period. After being closed for several years for refurbishment, the museum was reopened in 1977 as a showcase for the legacy of the Maya.
A traditional church constructed in the classical style, the Cathedral of Guatemala City has established itself as a significant spot in the city. The cathedral's structure is reminiscent of baroque architecture, with twin bell towers flanking the main entrance of the building. Spires jut from the vaulting roof of the church, and the stones are engraved with symbols. A statue is embedded into the wall above the vestibule. The interior of the cathedral is simple yet elegant, rows of benches neatly lined in the nave overlooking the altar. Intricate chandeliers swing from the arched ceilings of the building, and the cathedral is truly a testament to the architectural styles which prevailed in the past.
This was the first Botanical Garden set up in Central America and the only one in Guatemala. The Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (CECON) is in charge of the garden's management and maintenance. It offers a wide variety of plants, including a wide range of Guatemalan, endemic and endangered species. There are 18,000 square meters of gardens and visiting is a pleasant educational experience, as most of the plants are classified according to their common and scientific names. There are also guided tours for groups and assistance for researchers, teachers and students. The garden plays an important role within the conservation of species, as it includes the Index Seminum Unit, which collects seeds from the Botanical Garden and the countryside in order to exchange them with other botanical gardens abroad. It supports botanical education in Guatemala.
This archeological site from the late pre-classical period constituted the largest and most powerful Mayan city of the highlands. Built by the Mayan civilization, it was located on a fertile plain at an elevation of 1,500 meters. It was a very important commercial center, which traded in jade and obsidian. The area comprises over 200 excavations showing Mayan ceramics, sculpture and architecture. Many of the structures remain at an underground level, as that is the best way to preserve them. The excavations show the engineering and architectural works of the Mayan civilization that inhabited this vast city.
This scale model is an open-air public monument that represents the geography of Guatemala. It was designed in 1904 by Engineer Francisco Vela and covers 1,800 square meters. This relief map shows all natural and non-natural geographical features like rivers, lakes, volcanoes, ports, railways, roads, provinces, districts and important locations. Due to its historical and artistic value, it is considered national heritage. This work is unique in the world, as no other country has a relief map of such dimensions. There are two vantage points. In order to produce this map, Engineer Francisco Vela went around the national territory on foot and horseback to make the necessary calculations and grasp the country's different features and geography. Next to the map there is a small forest formed by a group of hormigo trees, the wood of which is used to make marimbas. These trees were planted in commemoration of the marimba tradition in Guatemala. At the end of the tour you can visit the shop, which offers postcards, books and brochures with information on this work.
Museo de Historia Natural de la Universidad de San Carlos y Jardín Botánico is a unique museum in Guatemala City. The museum is owned by the School of Biology and the faculty of chemical sciences and pharmacy of the University of San Carlos. Inaugurated in 1922, the museum currently consists of more than 60,000 copies of the list of flora and fauna around Guatemala. International visitors have to pay 10GTQ as admission fees.
Museo del Ferrocarril is a place to get acquainted with Guatemala's rail culture. Guided tours are provided to the patrons where information is given about the displayed exhibits like antique clocks, clothing, machinery, maps and telegraphs. The trains were in use in the city of Guatemala over 40 years ago and these trains are still well maintained. Patrons are presented with the travel culture of the ancient days.
Set in an 18th-century building that is also a national landmark, Museo de la Universidad de San Carlos showcases the history of the prestigious university and the city through various historical archives, paintings, furniture, artworks and artifacts. This living museum besides housing permanent exhibits also has temporary ones to convey the value of the rich Guatemalan culture.
Inaugurated in 1925, the zoo is mostly visited by families on weekends, when it gets really busy, and by school groups during the week. It has a wide variety of animals from Guatemala and other parts of the world. Animals are placed in cages which resemble their natural habitats, and there are many information boards. A tour around the zoo can take from a half to a full day. Food, sweets and drinks are available from stands at the entrance and around the park. There are also recreation areas for children and benches strategically placed for adults needing a rest.
Founded in 1945, the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology houses a collection of Mayan archaeological remains. These are mainly jade and obsidian, though there are also pottery pieces and objects taken from royal tombs. The building dates back to the 1940's and its architecture is in the style of that period. After being closed for several years for refurbishment, the museum was reopened in 1977 as a showcase for the legacy of the Maya.
Museo Cervecería Centroamericana showcases the history of Guatemalan brewing spanning three centuries. The 19th-century brewery turned museum is an interesting place to see how the Gallo Beer was produced. Apart from this there are various other historical machines and photographs depicting the evolution of beverages in the city.