Why did Che Guevara travel to Guatemala in 1953?

Che Guevara traveled to Guatemala in 1953 because the country was then led by Jacobo Arbenz, who was heading a progressive regime attempting to implement a social revolution.1

Guevara was drawn to the country to witness and participate in these reformist efforts, which included ambitious programs such as agrarian reform aimed at redistributing land to the peasantry. It was during his time in Guatemala that Guevara became a dedicated Marxist. His experience there—specifically witnessing the 1954 overthrow of the Arbenz government in a coup supported by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency—deeply influenced his political outlook. This event convinced him that the United States would consistently oppose progressive leftist governments, a realization that became a cornerstone of his commitment to achieving socialism through worldwide revolution.21