The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation, or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.

The Republic of Guatemala accepted the convention on January 16, 1979, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list. As of 2023, Guatemala has four World Heritage Sites, Takalik Abaj, the most recent was inscribed in 2023. Guatemala has served as a member of the World Heritage Committee once, 2017–2021.

World Heritage Sites UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.

+ Site Image Location (department) Year listed Description Tikal National ParkPetén197964; i, iii, iv, ix, x (mixed)In the heart of the jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation, lies one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. The ceremonial centre contains superb temples and palaces, and public squares accessed by means of ramps. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.Antigua GuatemalaSacatepéquez197965; ii, iii, iv (cultural)Antigua, the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala, was founded in the early 16th century. Built 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773 but its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. In the space of under three centuries the city, which was built on a grid pattern inspired by the Italian Renaissance, acquired a number of superb monuments. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.Archaeological Park and Ruins of QuiriguaIzabal1981149; i, ii, iv (cultural)Inhabited since the 2nd century A.D., Quirigua had become during the reign of Cauac Sky (723–84) the capital of an autonomous and prosperous state. The ruins of Quirigua contain some outstanding 8th-century monuments and an impressive series of carved stelae and sculpted calendars that constitute an essential source for the study of Mayan civilization. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’ajRetalhuleu20231663; ii, iii (cultural)Tak’alik Ab’aj is an archaeological site located on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. Its 1,700-year history spans a period that saw the transition from the Olmec civilization to the emergence of Early Mayan culture. Tak’alik Ab’aj had a primary role in this transition, in part because it was vital to the long-distance trade route that connected the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in today's Mexico to present-day El Salvador. Ideas and customs were shared extensively along this route. Sacred spaces and buildings were laid out according to cosmological principles, and innovative water management systems, ceramics, and lapidary art can be found. Today, Indigenous groups of different affiliations still consider the site a sacred place and visit it to perform rituals. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO (CC BY 3.0 IGO) license.

Tentative list In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. Guatemala has twenty-two properties on its tentative list.

+ Site Image Location (department) Year listed UNESCO criteria DescriptionThe Cultural Triangle Petén2002(mixed)The Cuenca MiradorPetén2002(mixed)The Core of the Mayan AreaPetén2002(mixed)The Route of The RiversPetén2002(mixed)Naj Tunich CavePetén2002(mixed)The Mayan-Olmecan EncounterRetalhuleu2002(mixed)Route of the Franciscan EvangelisationCentral and Western region of Guatemala 2002i, iv, v, vi (cultural)Route of the Dominican Evangelisation2002i, iv, v, viRoute of the Peace and National Identity 2002iv, vi (cultural)Castle of San Felipe de Lara Izabal2002iv (cultural)Route of the Agroindustry and the Architecture Victoriana 2002iv (cultural)Town of Chichicastenango El Quiché2002v, vi (cultural)The Green Route of Verapaz, Guatemala Alta Verapaz2002vii (natural)Sierra De Las Minas Biosphere ReservationAlta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, El Progreso, Izabal and Zacapa2002vii, viii, ix, x (natural)National Park Sierra del LacandónPetén2002(mixed)The Manglares Route of Pacific Coast of GuatemalaEscuintla, Jutiapa, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, Santa Rosa and Suchitepéquez2002vii (natural)Protected area of Lake Atitlán: multiple useSololá2002vii, viii, ix (natural)Visis Cabá National park and Triangulo Ixil Vernacular ArchitectureEl Quiché2002(mixed)The Painted Murals of San Bartolo Petén2012i, ii (cultural)The Caves of Naj TunichPetén2012i, iii, v, vi, vii (cultural)Archeological Site Naranjo Sa’aalPetén2022ii, iv, vi (cultural)National Theater of Guatemala Guatemala2022i, iv (cultural)

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