Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
especially dangerous as they are yet unable to control the amount of poison they inject into
a bite.
Othersnakesincludetropicalrattlesnakes
(Crotalus durissus),
severalspeciesofcolorful
coral snakes, and nonvenomous boa constrictors.
If you watched the
Survivor
TV series, you probably noticed there are crocodiles in
Guatemala, particularly in and around Lake Yaxhá. The crocodiles seen on
Survivor
are
Morelet's crocodiles
(crocodylus moreleti).
The larger American crocodile
(crocodylus
acutus)
can be found in coastal areas, swamps, and larger rivers in Petén and Izabal. Many
species of river turtles inhabit the tropical lowlands. Basilisk lizards and at least two spe-
cies of iguana round out the highlighted list of Guatemala's reptiles.
Insects
This subject might give some readers “the itchies” but in addition to the myriad species
of arachnids, such as tarantulas and scorpions, or plentiful amounts of mosquitoes in some
places, Guatemalan lands are host to many other and more beautiful creatures. Among
these are thousands of species of butterflies, including the beautiful blue morpho, which
you might see flitting about the forest in an iridescent flash of blue. While hiking Guatem-
ala's forests, keep an eye out for the industrious leaf-cutter ants, which cut pathways
through the forest and carry small pieces of bright green leaves to their nests, where they
areusedascompostforundergroundfungusfarms.Butterfliesandleaf-cuttersarevirtually
guaranteed favorites among younger travelers to these parts.
Guatemala's history is complicated and fascinating, though it often reads like a tragic nov-
el. An understanding of its history is a crucial element for the well-informed traveler hop-
ing to get the most out of a visit to this mystifying land of culture and contrasts. This sec-
tion will familiarize you with the basics of Guatemala's past and what it means in relation
toitspresent,withanemphasisonGuatemalanhistoryintheyearssincetheendofitscivil
war.
It is generally accepted that the first inhabitants of the American continent came in waves
bywayofalandbridgeacrosstheBeringStraitconnectingSiberiatoAlaska,some25,000
years ago. The migrants continued to make their way southward, possibly using boats to
assist them, and eventually came to populate, albeit thinly, large portions of the Americas
occupying a diverse range of climates. It is believed passage via the Bering Strait was in-
