Travel Reference
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ala's indigenous peoples. Although other parts of Central America offer attractions similar
to those found elsewhere in Guatemala, nowhere else in the region are age-old traditions,
exquisite Mayan culture, and a history both proud and painful so remarkably evident and
incredibly alive. From the Indian markets in Chichicastenango and the Mayan practices of
the costumbristas (shamans practicing traditional Mayan rituals) in the hills just outside of
town to the all-day November 1 horse races of Todos Santos, the region is steeped in rich
culture.
In the Western Highlands, you'll find the ruined cities of the highland Mayan tribes en-
countered by Pedro de Alvarado and the Spanish when they arrived in 1524. The sites are
still places of pilgrimage for the modern-day descendants of the various linguistic groups
populating this part of the country. Traversing the pine tree-peppered mountain scenery,
you'll also come across the region's spectacular volcanic chain, which runs like a spine
heading west from Antigua all the way to the Mexican border. The water-filled caldera of
anextinctvolcanoformsthebasisforoneofthecountry'smostoutrageouslybeautifulnat-
uralattractions,thesingularLakeAtitlán.Inadditiontowater-basedrecreationalactivities,
unlike any other lake in Central America, it offers the opportunity to observe and interact
with the fascinating highland Mayan people inhabiting the dozen or so villages along its
lakeshores. FartherwestisGuatemala'ssecond-largestcity,Quetzaltenango, whichhasbe-
come a popular place for Spanish-language study as well as a hub of NGO activity in the
aftermath of the civil war. It boasts some outstanding nearby natural attractions of its own
and the cosmopolitan feel of a European city.
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