THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS - Guatemala - page 264

P.M. Sun.) is on Avenida Las Américas between 7a and 8a Calles Zona 3, outside the city
center.
Books
North and South Bookstore (8a Calle and 15 Avenida 13-77 Zona 1, tel. [phone], 9:30
A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 A.M.-5 P.M. Sat.) sells a good selection of topics in Eng-
lish with subjects including Guatemalan politics and history, travel guides, birding manu-
als, maps, Spanish textbooks, and dictionaries. Vrisa Bookshop (15 Avenida 3-64 Zona 1,
tel. [phone], 9 A.M.-7 P.M. Mon.-Sat.) sells mostly used topics with some new titles,
mostly in English. El Libro Abierto (15 Avenida “A” 1-56 Zona 1, tel. [phone], 9:30
A.M.-5:30 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 11 A.M.-5 P.M. Sat.) has a wide selection of topics in English
and Spanish.
RECREATION
Volcano Climbs
Accessible fromXelaareavarietyofvolcanohikes,including Tajumulco Volcano, which
isCentralAmerica'shighestvolcano,intheneighboringdepartmentofSanMarcos.Closer
to Xela is Santa María Volcano, affording excellent views all the way to Lake Atitlán as
well as over its active, much smaller neighbor Santiaguito Volcano.
It is very easy to get lost on these peaks so a guide is strongly recommended. (Hikers
have gotten lost on the slopes of Volcán Santa María.) Several local companies offer trips.
Highly recommended for volcano climbs as well as excellent tours to area attractions is
Adrenalina Tours (13 Avenida and 4a Calle Zona 1, Pasaje Enríquez, tel. [phone] or
7767-2474, www.adrenalinatours.com ) . Trips leave with a minimum of four people and
include Santa María Volcano ($20 p/p), Chicabal Lagoon ($20), the Santiaguito Volcano
lookout ($20), Tajumulco Volcano ($43), and a rockin' three-day hike to Lake Atitlán
($67). Adrenalina Tours can also book plane tickets and Tikal tours. The company oper-
ates shuttle bus service to Antigua, Guatemala City, Panajachel, the Mexican border, and
Chichicastenango.
OnthefirstfloorasyougouptoElBalcóndelEnríquezrestaurant, Tours del Enríquez
(Pasaje Enríquez, tel. [phone]) does trips to Santa María Volcano with a minimum of
twopeoplefor$25p/pinadditiontohalf-dayvisitstoareahotspringsandMayanvillages.
It also offers transfer services in private vehicles.
With excellent guides and proceeds that go directly to fund projects that benefit Xela's
street children, Quetzaltrekkers (Diagonal 12 8-37 Zona 1, inside Casa Argentinas, tel.
7765-5895, www.quetzaltrekkers.com ) is highly recommended for its two-day volcano
trips to Santiaguito and Tajumulco ($50), three-day treks to Lake Atitlán ($79), and a won-