Guatemala

Guatemala is the Mayan heartland of Central America, and its indigenous culture is alive and well. That culture survives in the ancient ruins of Tikal, in the Mayan-Catholic rituals of Chichicastenango, and the blazing colors of everyday Mayan dress.

Guatemala does not have a great variety of ‘purchase destinations’ to offer. There are no good beaches. Foreigners who buy properties in Guatemala typically settle in the city of Antigua (different from the Antigua island in the Caribbean), and on Lake Atitlan.

However in 2009, Guatemala was thrown into international limelight when President Alvaro Colom was accused of ordering the assassination of an opposition lawyer, Rodrigo Rosenberg. The accuser was the lawyer himself, who left behind the videotaped accusation, to be viewed only if he was killed.

This highlights the growing problem of political violence. Politicians, journalists, businessmen and even bus drivers are routinely killed in broad daylight in the capital, Guatemala City.

Guatemala now faces a deteriorating peace and order situation, with escalating crime involving maras (gangs) and drug syndicates.

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