Trips to Guatemala

CHICABAL LAGOON

To only 24 km of Quetzaltenango, in the municipality of San Martin de Sacatepequez, is the natural monument and cultural Volcano and Chicabal Lagoon: sacred place for the Mayan towns, a paradise for the lovers of eco-tourism and one of the last refuges of the mythical quetzal. 
   
The lagoon of Chicabal (`good or sweet place' in the Mayan language), is in the crater of the volcano of the same name, to 2,900 meters of height and pertaining to the South slope of the volcanic chain of the West of Guatemala. It is located within the area occupied by Mayan, one of the four bigger indigenous groups of the country. 

A special mysticism surrounds to the lagoon of Chicabal: history that gives off the Mayan altars, the ceremonies celebrated by their priests soliciing rain, the mountain vision enormous and volcanos or the fog that the lagoon to mid-morning caresses contributes to it.
 
Chicabal is probably the most important sacred site for Mayan, especially for the area of the West of Quetzaltenango. There are at least 26 Mayan altars, located around the lagoon, and three in one of summits of the crater, Popb´il call.

The altars can be visited all the year following the Mayan sacred calendar, that provides dates according to the propose orations. But most remarkable it is the “rogativa in the rain”, when more than 6,000 visitors they come from the environs of the region. This special day agrees every year with the catholic celebration of the Ascent of Jesus to the Sky.