Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
volcano-ringed
Lago de Atitlán
. Hop in a boat to check out some of the quieter, more
traditional Maya villages around the lake such as
Santiago Atitlán
, where the curious
deity Maximón awaits, or
San Pedro La Laguna
, a party town with a certain fame coun-
trywide.
San Marcos La Laguna
is much more laidback and a magnet for yoga and nat-
ural healing types. And
Santa Cruz La Laguna
is just plain tiny and gorgeous. From the
lake, hop a shuttle or chicken bus north to
Chichicastenango
for its huge Thursday or
Sunday market and, if you're lucky, a religious ceremony where it's hard to tell where the
Maya-ism ends and the Catholicism starts.
From Chichicastenango you can follow the Interamericana Hwy west along the moun-
tain ridges to
Quetzaltenango
, Guatemala's clean, orderly second city, with a host of in-
triguing villages, markets and natural wonders waiting within short bus rides away. From
Quetzaltenango it's possible to go further into the hills to
Todos Santos Cuchumatán
, a
fascinating Maya mountain town with great walking possibilities.
If you have extra time, consider pushing east to explore
Nebaj
and the Ixil Triangle,
where you'll find great walking and a strong Maya way of life amid stunning scenery. A
rough but passable road leads further eastward from here, passing
Uspantan
and provid-
ing a back-door route to Alta Verapaz, where you can check out
Cobán
,
Semuc
Champey
or head further north towards
Tikal
.
