City: Guatemala
Top Things to do in Guatemala
Top 10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Guatemala, Guatemala
Coordinates: 15°30′N 90°15′W / 15.500°N 90.250°W / 15.500; -90.250
Restaurants in Guatemala
1. Tikal
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,011 reviews
Reviewed By trvlwannab - Charlotte, United States
First, please allow me to promote Tikal Go, a tour company that provides standard and custom tours of Tikal. They did a great job for us & we highly recommend them. The ruins are among the best in the world. We’ve been to several of the more famous ones in Mexico, Peru, the UK, Italy, etc. If you appreciate historic archeological structures, find a way to go to Tikal….you won’t be disappointed. The sheer number of structures is amazing. They are in various stages of the way they were originally found to fully restored. I believe there are 6 major “pyramids”. We climbed to the top of 4 of them. In fact, you can explore inside & climb on almost all the structures. It is an awesome site from the top of the tallest pyramid, looking out over the top of the tree canopy to see the tops of 4 other pyramids peeking out from the canopy. Restrooms and small huts selling cold drinks are scattered through the expansive property. We especially enjoyed the opportunity to walk thru the mostly shady terrain as we explored. There is a main entrance building that has a restaurant, bathrooms & vendors. Other than that, there may be 1 or 2 more vendors as you start out on the path, but we appreciated not having a large number of vendors in the ruins area. We had brought umbrellas to protect us from the sun or potential rain, but never opened them. We did apply ample bug-spray and were never bothered. Near the end of our tour (not at the entrance/exit, but still in the jungle) we ate at a nice restaurant that was a much-needed break after our long walking tour. They had a nice lunch and refreshing cold water towels to put on the back of our necks. While it takes a little time to get to Tikal, it is worth the effort. I think they have a small local airport, but we drove in from the Belize/Guatemala border near San Ignacio. It is about 1 & ½ drive to the ruins. Since we were staying in Belize City the day before, we elected to spend the night in Isla de Flores. It is a wonderful little island, with many nice hotels and restaurants about an hour from Tikal.
2. St James Episcopal Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
St. James Episcopal Cathedral was built in 1967 and houses the only English speaking Episcopal congregation in Guatemala City. St. James Episcopal Church is an English speaking congregation in Guatemala City. We have Holy Communion and children services each Sunday at 9:15AM, and refreshments served afterwards.
3. Catedral Metropolitana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 519 reviews
Built between 1782 and 1868 on the edge of Plaza Mayor, this Baroque-styled church contains ornate altars, statues and colonial artwork.
Reviewed By myom624 - Coquitlam, Canada
Really "quite awesome" once stepped inside this cathedral was seeing its main aisle which I would just describe as one "packed with grandness" where along its both sides are not small but "quite sizeable" paintings depicting the life events of Christ (and with brief descriptions of the artists below from which can be determined the "historic ages" of the paintings themselves!) and also a "unique sight" (as such had been seen in no other cathedral before) which is that of "super-sized" medals likely kind of bigger versions of the medals awarded in this country for exceptional services & such. So yes, a big cathedral with quite plentiful to see inside where apart from those along the main aisle are also shrines & secondary altars (along the two length-side aisles) also with their own displays of interesting sculptures & such, this cathedral actually is one reminiscent for me of those in South America (with grand & ornate interiors in many of the "main cathedrals" of the cities) than in Central America (with just generally plain cathedral interiors from Panama & up with a few exceptions such as the Cathedral of Leon in Nicaragua & the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City). And with the entrance from a "pedestrian street" located on the south side, very conveniently right beside that entrance is Mercado Central (a great place for all kinds of Guatemala souvenirs & also like a food court down below for some delicious "local meals"). And yes, also definitely to stop by while at this area are the 2 sites at just a very short walk from this cathedral (to the right after coming out): the city's "main plaza" Plaza Mayor de la Constitucion (with really quite a bit of space to walk around where at about its center are a big national flag & a fountain and yes where the "west face" of this cathedral is on the Plaza's east side) and the "long building" of Palacio Nacional de la Cultura on the Plaza's north side (with 2 levels of a "fairly impressive" interior to see on an hourly-or-so "guided tour").
4. Iglesia de San Francisco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
The intricately carved wooden altar and the statue titled Jesus Nazareno del Perdon are the highlights in this church built between 1800 and 1851
Reviewed By alaylas
Definitely visit.It's a beautiful church in Guatemala. It's on 6 av. and worth the walk to stop in for a few minutes.
5. Mezquita Aldawa Islamica de Guatemala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
6. La Merced
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
This beautiful church contains artwork that was moved from La Merced in Antigua after that building was destroyed by earthquakes.
Reviewed By Elchichagt - Guatemala City, Guatemala
If you like historic places and religious buildings, La Merced is right for you! The best day to visit is on wenesdays because in this Church you will find the miracaulos: San Judas Tadeo, and specially in this day you will see a lot of sales specially for worship him. If you are a beliver buy the ninth for pray and you will me amezed of the results. Near this Church, if you like tasting the real flavor of Guatemala, there are 1 or 2 little cafeterias where you will find a refreshing and tastful beverage called "Fresco de Suchiles" made of a mix of fruits of Guatemala.
7. Cathedral de Santiago
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 436 reviews
The original church, constructed in 1543 was damaged in an earthquake and was rebuilt in the 17th century.
Reviewed By E4449FGjamesg - Menomonee Falls, United States
At first glance, these ruins don't seem like much, by they are huge and well preserved. These centuries old ruins are spectacular and it is amazing anything still stands after all the earthquakes they have had. We took tons of photos and one can even see some of the original paint. You can even go below ground and see the grave spot. Don't worry though, no one is in there now. ;-)
8. Santa Catarina Palopo Church
9. Colonial Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
Reviewed By maritimeexplorer - Nova Scotia, Canada
As most people know, Santiago is the Spanish equivalent of St. James and this rather unprepossessing looking church is, in English, Saint James the Apostle Church. It dates all the way back to the 1540's and lies in the shadow of the mighty Atitlan volcano which rises to 11,598 feet (3,535 metres) which in the Rockies would be a good sized mountain. The steps you see are actually over a thousand years old and once led to a Mayan temple which the Christians of course destroyed to build the church atop in an act of religious oneupmanship. But it didn't actually work as I entered what is one of the most fascinating churches I've ever visited anywhere. Tony our guide took us on a tour of the interior which has more than a few things of passing interest starting with the various saints decorated by groups that are unique to Guatemala, the cofradias. These are religious brotherhoods that date back to the Spanish conquest and were originally intended to help spread Catholicism and stamp out native beliefs. Instead they have morphed into something similar to the krewes of Louisiana who each have their own distinct colours and symbols. The entire church is lined with these brightly coloured figures. Sometimes things are not as they first seem to appear. I've included a photo of the pink cofradia. But take a closer look at the Virgin Mary. She's got two babies, not just the usual one. Here's where things get tricky and try as I might, I can find no one coherent explanation for the two babies. Here is Tony's version. The second baby is actually Judas. Yes, you read that right. For Mayans, the death of their religion at the hands of the Spanish priests was not cause for celebration or a great awakening, but rather an execration. The one figure from Christianity that many of them could embrace was Judas who was responsible for getting Christ killed and thus in their eyes, more powerful than Jesus. There are umpteen versions of the story and they are all bizarre. The altar of the church is fairly standard, but what's behind it is not. The apse has some beautiful woods carvings and a very nice trinity which at first glance looks like an old guy on a motorized scooter. One a more serious note, there is an important monument near the church entrance that is worth examining and learning the story of Father Stanley Rother. He was an American priest who came to Santiago Atitlan and during the civil war, defied the authorities and stood up for the Mayan people that were frequently the target of massacres during this time. For that, he paid with his life and has been recognized as a genuine martyr in every sense of the that word. Although his body is buried in his native state of Oklahoma, Stanley Rother's heart is buried here and that seems appropriate because he gave his heart and his life to the Tz'ujutil people. While I might not agree with religious proselytizing, no one can dispute the goodness of this man's intentions to help the poor and downtrodden. In this world where Catholic priests are just as often seen as predators rather than protectors, it is comforting to know that that some truly follow the true teachings and example of Jesus, even if it costs them their lives. Beside the church is the rectory and Tony points out the very spot where Rother was murdered by a government backed death squad in 1981. Sadly that was not the end of the violence. In 1990, eleven more people were killed in Santiago Atitlan by the army which had a base nearby. That event caused such an international uproar that the base was closed and since then life in this small place has returned to a semblance of normalcy.
10. Union Church of Guatemala
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 28 reviews
Union Church is an interdenominational congregation offering christian services in English on Sundays at 8:15am (Contemporary Service), 11am (Traditional Service) and 6:00pm (The Worship Experience). Union Church is a congregation where you and your family can enjoy fellowship with English-speaking christians, where you can grow biblically, where you can worship meaningfully, and where you can serve God through serving others. The church's administrative office is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.
