Present-day country
Guatemala
10 nations list Guatemala among their present-day countries.
Present-day countries are listed by ISO 3166 names. Many nations live across more than one.
10 nations
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Ch'orti'
Also known as Maya Ch'orti'
Lands Jocotán, Camotán, Olopa and Quezaltepeque in Chiquimula and La Unión in Zacapa, Guatemala, and communities around Copán in Honduras
Ch'orti' is also spoken in Honduran communities such as Cabañas, Santa Rita and Copán Ruinas.
Source: Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN) (opens in a new tab) Checked
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Garifuna
Also known as Garínagu
Lands Caribbean coast of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua, plus large diaspora communities
In 2024, Belize observed Garifuna Settlement Day on 19 November as one of its official public holidays.
Source: Government of Belize Press Office (opens in a new tab) Checked
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Ixil
Also known as Maya Ixil
Lands The Ixil region of northern Quiché, Guatemala: Nebaj, Chajul and Cotzal
Ixil women weavers of the Q'imb'al initiative, with youth and village ancestral authorities, launched Community Radio Tiichajil Tenam in Nebaj to share Ixil cultural values.
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Kaqchikel
Also known as Maya Kaqchikel
Lands Central highlands of Guatemala, including Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez and parts of Sololá
In 2022 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was a member of the Maya Kaqchikel people.
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K'iche'
Also known as Maya K'iche'
Lands Western highlands of Guatemala, including Quiché, Totonicapán, Quetzaltenango and Sololá
In Totonicapán, the 48 Cantones is a K'iche' ancestral authority built from community governments, with representatives chosen each year in assembly.
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Mam
Also known as Maya Mam
Lands Western highlands of Guatemala (Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Quetzaltenango) and neighboring Chiapas, Mexico
In October 2025, the Mam communities of Cajolá and Todos Santos Cuchumatán joined two other Maya communities in reporting to a UN committee on their community radio rights.
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Mopan
Also known as Mopan Maya
Lands The Toledo District of southern Belize and nearby Petén, Guatemala
In 2022 a Free, Prior and Informed Consultation Protocol for the Maya of southern Belize was adopted, and in 2025 a working draft on protecting Maya customary land tenure followed.
Source: Caribbean Court of Justice (opens in a new tab) Checked
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Q'eqchi'
Also known as Maya Q'eqchi'
Lands Alta Verapaz, Izabal and Petén in Guatemala, and the Toledo District of southern Belize
Radio Chiquixji in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, broadcasts for bilingual Q'eqchi' and Spanish speakers and for communities that speak only Q'eqchi'.
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Tz'utujil
Also known as Maya Tz'utujil
Lands The southern shore of Lake Atitlán in Sololá, Guatemala, including Santiago Atitlán and San Pedro La Laguna
Radio Sembrador, a community station in San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlán, broadcasts news and cultural programs in Tz'utujil and Spanish.
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Xinka
Also known as Xinca
Lands Santa Rosa, Jutiapa and Jalapa departments in southeastern Guatemala
In May 2024 the Parliament of the Xinka People hosted Guatemala's president in San Juan de Arana, Cuilapa, where they signed a 13-point work agenda.
Source: Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN) (opens in a new tab) Checked