Annually to the country there comes a great number of the tourists, dreaming to visit the well-known ruins of an ancient civilization of Indians of the Maya. Many travelers are attracted by opportunity to plunge into the untouched world of the wild nature of Guatemala. The authorities of the country try, and isn't unsuccessful, to turn Guatemala into the popular international direction for ecotourism. "We have everything that it is necessary for you – coasts of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, the river, the lake, volcanoes and the woods", – Maria Isabel Garcia, the employee of Guatemalan realtor agency Inversiones de Guatemala speaks.

The country develops in the conditions of the rigid competition from other states of Latin America, some of which, for example Costa Rica, already made to itself a world name. There are at Guatemala neither well-known Mexican beaches, nor refinement of Argentina, wealth of Uruguay and Chile. However hopes of bright future of the country nevertheless have the right to existence. You judge: only ten years ago the country "was broken off on part" by guerrilla war in which about hundred thousand people died, and about one million became refugees. Now the situation in Guatemala strongly changed. So, by some estimates, it already did a considerable way.

About Guatemala

Very long time ago Guatemala was the center of a civilization of the Maya in Central America. About it tells a set of the ancient ruins scattered here and there over all country. The reasons of falling of this civilization still remain a riddle. Therefore the great number of historians, archeologists and simply enthusiasts come every year to Guatemala known also as "heart of culture of the Maya", in hope that ruins of the cities will answer them this question.

Modern Guatemala shares overland borders with Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. In the country lives about 12 million people, about a half of the population it is concentrated in the capital – Guatemala City.

Earlier Guatemala was a significant Spanish colony, let and not so important, as rich with gold and silver Mexico. The former owners of the country left after themselves a little attracting with the singularity and old times of the coastal cities, most outstanding of which – Antigua entering into the List of the world heritage of UNESCO. The main official language of the country is Spanish.

The gross domestic product level per capita in Guatemala is twice lower, than in Argentina, Brazil or Chile. About a half of the population of the country is occupied in the agricultural sector which production makes about the two fifth from total export of Guatemala. In fifteen years which passed after the end of 36 years' civil war, level of foreign investments into the country considerably grew. However rapid economic development of the country is interfered by outdated infrastructure and high level of organized crime.