Guatemala /Jul 14, 2016
Guatemala City is not over-endowed with sites of tourist interest but, if you’re in the city with time to burn, then Casa MIMA is definitely worth a visit.
Located on the corner of Carmen & Beatas, a short drive from Parque Central in the oldest part of Guatemala City, Casa MIMA was originally a private home dating back to the 19th century and one that has barely been altered over the years.
The original house was built in 1870 with amendments to the building made by architect Rafael Perez de Leon in the 1920s. The house was originally owned by Escobar Vega who lived at the property with his family. Much of the furniture and decorative antiques date back to this time and are excellent examples of the period.
Today, Casa MIMA is managed by the Light Cultural Foundation who also use the property for small, related exhibitions.
Entrance to Casa MIMA costs 30Q (extra for cameras) and the whole property can easily be explored in 30 mins. Tea and coffee is theoretically offered in the lovely little courtyard at the back of the house although, on our visit, it was closed.
Please note that there is no parking outside the property so, if you have a driver, you will need to arrange a time to be picked up outside and be ready to jump into your car pronto.
This classic Guatemala itinerary starts in the Highland region, taking in Antigua, Chichicastenango & Lake Atitlan amongst others before heading north via Quirigua, Livingston & Rio Dulce to the vast flatlands of Peten, home to the great Mayan cities of Tikal & Yaxha.
This brief itinerary around the highlands of Guatemala takes in the key destinations of Antigua, Chichicastenango & Lake Atitlan together with some lesser known ones such as the Mayan ruins of Iximche and the city of Quetzaltenango.
No single itinerary can ever succeed in being entirely comprehensive but the 3-week, Complete Guatemala comes pretty darn close and even provides the option of quick detour into Honduras.
Despite its rich Mayan history, Guatemala is surprisingly short when it comes to stand-out museums although the capital, Guatemala City, does have a couple of options.
It’s not often that visitors to a relatively small country deliberately avoid the nation’s capital but, with Guatemala City, that is very much the case. Is it that bad?
Being very much a touring destination, the first decision visitors must face is how exactly they plan to get around this fascinating country. Having a car and driver in Guatemala is by no means the only option but, in our opinion, it is by far the best.
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Whichever of our featured countries you wish to visit, we've been there several times. So, if you're after something beyond the ordinary to Cuba, Nicaragua, Guatemala or the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, we'd love to hear from you.
