GUATEMALA

With a name derived from the Náhuatl word quauhtlemallan, meaning place of many trees, Guatemala’s small size encompasses a multitude of riches to delight curious travellers. Cradled between the shores of the Atlantic and Pacific, this exceptionally biodiverse nation is characterised by deep lakes, cloud forests and mangrove-lined rivers, not to mention over 30 volcanoes.

Lush jungles shelter fascinating archaeological ruins, such as the temple pyramids of the city of Tikal and the carved monuments of Quiriguá, featuring the tallest stelae in the Mayan world. Today, the nation is home to Central America’s largest population of indigenous Mayan people, many of whom uphold their traditional way of life in rugged highland villages.

Sample aromatic coffee and chocolate in former capital Antigua or meander through the candy-coloured houses of Flores, a sleepy colonial town on the azure shores of Lake Petén Itzá. Meanwhile, the port settlement of Livingston, accessible only via the Dulce River, offers a taste of Garifuna culture with local Caribbean cuisine and music.