Guatemala

Guatemala preserves living Maya traditions in language, weaving and ceremony alongside Garifuna coastal culture.

Textile & dress Spirituality & rites Music & dance Language & oral Food & cooking

Knowledge in this place

Maya backstrap weaving

Maya backstrap weaving

Indigenous women weave huipiles and textiles on backstrap looms, each pattern signaling a specific community.

Textile & dress

Rabinal Achí dance drama

Rabinal Achí dance drama

A pre-Hispanic Maya dance drama performed in Rabinal, inscribed by UNESCO as intangible heritage.

Spirituality & rites

Marimba music

Marimba music

The marimba, a wooden xylophone played by several musicians, is the national instrument of Guatemala.

Kaqchikel language

Kaqchikel language

One of Guatemala's many living Maya languages, still spoken daily in the central highlands.

Language & oral

Pepián stew

Pepián stew

A thick, toasted-spice meat stew of Maya and colonial origin, considered a national dish.