A Swiss Guatemalan is a Guatemalan of Swiss heritage, hailing from the waves of immigration that began in the 19th century. The Swiss often came simultaneously with expatriates from

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

and

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

during the first period of immigration in the 1840s, with many arriving as chartered settlers.

History

The history of the Swiss in Guatemala dates back to the 19th century, with the first wave of immigration culminating in the Swiss government opening a consulate in 1891. The majority of immigrants from this first wave originated from

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...

and settled primarily in

Guatemala City Guatemala City ( es, Ciudad de Guatemala), known locally as Guatemala or Guate, is the capital and largest city of Guatemala, and the most populous urban area in Central America. The city is located in the south-central part of the country, nest ...

, with some additional settlement in the surrounding highlands. Switzerland and Guatemala have sustained a committed trade partnership that began during this time period.''La Hora''
Permanencia de Suiza en Guatemala
Guatemala, 23 Agost 2014. Retrieved on 25 November 2014. Guatemala drew a second wave of European immigrants to the city of

Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango (, also known by its Maya name Xelajú or Xela ) is both the seat of the namesake Department and municipality, in Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of above sea level at its lowest part. It may ...

, many of them Swiss, following the construction of the ''Ferrocarril de los Altos'' (Railway of the high lands) and the establishment of the coffee plantation system in the early 20th century.Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera
Bendita ciudad, de maldita historia (VIII parte)
''El Periodico'' Guatemala, Tuesday 25 November 2014.

Culture

On July 24, 2014, the Swiss Ambassador to

Guatemala Guatemala ( ; ), officially the Republic of Guatemala ( es, República de Guatemala, links=no), is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico; to the northeast by Belize and the Caribbean; to the east by H ...

, Jürg Benz, and the Swiss embassy in Guatemala, celebrated 123 years of diplomatic relations have as much as trade between the two countries, mentioned above the country opened its consul since 1891. By the 19th century, the Swiss immigrants boosted the chocolate manufacture in Guatemala. Swiss immigrants have also left descendants in the nation, and living mostly in

, in

there are Native Indigenous Guatemalans with Swiss features due to a mixtures between Kakchiquel Native Guatemalans and Swiss immigrants.

Notable Swiss Guatemalans

* Jacobo Árbenz *

Eduardo Suger Eduardo Suger Cofiño (November 29, 1938) is a Swiss-born Guatemalan physicist, scholar, educator, and politician. He is one of the founders of Galileo University in Guatemala City and of the Suger Montano Institute. Suger was the first Central ...

Fritz García Gallont Fritz García Gallont (born 9 August 1955) is a Guatemalan politician. He is a member of the Unionist Party. He served as Minister of Communications under President Álvaro Arzú.Wayne Leighton, Carlos Sabino, ''Privatization of Telecommunication ...

* Carlos Lopez-Barillas

References

External links

Colegio Suizo Americano
{{Portal bar, Guatemala, Switzerland Immigration to Guatemala Guatemalan people of Swiss descent European Guatemalan