Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The region is traversed in several parts by the Pan-American Highway, meaning that if
you're on a limited schedule, you should stick to areas near this paved main road. Along
this road, coming up from Guatemala City or Antigua, you may want to spend an hour or
so at the ruins of Iximché, the former Kaqchikel capital, which also served as the first cap-
ital of Guatemala when the Spanish set up shop here after the conquest. If you have only a
few days, you should certainly not miss a visit to Lake Atitlán, staying either in the large
tourist and services hub of Panajachel or taking a boat across the lake to the village of your
choice. Each has its own characteristics and tends to attract a certain crowd.
After the lake, you can continue along the Pan-American Highway to Quetzaltenango,
Guatemala's second-largest city, where you can take in area villages or natural attractions,
including the fantastic crater lake atop Chicabal Volcano. It's also a great place to sign up
for a week (or more) of Spanish lessons if you have the time. If you can work it in to
your schedule, plan on visiting the market (Sundays and Thursdays) in the K'iche' town of
Chichicastenango, which is easily accessible from Quetzaltenango and Panajachel. If you
have more time, head north from Chichicastenango into the hills of Quiché department to
the Ixil Triangle. You certainly won't be disappointed.
If you have still more time, consider heading west to Huehuetenango from the branch
road in the town of Sacapulas (Quiché department) or east to Cobán and the Verapaces via
a spectacularly scenic, and equally rugged, dirt road.
Although its namesake departmental capital is a collection of houses, bus depots, and busi-
nessesliningthesideofthePan-AmericanHighway,therestoftheChimaltenangoDepart-
ment is nonetheless a worthy destination. Along the road traversing the region's highland
plateaus, you'll find plenty of pine-studded landscapes, agricultural fields, and even some
Mayan ruins of note.
The departmental capital of Chimaltenango is a major transit point between Guatemala
City/Antiguaandthehighlands.Youmayfindyourselfchangingbuseshereifyou'rehead-
ing up from Antigua going east to Guatemala City or west to the highlands, including
Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlán, Quetzaltenango, and Huehuetenango. There's little else to
keep you in this busy commercial town and transportation hub.
