Buzz
During the period of military dictatorship in Guatemala, a humorous anecdote was widely shared. Instead of using typical greetings like 'Good afternoon,' the president would often remark, 'I see you’ve all managed to survive . . .'
10. The Land of Numerous Volcanoes
Guatemala is home to three active volcanoes, including the dramatically named Volcan de Fuego, which experienced its sixth eruption in June 2017. With a total of 37 volcanoes, the country’s position on the Ring of Fire ensures a dynamic geological landscape, where the Earth’s molten core frequently makes its presence known.
The three active volcanoes—Pacaya, Fuego, and Santiaguito—are so lively that visitors are almost certain to witness an explosion or lava flow during their visit. Located just 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Guatemala City, Volcan de Fuego is under constant surveillance by authorities due to its potential threat. Meanwhile, Pacaya, situated only 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the capital, raises the possibility of a dual volcanic event.
In September 2012, an eruption of the Volcano of Fire led to the evacuation of 10,000 residents. Another eruption in February 2015 resulted in the shutdown of the capital’s primary airport.
9. The Poorest Country in Central America With Alarmingly High Crime Rates
Guatemala is plagued by carjackings, daylight sexual assaults, armed robberies involving automatic weapons by gangs like MS-13, and even impersonators posing as police officers. With over 5,000 violent deaths annually, largely due to gang activity, tourists often become easy targets for those willing to take the risk.
Criminals often succeed due to low arrest and conviction rates, and resisting their attempts can lead to greater losses. The nation’s challenges are deeply rooted, stemming from the aftermath of the civil war and a literacy rate of just 75 percent—the second lowest in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti. These issues are further complicated by Guatemala’s cultural diversity, with 24 officially recognized languages, including Spanish.
8. Enormous Craters
On May 30, 2010, a colossal crater measuring 18 meters (60 feet) wide and 30 stories deep suddenly appeared in the heart of Guatemala City, engulfing a three-story building and a house. Tragically, it also claimed the life of one individual. The city’s location between two active volcanoes means the ground beneath is largely composed of pumice fill, a soft and unstable material from past eruptions. This has led experts to believe that the sinkhole was not a natural occurrence but rather a man-made disaster.
With zoning laws being as neglected as Charlie Sheen’s health, leaking water pipes are suspected to be the primary cause of the massive hole forming beneath the city. Repairing such damage costs millions—$2.7 million was spent on a similar sinkhole in 2007—leaving the cash-strapped government with limited options. The 2010 crater briefly became a tourist spot, with police stationed nearby to prevent adventurous explorations.
7. A Drunken Deity Might Seduce Your Spouse
While many attend church to repent for impure thoughts, the Maya in Guatemala have a unique approach to seeking divine favors. They offer Maximon gifts like cigars, money, and alcohol in exchange for tangible blessings.
This belief system likely emerged from the fusion of native gods and Catholicism, blending the conquistadors’ “San Simon” with an ancient deity. Legend has it that when men left their villages to work, Maximon would sneak in and seduce their wives. Upon discovery, the men severed his limbs, leaving him as a limbless, womanizing figure.
Today, Maximon coexists uneasily with Catholicism in Guatemala, though the Church views prayers to him as witchcraft. The Maya, however, regard him as a 'friend to the saints.'
6. The 36-Year Civil War That Went Unnoticed
The Guatemalan Civil War, spanning from 1960 to 1996, resulted in 200,000 deaths and the complete destruction of at least 400 villages. This prolonged conflict was a power struggle between the rural indigenous population and the military junta established in the 1950s. Like many Central and South American nations during that era, the primary focus was on preventing the spread of communism, though Guatemala’s situation took a unique turn.
Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas, who led the junta after the overthrow of the democratically elected communist government, systematically oppressed the poor by stripping them of their rights, wealth, and land. His assassination during the 1960 uprising led to a new general taking charge, continuing the conflict. By 1963, this general was also dead, and yet another leader stepped in to perpetuate the struggle.
In the late 1960s, after the military was ousted by Cesar Mendez’s civilian government, the army—known for its brutality—launched a violent campaign that killed thousands of Guatemalans. This ultimately allowed them to overthrow Mendez and reclaim power. Essentially, the military was determined to remain in control, while the diverse ethnic groups fiercely opposed their rule.
5. Guatemala Has Been Inhabited for 20,000 Years
Today, over half of Guatemala’s population traces their ancestry to the indigenous Maya peoples.
As many imperial powers discovered, simply drawing borders and claiming territory rarely ensures lasting control. Prior to the 16th-century arrival of the conquistadors, the area now known as Guatemala was governed by numerous Mayan kingdoms. Evidence of this rich history can be found in the more than 5,000 archaeological sites scattered across the country, some dating back nearly 20,000 years.
By the time the Spanish arrived, the Maya civilization was already in decline due to smallpox and internal conflicts. After their defeat, the Spanish enslaved the Maya, treating them harshly and establishing a rigid social hierarchy with native Maya at the bottom and Creole Spanish at the top. This racial division fueled centuries of conflict, oppression, and suffering.
4. CIA Interference in Guatemala Unintentionally Paved the Way for Cuban Communism
The CIA and the United States played a significant role in overthrowing Guatemala’s communist regime. Supporting the military junta until the 1980s, the US advanced its Cold War agenda with ruthless efficiency. This might have been just another tragic example of US intervention abroad, but the arrival of a young Argentinian named Che Guevara on Christmas Eve, 1953, added a pivotal twist to the story.
At the time, two percent of the population controlled 70 percent of Guatemala’s arable land, and the socialist government clashed with the American corporation United Fruit. Though not yet a Marxist, Guevara observed US-backed mercenaries bombing civilians to protect capitalist interests. This clash between the people and foreign powers profoundly influenced him, shaping the revolutionary icon he would become. Within nine months, he fled to Mexico City to join forces with Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro.
3. Drug Cartels Dominate Nearly Every Aspect of Life
Last year, Guatemalan authorities seized 12,427.2 kilograms (27,397.3 pounds) of cocaine. However, the country’s strategic location for distributing drugs from Colombia and Ecuador makes it a hotspot for drug trafficking and related crimes. Gangs like MS-13 have capitalized on the reduced CIA presence, finding Central America an ideal base. While Guatemala has made strides against major gangs, groups like MS-13 and the Sinaloa cartel still dominate the numerous smaller gangs trafficking cocaine and marijuana through the region.
Colombian drug shipments arrive in Guatemala via speedboats docking at Puerto Quetzal. Nearly all cocaine from Colombia passes through Guatemala before heading north or across the Atlantic. The Mexico/Central America route accounts for 87 percent of the cocaine entering the US. So, the next time you indulge, remember it likely carries a Guatemalan stamp of approval.
2. Corruption Is a Lucrative Industry
In a nation plagued by crumbling infrastructure and rampant crime, bribery is a cornerstone of major business dealings. While illegal, as it is everywhere, it’s evident that many in positions of power are deeply involved, including the recently ousted president.
Former army general and ex-President Otto Perez Molina faces allegations of involvement in a multimillion-dollar customs fraud scheme, which the UN likened to an “organized crime syndicate.” Further parallels to the mob emerge with accusations—though not convictions—of Molina’s involvement in the murders of a rebel leader in the 1980s and a Catholic bishop in the 1990s. Essentially, Molina’s administration allegedly used illicit funds to secure power, then siphoned millions from the nation while accepting kickbacks from foreign entities.
It’s a lucrative position if you can secure it.
1. Genocide
The Ixil Maya; the Q’anjob’al and Chuj Maya; the K’iche’ Maya of Joyabaj, Zacualpa, and Chiche; and the Achi Maya. These names may be unfamiliar to English speakers, but their suffering parallels that of European Jews and Turkish Armenians. From 1981 to 1983, approximately 200,000 Mayans were exterminated simply for living where those in power deemed them unwanted.
Government troops and paramilitary death squads, armed with US-supplied weapons and funded by the Guatemalan state, massacred innocent civilians, destroyed sacred sites, burned crops, and killed livestock. Over 150,000 people fled to Mexico for safety. This genocide, partly a strategy to eliminate communist strongholds by destroying villages, also stemmed from deep-rooted racial tensions. Those responsible are still facing legal consequences today.
