Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
West from Rabinal the road continues up a high mountain pass along some uninhabited
territory before plunging into yet another valley to the isolated Achi' Mayan and ladino
town of
Cubulco.
The main attraction here is (you guessed it) the annual fiesta, with the
peak of the action on July 25. This is one of the few places in Guatemala where you can
witness the
palo volador,
a rather dodgy ritual in which dancers spin around a pole with a
rope tied around their legs, eventually making it to the ground (most of the time, alive).
The Cloud Forest Biological Corridor (Corredor Biológico del Bosque Nuboso) is a relat-
ively new creation that encompasses a forested area bisecting the Quetzal Biotope and Si-
erra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve. Its purpose is to provide an uninterrupted biological
corridor formany species ofanimals living inthese protected cloud forests. The area along
the road to Cobán (CA-14) between Km. 144 and Km. 170 is part of this corridor, and it is
clearly marked at its beginning and end. The corridor covers 28,640 hectares and includes
ninecommunities andeightprivatereserves.Anumberoftheseprivatereservesarepartof
local hotels and restaurants that have begun catering to visitors interested in exploring all
that this exuberant highland forest ecosystem has to offer. The result is an emerging eco-
tourism development area, which may serve as a model for other areas in Guatemala with
roads adjacent to protected areas.
TheinitiativeismanagedbyanassociationbasedatRestauranteMontebello,atKm.164
in the vicinity of Purulhá, which can provide additional resources and information. It can
be contacted at tel. 7953-9234. Ask for Marlen de Moino.
Accommodations
The first stop along this ecotourism corridor is
Hacienda Río Escondido
(Km. 144,
tel.5308-2440or5208-1407,ecorioescondido@yahoo.com,$20perperson),whereyou'll
find family-size bungalows on a private nature reserve bisected by the cool, clear waters
of the Río San Isidro. There are several kilometers of nature trails, horseback riding, and
innertubingtokeepyoubusyshouldyounotwanttojustrelaxandunwind.Thebestofthe
cabinsaresetalongthecreekandthereareplansforsmallercabinscateringtoindependent
travelers in the works. The restaurant here does barbecued meats and has some delicious
smoothies you can enjoy in an open-air patio.
