Customs and Cuisine of Guatemala
By Sheila Dunn & Vinola V. Munyon
The Republic of Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and is bordered by Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize. The Pacific Ocean forms its southern coast, and the Gulf of Honduras provides access to the Caribbean Sea in the Northeast. Guatemala is slightly larger than the US state of Pennsylvania.
Elevation and seasonal rainfall shape three major climatic zones: tropical lowlands (hot and humid), central highlands (spring-like and temperate), and the eastern “dry corridor” (hot and semi-arid). Despite being in the tropics, the differences in elevation – from sea level to 13,000 feet – mean Guatemala experiences diverse climate, and consequently, it has about 14 different ecoregions. The country is one of the most biodiverse in the world.
Guatemala is a land of forests and volcanoes, although rapid deforestation is an ongoing environmental issue the country is facing. Guatemala is one of the countries located along the “ring of fire,” which is a region bordering the Pacific Ocean where 90% of the world’s earthquakes and 75% of its volcanic eruptions occur.
The territory of modern Guatemala was the core of the Maya civilization which extended across Mesoamerica. In the 16th century, Guatemala was conquered by the Spanish and became a Spanish colony. Guatemala attained independence from Spain and Mexico in 1821.
The People
The country’s population is almost 19 million (2026 estimate), making Guatemala the most populous country in Central America. It also has the youngest population in the area with about half of its population aged 19 or younger. The median age hovers around 23 to 24 years, which is significantly younger than global and regional averages.
While Guatemala’s fertility rate has been decreasing from an average of 6 children per woman, it still has the fourth highest fertility rate in Latin America at 2.3 children per woman in 2025.
Over 57% of Guatemalans are urban dwelling (10.8 million people in 2026), yet there are few large urban centers besides the capital, making Guatemala City one of the most populous and population-dense cities in Central America. Life in urban Guatemala is much like life in most urban areas in the world, marked by traffic congestion, crowding and a fast pace.
Life in mountainous regions of Guatemala is a throwback to earlier simpler times. In these areas, agriculture is the primary industry due to the prevalence of fertile volcanic soil. Life in the rural villages of Guatemala, however, is challenging. Infrastructure is lacking, access to healthcare and education is minimal, and poverty is widespread.
Spanish is the official language and is spoken by about 70% of Guatemalans. Over 23 Indigenous languages are spoken, including 21 Mayan languages and two non-Mayan languages.
Christianity is a way of life in Guatemala and over the last two decades Pentecostal and Evangelical forms of Protestantism have grown significantly such that their numbers are equal to Catholicism, which had been the dominant faith since colonial times. About 11% of Guatemalans, mostly urban youth, are unaffiliated with any religion.
Tourism is a major economic sector and a significant source of income in Guatemala today, especially for visits to the small cities surrounding Lake Atitlán or to Antigua known for its charming cobblestone streets with colonial homes painted in hues of turquoise and terra cotta. The colorful and bustling indigenous outdoor markets (Chichicastenango) in the picturesque highlands of Guatemala are another popular destination. Visitors to Guatemala can admire the textiles, one of the country’s most valuable cultural treasures. These works of art are woven by hand by Mayan women with techniques passed down through centuries. Each piece is embedded with symbolic patterns that tell stories of lineage, spirituality, and community.
History
Guatemala’s indigenous people are Amerindians, mostly of Mayan descent. The Maya civilization dates back to 2000 BC and prior to its conquest by the Spaniards in the 16th century, boasted impressive cities, and sophisticated systems of writing, mathematics, and astronomy. The Maya calendar, art, and literature were also quite advanced for that time in the western world.
The Spanish conquest of Guatemala replaced the socio-economic order of the ancient Mayan civilization with a harsh plantation economy based on forced labor. The colonial government persecuted those who refused to assimilate. Mayans were slow to convert to Catholicism, to learn the Spanish language, and to adopt European garb. To this day, many rural indigenous women and men continue to wear their colorful hand-woven traditional garments.
Spanish colonial rule in Guatemala ended in 1821, but it continued to be ruled by a series of military dictators aligned with the landed oligarchy. For the next century, the Guatemalan Spanish ruling class continued to force indigenous people to perform cheap labor, to give up any remaining lands, and to assimilate into Guatemalan society.
During the “Guatemalan Democratic Spring” of the 1940s, new progressive leadership committed to giving indigenous Mayans back some of their unused land and invoke minimum wage laws. However, these new reforms soon came in conflict with the interests of the powerful multinational corporations in Guatemala, such as the United Fruit Company. These companies pressured the US government to intervene, and in response, the C.I.A. helped orchestrate a coup d’état in 1954 to install a right-wing military dictator. For the next 40 years, Guatemala would be plunged into political violence.
With the reform movements defeated, the Left grew increasingly militarized and launched a full-scale civil war against the government. The new leftist guerilla movements initially obtained the support of some Maya, who viewed them as the last hope for redressing the economic and political marginalization of their communities. The government incorrectly perceived that all Maya supported the leftists and deliberately targeted them. Over the coming decades, atrocities against the Mayans were common and extrajudicial killings rose to over 10,000 by 1981.
By 1982, the government carried out a genocide, unleashing a scorched earth policy where the military destroyed entire villages and massacred thousands of Indigenous people. They also used direct femicide as a tactic: rape, torture, and massacre of Maya women. By the end, over 200,000 Guatemalans were killed or forcibly disappeared. Eighty-three percent were Indigenous Mayans.
Terrorized by the violence, in the following years between 500,000 and 1.5 million Mayans fled to other regions within the country or became refugees abroad. After another coup, a civilian government was elected that in 1986 passed a new constitution and eventually initiated a gradual peace process that culminated in the signing of a U.N.-brokered peace accord in 1996. This was aided in part by the selection of Rigoberta Menchú, a young Maya woman, for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. The identity and rights of indigenous peoples was never a part of the peace accord, so discrimination continues to this day.
Currently, about 41% of Guatemalans are Mayan while 56% are “mestizo” (also known locally as Ladino) which translates to a mix of Amerindian and Spanish.
In 2024, Guatemalans elected the most progressive leader in the country’s recent history, President Bernardo Arévalo, who promised a new “democratic spring.” His immediate focus was on improving the nation’s education and health care systems, abolishing corruption, and leading a crackdown on organized crime. Two years into his term, only modest gains have been made to eradicate poverty and improve the country’s infrastructure, and it is not yet clear if or when issues such as equal rights and gender-based violence will attain priority in his administration.
Customs and Traditions
The nuclear family is the dominant prevalent structure in Guatemala. Marriages, be it among the Mayan communities or the Ladino communities, are rarely arranged. Marriages are more commonly love matches with approval from the elders or an elopement when the match is met with disapproval and elders remain unpersuaded. Child marriages were common (40% in indigenous populations) until 2017 when a nationwide law was enacted banning marriage before age 18.
The role of men and women both in the family and the society is based on traditional gender-defined expectations. Women tend to the home and when they work outside the home it is in occupations that are considered “feminine.” However, women who do manage to secure higher education and or become business owners tend to be regarded with respect. Infant and childcare is, among the middle and upper classes, provided by female relatives. Among the less privileged, infant and childcare falls upon the mother and older female siblings. The status of women and children is as lesser beings than men. In lower economic classes, this can frequently translate to spousal abuse.
Current Social Issues: Poverty, Illiteracy, Gender Inequality
Almost half (46% in 2026) of Guatemalans live in poverty (less than $8.30/day) and about 45% of children are malnourished as evidenced by stunting (2024).
Guatemala has the lowest literacy rate in Latin America due in most part to poverty, lack of schools, and lack of infrastructure in rural indigenous areas. In Guatemala today, only about 42% of rural children finish primary school and their average length of study is 3.5 years. Rural indigenous females are the most disadvantaged, with illiteracy rates reaching as high as 68% in some regions. Less than 2 in 10 rural Indigenous girls graduate from high school, and less than 1% continue their education at a post-secondary institution.
Lack of access to health services is one reason why rural and indigenous girls experience up to 3 times the maternal mortality seen in metropolitan areas. Long travel distances, shortages of trained personnel, and inadequate resources in health centers severely limit access to emergency contraception and prenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care.
Guatemala has some of the highest levels of femicide (the 8th highest globally) and sexual violence in the world. The legacy of brutality left by decades of civil war is referenced as a major contributor to both the abuse and murder of women in Guatemala.
Over one-third of women in Guatemala experience sexual violence in their lifetime, according to Human Rights Watch, and it disproportionally affects girls under age 14. Guatemalan law classifies any sexual activity involving a child under 14 as sexual violence and their National Registry of Persons (RENAP) reported that between 2018 and 2024, 14,696 girls under 14 gave birth and became mothers, in many cases against their will. Sexual violence can have life-threatening consequences for girls’ physical and mental health and can prevent them from realizing their economic, social and cultural rights.
Some of the highest rates of sex and gender-based violence originate in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, together known as the “Northern Triangle of Central America,” and is perpetrated by gangs, narco-traffickers, human traffickers, and a machismo culture fueled by corruption and impunity. Only 14% of rape cases ever reach the courts (2020 data), and in those that do, less than half received sentences. Sexual violence includes rape, domestic and sexual servitude, sexual assault, forced disappearances, human trafficking and is a major reason that women and girls to flee this area and attempt to migrate to the U.S.
The Food of Guatemala
Guatemalan cuisine is an ode to its history, geography, and the richness of its natural resources. Food is a way of life in Guatemala, as is tradition, and there is immense pride in both. Food is tied to cultural celebrations, with specific dishes being made for specific holidays. For instance, Fiambre, prepared for Day of the Dead and All Saints Day, is a salad that could contain up to 50 (yes, 50!) ingredients (cold cuts, cheese, and beets dominate). Fiambre recipes are unique to each family and family members gather and prepare Fiambre well in advance of the actual day.
Corn, maize, and amaranth were staples in Mayan cuisine and that influence is still seen in Guatemala today, where nearly every meal incorporates one of the three, with corn predominating, particularly of the blue corn variety. The Spanish influence is seen in dishes such as the ubiquitous tortilla, ceviche, empanadas, enchiladas, tamales, etc. – all dishes that are found in kitchens in Spain but with some differences in ingredients, preparation, and presentation. Recently, Chinese food and western fast food influences have entered urban areas.
Guatemala’s almost year-round temperate climate, its fertile volcanic soil, and copious precipitation have guaranteed a cornucopia of vegetables, fruits, spices, and grains. Avocados (the Haas avocado), cacao beans that yield some of the world’s best quality chocolate, and coffee beans have been cultivated in Guatemala long before they became popular the world over. Mayans are rumored to have called chocolate “the food of the Gods,” and the cocoa bean is used as an ingredient not just in making chocolate but in savory (mole sauce) and sweet dishes (rellenitos). Criollo is the finest grade of chocolate, and it is readily available in Guatemala. Traditional Guatemalan hot chocolate (Caldo chocolate) is made with pressed chocolate tablets that crumble when heated, cooked in whole milk and cinnamon. Befitting the claim that Guatemala is the birthplace of chocolate, there is a Chocolate Museum in Antigua.
Dishes in Guatemalan cuisine tend to be elaborate in terms of ingredients used, method of preparation, and time taken. Despite how involved most dishes tend to be, very little equipment is used in traditional Guatemalan kitchens. There is the prevailing belief that food is best prepared with one’s hands.
While there is not an official Guatemalan national dish, in 2007, the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture designated a few dishes as “cultural heritage” of Guatemala: pepián, kak’ik, platanos en mole, pinol, and jocon.
Pepián is a rich, spicy stew made with chicken, beef, or pork. The base of the stew is made from a paste of ground pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. The stew could be red or green based on whether tomatoes/tomatillos are used and the specific combination of chilies.
Kak’ik is a turkey meat stew braised with puréed tomatoes, onions, tomatillos, coriander, annatto, and lots of garlic. It is served with rice or tortillas, chile paste (to customize to one’s level of heat), and avocado slices.
Platanos en Mole (plantains in mole sauce) is a traditional dessert purportedly conceived in the royal kitchens. Platanos en mole are fried slices of banana served in decadent mole sauce (chocolate, tomato spiced sauce).
Jocón or pollo en jocón is a chicken stew in a green sauce. The sauce is made with tomatillos and cilantro and thickened with ground sesame, pumpkin seeds, and corn tortillas that have been soaked in water.
Empanadas, tamales, enchiladas, etc. are Guatemalan dishes that sound like Mexican/El Salvadoran dishes but are often distinctly different despite bearing the same name. Guatemalan empanadas are filled with achiote paste, creamy milk custard and then baked. Guatemalans maintain that there are more varieties of tamales in Guatemala than in Mexico. Some of the popular kinds of tamales in Guatemala are pache – a meat, potato, and three chiles tamale, cheese tamales, or a mix of corn dough and red-colored sausage made with tomatoes and annatto. Some family recipes add izote (yucca flowers), loroco (edible vine bud), raisins, olives, or sweet pepper to the tamale filling. Guatemalan tamales are wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks. Depending on the holiday, the type of drink that is served as an accompaniment varies. At Christmas time, the tradition is to serve tamales with fruit punch, while at the New Year they are served with rum.
The slightly more than half of Guatemalans who exist above the poverty line, eat three meals a day with lunch being the heaviest. A typical breakfast is refried black beans, fried plantain, eggs/chorizo,sauce, and tortilla. Avena, an oat porridge sweetened with honey and flavored with cinnamon, is also common for breakfast. “Refacción,” a midafternoon snack is a popular “meal” and consists of a pastry and coffee. Guatemalans drink their coffee light and creamy.
Being Guatemalan “ser Chapín” is to take whatever life has to offer and make the most of it. It is in the easy, unhurried way that Guatemalans like to get to know people and the overall kind and polite disposition they exhibit.
Sources:
https://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Guatemala.html
http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Guatemala.html#ixzz6AV3Sr1cm
https://greenglobaltravel.com/facts-about-guatemalan-culture/
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/central-america-and-the-caribbean/guatemala/food-drink/
https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/guatemala-a-2026-snapshot/
Population: https://www.prb.org/resource/guatemala-beyond-the-early-phase-of-the-transition/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373275423_Guatemala_Democratic_Spring_1944-1954
Civil War. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-worldhistory/chapter/36-5-2-the-guatemalan-civil-war/
https://cja.org/where-we-work/guatemala/
Poverty: https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/guatemala-a-2026-snapshot/
https://ourworldindata.org/profile/health/guatemala
GBV: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/latin_america-jan-june11-timeline_03-07