Name: Republic of Guatemala

Location: Central America, bordering Mexico to the north, Pacific Ocean to the south, Mexico to the east and the El Salvador and Honduras to the west.

Capital: Guatemala

Area: 108,889 km sq

Population: 13 million (2008 estimation)

Administrative division: Administratively it is divided in 22 departments, equivalent to states or counties.

Language: Spanish (official), but there are 23 indigenous dialects.

Climate: Tropical and subtropical. Two seasons; dry season (late March to May), rainy season (June to early February). Cooler climates in highlands could be find.

Religions: Majority are catholic, however enjoys freedom of cults that is why there are many denominations. For more than two thousand years, the Mayan culture has maintained their beliefs. In many cases they have combined them with the Spaniards Christianity, during the colony, so it is not strange to find them carrying out Christian-pagans rites. The organized religions of the main denominations are Catholic, Jewess, Lutheran, and Presbyterian.

The legacy of the Mayan civilization and the colonial period cultures (customs and traditions) constitute, today, the main attractions of Central America.

It fits to highlight that it possesses an extensive and singular nature; transforming it into a natural paradise with a great variety of landscapes that go from the forests of the Petén, through the mountains, volcanoes and highland lakes until reaching the tropical beaches of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Therefore, Guatemala counts with a rich flora and fauna, which makes this country, occupy a very special place in Central America's biological diversity.