The best museums in Guatemala
It is probably no surprise that a country with as rich and colourful a heritage as Guatemala is packed with fascinating museums. The country’s museums are a wonderful way to start to get an understanding of the many different cultures, and dramatic events, that have shaped Guatemala into the place it is today. But there are also plenty of museums that are dedicated to other sides of Guatemalan life — from the richness of the natural environment to its food. Museums are a great way to understand about a country’s past, but the very best ones also reveal more about its present, about its culture and its people. Here are just a few of our picks of some of our favourite museums, large and small, across Guatemala.
Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing, Guatemala City
The Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing (Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena) is a fascinating place to visit, because it give you a real insight into the richness of the indigenous cultures of the country. It is absolutely packed with ceramics, textiles and jewellery from across the country, and it is fascinating to see how the local traditions of indigenous people were influenced by other cultures over time. You can find the museum on the campus of Francisco Marroquin University — it is just opposite the equally excellent Museo Popol Vuh, which is also a great place to find out more about the indigenous peoples of Guatemala and their unique cultures.
Bird Art Museum, Panajachel
A slightly niche museum maybe, but one of our favourites. The Bird Art Museum in Panajachel is a really special place — essentially a celebration of the incredible bird life that gathers every winter in the region. The area around Atitlán in particular is popular with birders from all over the world who come to see up close the huge numbers of migrant birds that gather here. You can do bird watching tours from here too, but we really encourage you to spend a little bit of time in this lovely museum — it is particularly great for kids, who will get to learn plenty of fascinating facts about the many different birds in the area. And if you want something to remember your trip by then you can also of course pick up a few bird-related handicrafts too!
ChocoMuseo, Antigua
Volcanoes, coffee…. and chocolate. Guatemala is famous for many things, but one of its greatest gifts to the world has to be the discovery of the cacao bean. The Maya were the first to understand how they could use it in food, and this museum is a great place to learn about how the discovery of this humble bean has developed in to the multi-billion dollar chocolate industry we have today. If you are keen to get some practical experience with chocolate growing, making and preparation (and who, to be honest, wouldn’t be), then the museum also offers ‘bean to bar’ chocolate-making workshops as well as the chance to go and explore a real-life cacao plantation.
Casa Mima, Guatemala City
Guatemala City is many things, but peaceful and calm it is not. It is a busy, exciting and vibrant place, but the hustle and bustle of the capital can sometimes get a bit too much even for the most hardy visitor. So, we were absolutely delighted to stumble across Casa Mima, a real treasure of a museum that will take you back in time and give you a taste of what life in the city must once have been like.
The house dates from the 1800s and has been kept pretty much as it would have been when it was a family home to the Escobar Vega family during Guatemala’s Republican period. Today, the house is still packed with period furniture, art and everyday objects. So, keep an eye out for the gorgeous floral wallpaper, the peaceful patio area and the many hundreds of antiques and curios that you will find here. It really is just is a lovely place to wander through and spend some time soaking up its unique and timeless atmosphere. The term ‘hidden gem’ is used too often, but in Casa Mima’s case it describes it perfectly.
