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AA Ireland : AA Travel Last Updated: 28/12/2005 22:42:04 SEARCH SITE: QUICKFIND: 0) document.location = this.options[this.selectedIndex].value;" Choose a Section... Membership Members Area Travel Insurance Car Insurance Home Insurance Special Offers Int. Driving Permit Petrol Prices Top Tips 0) document.location = document.qf.QFind.options[document.qf.QFind.selectedIndex].value" Your Options Home AA Membership Members Area Company Membership AA Car Insurance AA Home Insurance AA Travel AA Signs AA Special Offers AA Hotels & Accommodation AA Technical Route Planning AA Information Desk More Information About Us Jobs @ AA Ireland News Releases Petrol Prices New Car Guide Car Reviews AA Motoring Magazine Site Options Contact Us Sitemap Mailing List Privacy Policy AA Roadwatch SMS/EMail Alerts -- Add to Favorites AA Travel home travel insurance AA Travel From the moment you begin planning your motoring holiday to your return home, the AA can provide the following services to members: AA Travel Insurance Buy Online Fast and Convenient Learn about Frequent Travel Insurance worldwide cover for 12 months Learn about One Trip Travel Insurance Comprehensive personal cover Learn about Five Star Travel Insurance Assistance & insurance International Driving Permit Camping Card International Ferry Booking Services Route Planning European Regulations Five Star Travel Insurance More motorists choose AA Five Star Travel Insurance rather than any other breakdown assistance organisation when they motor abroad. This offers breakdown assistance and personal insurance throughout the UK and Europe. Children under 15 are insured FREE when all adults take out 5 Star Travel Insurance. AA One Trip Travel Insurance If you are not taking your car with you and are travelling anywhere in the world by land, air or sea, AA One Trip Travel Insurance offers comprehensive personal cover for you & your family anywhere in the world. 20% AA Customer discount. Children under 15 get a 50% discount & under 2 are free. AA Frequent Travel Insurance Whether going on holiday or taking a business trip abroad the AA provides you with multitrip, worldwide cover for 12 months. 20% AA Customer discount. AA Ferry Booking Service Special discounts are available to AA Members and Car/Home Insurance customers with Irish Ferries and Stena line. Simply call AA Travel and make your booking today . Please quote your membership number. *Available to AA Car and Home Insurance Customers too! Travel Advice & Information A great deal of AA information and advice is available for those wishing to plan journeys in advance. The AA is the leading authority in this field, and produces a wide variety of information for the motorist. Camping Card International Available to those with 5 Star cover, CCI cards offer discounts at amusement parks, museums and campsites. International Driving Permits An International Driving Permit allows you to drive a private motor vehicle in many countries without further formality. Motoring In Europe When motoring in Europe , there are numerous rules and regulations, bye laws and procedures that differ from country to country. Special discounts are available to AA Members and Car/Home Insurance customers with Irish Ferries and Stena line - Applies to bookings made for Irish Ferries and Stena Line motoring fares. For more details call AA Travel: 01 6179988 Legal Information AA Ireland Ltd. trading as AA Insurance is a Multi-Agency Intermediary regulated by the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Links Travel Insurance Application Form Your Options: @ AARoadwatch.ie AA Roadwatch Traffic Update Flights Bus Rail Ferries Car Parking Events News & Advice Dublin News Petrol Prices Driving Tips Route Planning Golden Spider Award Winners! AAIreland.ie wins Best E-Commerce Web Site Award 2004. Insurance News Home Insurance For a quick quote contact: 01 6179300 Car Insurance For a quick quote contact: 01 6179950 Travel Insurance Special Rates for AA Members. For details contact: 01 6179988 //-- AA Ireland, 56 Drury Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 (0)1 617 9999. Fax: + 353 (0)1 617 9900. Email: aa@aaireland.ie
Europe Travel 101 -
Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the First Time You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Europe Travel 101 - Before you take that first trip to Europe Here's a suggested timeline for things an independent traveler needs to do before heading off to that European destination. Thinking about taking an independent trip to Europe? Below you'll find topics to consider before you take off. The recommended time before departure that you should be taking action is found in the colored bar on the left. In the gray box on the right you'll find links leading to more detailed information on any of the topics. Like most planning guides, this is a tool meant to simply remind you what you need to do when to make the standard vacation go as smoothly as possible. Although the list may seem daunting to you, you'll find that many of the tasks are optional. Unless otherwise noted, most of the planning tasks can be done earlier than recommended. A shorter, unannotated list with resources can be found here . A printable checklist can be found here . Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute What You Need to Do Resources 6 months before you go - Choose Your Destination! Now (or even sooner) is the time to choose your general destination. There are lots of resources on the right to help you. Remember that while Europe is quite compact compared to the US, the travel times between countries may be longer than you think. Once you've chosen your primary destination, you'll be able to go on to the next things on the list. Language Let's say you've chosen France as your destination and you'd really like to get to know the country and its people. Well, now is the time to start thinking of learning a bit of the language. A single beginner's course in spoken French at your local community college will teach you the basics cheaply enough. We also have extensive resources for learning European languages here on the About network. Please, at least think about learning the "politeness" words--natives will thank you for trying and will likely be more receptive to your questions. See Languages for the Tourist on the right to find out how easy it is. Renting a House or Apartment Now is the time to think about reserving that perfect apartment for the week (or month). You can wait until later to do this, but the best go fast. Living in the country you're visiting gets you into the swing of daily life: you'll be able to go to the open air markets and cook the food you buy, you won't have to think about maids (unless you want to) or checking in, and things can be as secure as you make them. Guidebooks Once you've figured out where you'd like to spend most of your time, it may be time to pick out a guidebook. You can purchase guidebooks that cover all of Western Europe, just a single country, or even a province or region like Tuscany. Choosing a Destination: Travel Planning Europe Planning Map Clickable Europe map with links to Country maps and Travel Essentials. How I Travel Europe Europe and Fading Traditions: Go Soon! Weather -Climate - When to Go Language: Languages for the Tourist Rentals Unusual Lodging Lodging Links Guidebooks Top European Guidebooks 3-4 months before you go - Start Checking Airfares You can start checking sooner--although we've found searching 3-4 months before your flight is a pretty good bet; the airlines are starting to discount in order to reward early bookers and yet there's still time to wait if prices aren't to your liking. The airline computers are constantly revising the pricing based on the latest demand, so the cheapest prices might turn up anytime--but you might not want to wait that long. Use the Finding Bargain Airfares link if you're unfamiliar with the bargain hunting process. Apply for a Passport if you don't already have one If you don't have a passport, this is the time to start thinking of applying. While the literature says it takes 6 weeks to procure a US passport, you don't want to leave it to the last possible moment--it's a vacation killer if something goes wrong. And despite what you may have heard or read in the past, a separate passport is required for each and every family member traveling with you. First-time applicants 13 years of age and over must appear in person at a U.S. passport office, a designated courthouse or the Post Office. You'll need a birth certificate or proof of citizenship, a photo identification, two recent 2" x 2" photos of your face, and a bundle of money. You'll find the latest requirements and downloadable application form by clicking Passport Links there on the right. (You don't need a health certificate in Western Europe and you won't need to worry about a visa as long as you're staying fewer than 90 days and aren't going to Turkey.) Shoes and Walking Now is a good time to pick up some walking shoes and start getting them broken in. You'll walk a lot in Europe, even if you have a car; much of the city centers in Europe are pedestrian only zones. Be prepared. Airfares Finding Bargain Airfares Passports Passport Links Where to go to apply, a downloadable application form, and how to make it as easy as possible. 6 weeks to 2 months before you go - Reserve Lodging - Hotel If you haven't already reserved the hotels you've seen on the web and fallen in love with, now is the time to do so. But do you need to reserve in every city you're planning to visit? Here's what I do: I reserve a hotel for my arrival and departure days as well as any long-term apartment rentals I've selected. The rest I leave to chance. You may feel uncomfortable with this arrangement, but, with a few exceptions, it's worked just fine for me. When traveling by train, I prefer to arrive at my destination early, take a hotel by the train station and just drop my bags there and explore the city on foot. You can read the whole strategy in my Footloose Travel article. Car or Train? If you haven't already chosen, now would be a good time to select your primary mode of transportation. Select Train or Car? from the links on the right if you just can't seem to decide which is best for what you want to see. Rail Pass Do you need one? Here are some tips: Trains in the south-Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece--are pretty cheap. If you're going to one or several of these places you might find that a pass isn't necessary. Just go to the station and buy a ticket. EurRail passes offer great savings if you plan right. For a saver pass you'll need to plan to take several long trips so that you can spend the travel days mostly on the train. Save money by going overnight; you'll save on hotel costs and make maximum use of your pass. Check the types of passes available carefully, to use them to an advantage, you may have to juggle some travel plans. Car Rental or Leasing and an International Driver's License Leasing a car is sometimes better than renting, especially if you're staying in Europe for more than 17 days. Leasing gets you a brand new car without rental company stickers on it and the pricing includes everything you need. When you turn it in at the end of your trip a lucky European will get to purchase that almost-new car for much less than a completely new one (This comes about because taxes on a new car are much higher than the taxes on even a slightly used one, so both parties benefit from this arrangement). If you've chosen driving as your primary mode of transport in Europe, you should get an International Driver's License . Available at Auto Clubs, they're just a translation of your License into European languages. Sometimes police won't demand them, accepting your original license instead. But still, it doesn't hurt to get one, and they're pretty cheap. A couple of passport-sized pictures are required. Even though you can usually just walk into your auto club and come out with an International Driver's License, I recommend not putting this off: the paperwork needed is often "out of stock." Lodging Accommodation Links You can also find lodging in specific countries or cities by going to a specific destination page. Footloose Travel Striking a balance between travel freedom and overplanning. Hotel Star Ratings Do you know what they mean? How I Travel in Europe Just in case you want to know. Transportation within Europe Rent or Lease? Train or Car? Driving in Europe Links Transportation Links European Train Travel Links 1 Month before you go - Travel Insurance Now is the time to think about insurance. If your health insurance doesn't cover you overseas, or your homeowners insurance doesn't cover loss of material goods, then there are some temporary plans that might set your mind at ease. Check our Insurance Links for more. Luggage How's your luggage? Is it easy to carry? Got more than a foot and a half of duct tape holding it together? If you want to be mobile, maybe you want to see if you can fit everything into a carry-on. It's not all that hard to do in the summer when you probably won't be needing heavy clothes. Rick Steves recommends walking around with all the stuff you think you'll need, then discarding half of it. I like the method I learned in Boy Scouts. Separate everything into three piles: stuff you absolutely need and use often, stuff you'll use occasionally, and stuff you probably won't use at all. Then eliminate the last two piles. Remember: Europe isn't lacking material goods. If you need a heavy sweater because it's unusually cold in August, chances are you won't be more then 50 feet from someone who'll sell you a great one. Don't forget, laundries are pretty easy to find (but usually expensive) and laundromats are are starting to show up in most popular tourist areas. Besides, if you rent a house or apartment it may include a clothes washer and possibly a dryer (but more probably a clothesline). Cameras If you've bought one for this trip, learn how to use it. If you need one, now is the time to purchase--don't put it off until the last minute and then end up standing in front of the Louvre all befuddled because you can't figure the danged thing out. Film If you're going to use film (how so very 90's!) you might consider purchasing one of those lead-lined bags to take it in. These reduce (but don't eliminate) the radiation from airport x-ray machines and thus the chance of film fogging. What I do to bypass this possibility is to buy and process my film in Europe. Sure, guidebooks say film and processing is more expensive overseas (but not much these days), but I look at it this way: are you gonna worry about fogging or are you willing to spend a buck and a half more per roll for peace of mind out of the thousands you're gonna spend on your vacation in total. Seems like false economy to me. Plus I get to show my pictures around to other travelers while I'm in Europe. Cell Phones If you need to be in constant touch with the office or someone special, you can rent cell phones that work throughout Europe. Often your car rental company can handle this, or you can check our Cell Phone Rental links for companies that'll rent phones for the short term. Email It's time to think about how you're going to handle your email in Europe, if that's important to you. If you have several accounts you want to check, you'll need to set up an online system for getting all your email. I use webbox , but other options are explained in the article Staying Connected . Money Yeah, it's time to get the long green together. I take some traveler's checks as a back-up, but mostly use the plentiful ATM machines in Europe to get cash. You need to have a 4-digit pin number to use many European ATMs. Watch one thing though: plan to have enough money to last through weekends--some people are reporting that certain banks in Europe don't update the customer's daily limit on Saturdays and Sundays and so if you've maxed out your daily allowance on Friday, you might find that you can't get more until Monday. You might also think about getting some Euros (or local currency for countries that don't use Euros) for the first day or two, if only to get used to them and assure yourself that you'll be able to afford a coffee in the airport. How much Money? Well, that varies, of course. A couple like Martha and I can get by on on $150 a day in most Mediterranean countries, although it's becoming a stretch these days. That'll get you a two or three star hotel with breakfast and two other meals taken in a restaurant with wine, plus entrance fees to museums and such. It's an average over the whole period of vacation--some days you'll get soaked, some days you'll find bargains. Students and the young-at-heart set willing to stay in hostels and eat street food or make their own grub in the Hostel kitchen will be able to do it for much less, of course. Keeping your money and documents secure You'll need a way to keep your passport and important items away from thieves. While Europe is still safer from violent crimes than the US, high tourist volumes in major cities tend to attract the slash and run crowd. Use a money belt or pouch that goes inside your clothing like seasoned travelers do. Keep your passport and important documents together in it. Don't wear a fanny pack with the pack turned around to actually ride on your fanny. It looks stupid and is a magnet for thieves. Women should avoid big purses with shoulder straps as those straps can be cut easily and the purse removed by a well-trained thief in seconds. Whatever can be said about European petty thieves and pickpockets one thing stands out when you talk to people who've been hit: they're good at what they do. Find recommended security stuff and other indispensable items under Travel Accessories . Voltage and Plugs European voltage is twice that of the wimpy American 110. The wall plugs are different as well. If you plan on using electrical appliances you may need to purchase adapters and power converters now. Check out my article European Electricity and the Connected Tourist for the skinny on what you'll need to make your stuff work in Europe. Me? I don't carry much more than the battery charger I bought in Italy to recharge my digital camera's batteries. Maps You should be far enough along in your travel planning to think about what maps you'll need.If you're in a car and like to get off the main highways, you'll need to purchase good maps. We use Michelin country and regional maps when we drive, purchasing the regional maps for areas we're staying in for a week or longer. You can get European driving maps from your auto club, but they're often not detailed enough to get you to the back roads. Keeping in Touch If you're the postcard-writing type, you'll need to have a means of keeping all those addresses where you can find them. Before the era of PDAs and email, I made sheets of labels for everyone who'd want a postcard so I could just slap one on and be done with it. Now I email friends and keep all their addresses on my Palm Pilot. Check for Travel Dangers The US government doesn't just meddle in overseas affairs, it also alerts travelers to dangers and uprisings in other countries. You might want to check conditions now and right before you leave. Travel Insurance Insurance Links Luggage Top Carry-On Luggage Packing Tips Cameras Before you buy a digital camera for travel Top Compact Digital Cameras for Travel Top Semi-pro Cameras for Travel Olympus D40 Review Oneof the best compact digitals I've come across. Cell Phone Rentals Cell Phone Rental Companies Purchase a Cell Phone Email Staying Connected Cybercafe Links Staying Connected Links Money/Currency Money Matters ATM Finder Travel Accessories Top Travel Accessories Clip-on Security Wallet (review) Voltage and Plugs European Electricity and the Connected Tourist Maps Michelin Maps (compare prices) It's easier to buy the maps over the web--distribution to many stores seems spotty at best, and many times they're unsorted, making finding what you want a miserable experience. Keeping in Touch The Travel Writer's Toolkit Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Last minute - Oops, Forgot the Passport. Help! Well, you can get one expedited, especially if you already have tickets. See our Passport Expediting Company links for more. Make Copies Now is the time to think about keeping back-ups of your travel documents. Make at least two photocopies of your itinerary, your passport information page (the one with your picture and passport number) and copies of your credit cards showing the cc numbers. Give one copy to your mother, or someone else you trust and can get a hold of any time of day or night. Keep a copy of your passport and credit card info with you but in a different place than the original items. Final Check The basic stuff you need to carry are these: Passport, tickets, car rental agreements, hotel reservation receipts, credit cards, medications (and prescriptions, if required), addresses/password information and an open mind with a sense of wonder. Check them twice. Then go have fun in Europe. Passport Problems Passport Expediting Companies Travel Dangers Department of State Travel Warnings Jump to: 6 Months 3-4 Months 6 Weeks - 2 Months 1 Month Last Minute From James Martin , Your Guide to Europe for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Advertisement Most Popular Europe Map - Distances Between Cities in Western Europe Europe's Best Nudist Beaches Europe Picture Galleries Italy Pictures Europe Travel 101 - Before You Travel to Europe for the Firs... What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Related Topics France for Visitors Greece for Visitors United Kingdom / Ireland for Visitors Eastern Europe for Visitors Italy for Visitors Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. 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International travel sites directory. Travel Directory and Travel Portal Comprehensive travel sites directory. Travel photography, travelogues and destination guides. Book discount hotels, car rental and find cheap airfares. Search Travel Directory Search Travel Sitemap Travel Directory Newsletter Enter name and email: Name: Email: Subscribe Unsubscribe Travel Newsletter From the Editor Travel Blog Travel News Latest Travel News Site of the Month Interesting, useful, travel related websites.... Travel site of the month Guerrilla Backpacker Low budget travel tips. Travel for free. Guerrilla Backpacker Airline Travel Worldwide guide to budget airlines... Low Cost Airlines Airlines of the world... Airlines Directory Words of Wander Read and submit travel writing... Travelogues Travel Photo Gallery Travel Photos Travel Directory Accommodation B & B's , Camping , Hotels Adventure Travel Africa , Asia , Europe Airfare Bookings Last Minute U.S , U.K , Air France Air Travel Airports , Air Transfers Destination Guides Goa , Paris , U.S.A Financial Resources ForEx , Travel Credit , Transfer Holiday/Vacation Rentals France , Spain , U.K , U.S.A Live Abroad Cruiseship Jobs , Teach English Package Travel Deals Holiday Specials , Vacation Deals Publications Brochures , Travel Magazines Rail Travel Europe , Eurail , Italy Sightseeing/Guided Tours Africa , Asia , Europe Snow and Ski Travel France , Canada , U.S.A Specialty Travel Sites Festivals , Student Travel Transport Directory Bus Travel , Car Travel Travel Sites General Search Engines & Directories Travel Planning Tools Visas , Maps , World Times Water Travel Cruises , Ferries , Freighters Add to Favorites Set Homepage Airfares fares from U.S.A , U.K Other Countries Hotels Book Hotels Popular Hotels Algarve - Amsterdam Majorca - Costa Del Sol Dublin - Lanzarote London - Paris - U.S.A Car Hire Book Car Rental Popular Locations Dublin - U.S.A - NZ Travel Deals Discount Travel December Travel Deals Travel Shop Travel Gear Phone Cards Discount Travel Card Insurance Travel Insurance Hostels Book Hostels Popular Locations Amsterdam - Paris - Rome About us | Contact us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Add a Travel Site
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Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information You are here: About > Travel > Mexico / Central America for Visitors > Guatemala > Guatemala Central America - Travel Tourism Vacation Information Travel Go Mexico Essentials Packing List for Travelers to Mexico Health Information Mexico / C. America Safety Considerations Travel Books Mexico and Central America Tourism Offices Mexico/ Central America Articles & Resources Mexico Mexico City Acapulco, Mexico Cancun Yucatan Baja Los Cabos Puerto Vallarta Other Places Photos of Mexico Belize, Central America Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Mexico / Central America for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Mexico / Central America for Visitors Map image - Courtesy of CIA Stay up to date! Map image - Courtesy of CIA Email to a friend Print this page Explore More of Guatemala Guatemala Travel Links Guatemala Hotels Guatemala Travel Reservations Recent Discussions Travelling to Central/South America? Multi-Destination Flights Sport Fishing Charters Most Popular Mexican Music La Paz, Mexico Quinceanera Packing List Tijuana, Mexico What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico Related Topics California for Visitors South America for Visitors Caribbean for Visitors Mexican Cuisine Guatemala, South America From Apply Now , Your Guide to Mexico / Central America for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Guatemala is the northernmost country in Central America. It borders on the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize, and also borders on the Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico. It has a territory of about 42,000 square miles (slightly smaller than Tennessee) and a population of about 13 million people, the majority of which are Mestizo (Amerindian or mixed Amerindian-Spanish). The official language is Spanish, but many indigenous languages are also spoken. The country enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, with an average temperature above 20 degrees C (75 degrees F). Guatemala is a small country, but it has much to offer visitors. It is a natural paradise offering some truly breathtaking scenery of mountains, lakes, volcanoes and flora and fauna. It has a number of very beautiful tropical volcanic beaches on the Pacific Ocean, and some large coral reefs on the Caribbean side. Guatemala ranks very high in biological diversity, and has numerous tropical low rainforests and mountain cloud forests. Guatemala also has some of the largest and most fascinating Mayan ruins found anywhere in Latin America, together with a friendly, Mayan population with their culture and traditions. Below are some popular venues in Guatemala for visitors: Antigua This beautiful 16th-century city was founded in the early 16th century by the Spaniards. Built 1,500 meters above sea-level in the highlands of Guatemala, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, but many of the original monuments are still preserved as ruins. Antigua has some of the most gorgeous Spanish-style colonial architecture found anywhere. Its cobblestone streets, built in the 16th century lead you past dozens of great restaurants, flowered courtyards, and the preserved ruins of numerous churches, monasteries and other structures. Antigua's natural setting is spectacular, with several majestic volcanoes surrounding the city on all sides. The Colonial Museum, located in a building which at one time housed the third university founded on the American continent, is well worth visiting for its vast collection of colonial art. Tikal Tikal, at one time the largest Mayan city in the world, is now a world famous site of Mayan ruins. The ancient Maya began constructing Tikal around 550 B.C., and for many centuries thereafter the city was an important religious, and political center. Today, the largest number of Mayan ruins in the world are to be found in Tikal. The ruins, extending over six square miles, include temples, pyramids, terraces, palaces, ceremonial platforms, plazas, steam baths, and other stone structures. It is estimated that only about 30% of the ruins have been excavated - the remaining 70% lie buried underground. Visitors can visit the Tikal site by taking a short flight from Guatemala City to the rain forest area where Tikal is located. Lake Atitlan Lake Atitlan, which is of volcanic origin, is located about 90 miles from Guatemala City, in the mountainous province of Solola, in the Guatemalan highlands. Aldous Huxley once called this lake "the most beautiful in the world", and many would agree with this statement. The lake is located about 5,000 feet above sea level, has a depth of over 1,500 feet and covers an area of about 50 square miles. It is the deepest lake in Central America. The water of the lake, usually crystal clear and a vivid blue, changes in color as the light varies. The lake is set against a dramatic backdrop of three spectacular 10,000-foot volcanoes - Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Lake Atitlan is a is a great venue for a wide variety of water sports, including swimming, diving, water skiing, hang gliding and boating. It is also a great place for fishing, as the lake is home to numerous species of edible fresh water fish. Along the shores of Lake Atitlan are a number of small Indian villages where the traditional Maya lifestyle is followed. Guatemala City Guatemala City is home to 25% of the country's population and is the capital of Guatemala. The city lies in a deep valley where the dormant Agua volcano dominates the horizon. With a population of about 3 million, it is the country's commercial, financial, and cultural center. It is a city where colonial architecture, sits side by side with modern skyscrapers and shopping malls. For visitors, there is much to see and do in Guatemala City. Worthwhile is a visit to the Zona Viva , the trendy and very modern center of Zona 10 , where numerous upscale restaurants, bars, and clubs stay open long into the night. Those interested in Spanish colonial architecture should visit Zona 1, the city's historic center. Visitors interested in handicraft will find a wide variety of authentic Guatemalan wood carvings, textiles, leather, ceramics, jewelry and basket work in the downtown Central Market. Also worth seeing is the National Palace and the Ixchell Museum. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Buying Real Estate in Mexico Puerto Vallarta Cozumel, Mexico Whale Watching Fishing In Mexico