One gateway to Mundo Maya is Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala in the south-central part of the country. It sits on a high plateau against a backdrop of mountains and volcanoes, not far from the Pacific Ocean.
The city's Central Plaza is a weekend gathering place for locals and for tourists looking for crafts at the outdoor market.
An estimataed 1.2 million people live in the rapidly growing metropolis; the population has almost doubled since 1981. It is the largest city in Central America.