Best Museums in Guatemala

The Central American nation of Guatemala has a fascinating history, and plenty of museums to enlighten visitors.

On your travels around Guatemala, you can’t help but notice the variety of clothing worn by the indigenous Maya. At the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Clothing, you can learn about the history of the garments and what they mean to those that wear them.

Another good spot is the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, also dedicated to the history of the indigenous Maya people. There is a huge collection of artifacts, including pottery and jade.

If art is more your thing, the National Museum of Modern Art is a good option. You’ll find works by celebrated 20^th-century artists such as Efrain Recinos and Zipacna de Leon, as well as other Latin American artists from the period.

Head to the Museo Popul Vuh to see stone carvings from the Pre-Classic period, and historical Maya records known as “painted books.” The most famous of these books lends its name to the museum, and the Popul Vuh is sometimes referred to as the Mayan Bible.

Railway buffs should head to the Railway Museum to find out more about the development of the Iron Horse in Guatemala. Sadly, there are no longer functioning railways in the country, but the museum provides an interesting walkthrough of railways past.