Guatemala is a 'magical region of contrasts'

Capital and Antigua are geographically close, but different in culture

People planning to take a solo holiday tour to Guatemala should ensure they visit Guatemala City, which offers an astonishing mix of old and new.

That is according to Visit Guatemala, the tourism board for the central American nation, which revealed that one of the best things to experience while holidaying in the destination is the sheer diversity of the capital city compared to a nearby conurbation.

"Guatemala City, modern and cosmopolitan, is the capital of Guatemala and the colonial city of Antigua, declared a Heritage of Humanity Site by UNESCO, make up this magical region of contrasts," the organisation noted on its website.

"[The capital] presents a contrasting panorama between the colonial architecture and modern buildings, which, with its important museums and history monuments, offers the tourist a unique experience."

Guatemala City has a population of about three million people and many cultural attractions, such as El Attico, which houses works by contemporary native painters.