Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The town was once the center of Tezulutlán (Tierra de Guerra, or 'Land of War'), a
stronghold of the Rabinal Maya.
In the 19th century, when German immigrants moved in and founded vast coffee and
cardamom
fincas
(plantations), Cobán took on the aspect of a German mountain town, as
the
finca
owners built town residences. The era of German cultural and economic domina-
tion ended during WWII, when the USA prevailed upon the Guatemalan government to
deport the powerful
finca
owners, many of whom had actively supported the Nazis.
Guatemala's most impressive festival of indigenous traditions, the national folklore
festival of
Rabin Ajau
with its traditional dance of the Paabanc, takes place here in the latter
part of July or in the first week of August. The
national orchid show
is hosted here every
December.
Cobán
