Trips to Guatemala

QUETZALTENANGO

Quetzaltenango (“place of the quetzal”), the second city in importance of Guatemala, well-known like Xelajú or Xela, is preservadosu colonial style. Is known it as the “Cradle the culture” of Central America. It is located to an altitude of 2,220 ms on the level of the sea and one is near several volcanos, in the heart of the Mountain range Mother, to 200 kilometers to the east of the capital of the country. The volcanos offer the opportunity to practice andinismo and from its tops a panorama of extraordinary beauty can be appraised.

In the neighborhood of Quetzaltenango are several populations and sites of tourist interest, where the opportunity must to observe more than 700 species of birds. The populations, of origin Quiche' and mam, lodge small places with impressive churches of colonial style, where the tourist in days of market also will be able to appreciate the agricultural wealth and craftswoman of the region.

In the department are several sulfurous thermal sources. Some of them have been qualified and turned into turicentros, like the Georginas Sources, Bitter Waters in jurisdiction of Zunil and the Spas of Cantel. The Chicabal Lagoon, located in the crater of the volcano of the same name, constitutes an attractive double since, besides his natural enchantment, it is ceremonial center of indigenous religious rituals. Also the archaeological site of Chuitinamit can be visited.  

As far as the city, they are to emphasize the colorful spotted streets that they raise and they lower, parks, churches and the mansions constructed by rich coffee growers.

The Church of San Nicholas, constructed in 1899 with neoclassic style dazzles to the observer.  Their inhabitants of indigenous descendants still conserve the old traditions of their lineage the Mayan-Quiche's, conjugated with a colonial past and the dynamism of the modern life.  According to the tradition, he was in the battle fought between quichés and Level famous Spaniards in of Urbina, where the 12 of February of 1524 died Tecún Umán, beginning therefore the defeat of the Señorío Quiche'.

The 6 of October of every year are celebrated, with great religious fervor, the day of the Virgin of the Rosary, Employer of the Municipality, that includes celebrations throughout all the month, being a very special date for the inhabitants of the municipality who profess the catholic faith.