Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Huehue makes a good place to learn Spanish and become immersed in the language, as the
gringo presence here is not as prevalent as in other parts of Guatemala. Its sole language
school is
Academia de Español Xinabajul
(4a Avenida 14-14 Zona 5, Los Encinos, tel.
7764-6631, academiaxinabajul@hotmail.com), which charges $150 per week for 20 hours
of instruction and stay with a local host family. It gets good marks from former students.
For private lessons, contact Faby Castro at tel. 7762-7730 or 5348-1676.
The bus terminal is about two kilometers southwest of the city center, halfway along the
boulevard leading out to the Pan-American Highway. There are frequent buses to many
outlying towns and villages, most notably:
•
Aguacatán
(one hour, $1): 10 daily buses between 6 A.M. and 4 P.M.
•
Barillas
(seven hours, $4): 10 daily buses 2 A.M.-10 P.M.
•
La Mesilla (Mexican border)
(two hours, $2): 20 daily buses 6 A.M.-6 P.M.
•
Nenton
(three hours, $2): six daily buses between 3:30 A.M. and 1 P.M.
•
Sacapulas, Quiché
(1.5 hours, $2): at 11:30 A.M. and 12:45 P.M.
•
Soloma
(three hours, $2.50): 16 daily buses between 2 A.M. and 10 P.M.
•
Todos Santos Cuchumatán
(two hours, $2): leaving at 4:30 A.M., 5 A.M., 12:45
P.M., 1:30 P.M., 2:45 P.M., and 3:45 P.M. There may be others.
Frequentsecond-classbusdeparturesalsoinclude
Guatemala City
(20dailybusesuntil
4 P.M., five hours, $5) and
Quetzaltenango
(16 daily buses until 2:30 P.M., two hours,
$1.75).
Pullman bus service to Guatemala City is available via
Transportes Los Halcones
(7a
Avenida 3-62 Zona 1, tel. 7764-2251, $5) at 4:30 A.M., 7 A.M., and 2 P.M.
Transportes
Zaculeu Futura
(3a Avenida 5-25 Zona 1, tel. 7764-1535) has departures at 6 A.M. and
3 P.M.
Transportes Velásquez,
operating from the main terminal, is another option, with
buses every half hour or so between 8:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M.
Thefollowingtownsareclosetothedepartmentcapitalandmightmakeforinterestingday
trips if you lack the time to go deep into the heart of this remote corner of Guatemala.
Chiantla
Chiantla lies five kilometers north of Huehuetenango along a paved road that continues
into the Cuchumtanes mountain chain. It was once a silver mining center and is known for
its
Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Candelaria,
harboring the Virgen de Chiantla, adorned in
the town's silver. There are some interesting murals in the church's nave depicting an
en-
