Quetzaltenango Things to Do

Right outside of town you'll find this natural spa right over a volcano's "vain". Getting there can be a bit tricky, it's walking distance from downtown (just about 3 KM) ... but the way up the hill doesn't have many signs and there are a few loops and crossroads where you'll have to make a choice! My advice, take always the road that gets higher into the mountain.

The price for a room is Q$ 20 the hour. You'll have your own spa ... with your shower and your changing room, which can be locked from inside in order to have more privacy.

Zunil is a smaller town about 45 to 60 minutes away ... once you get off at the bus' last stop, you can catch a pick-up for Q$ 40 to get up the hill (those are very steep 10 KM or so) and enjoy amazing views and great sulfur(y) hot springs.

If you feel like walking, just pay the cab only one way and hike your way down. You'll be amazed with the stunning views... you'll literally walk through the clouds!

While I was in Xela, I did a 5 day trek with Quetzaltrekkers from Nebaj to Todo Santos.

It was a great experience, but knackering. Quetzal trekkers were very profesional and helpful, the food and accomodation was very basic, but it's only for 5 day's!.

The villages that you go to are so remote not even a chicken bus goes there, really interesting places and fantastic scenery, but a lot of it is uphill.

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I CLIMBED SANTA MARIA WITH THE INTENTIONS OF VIEWING THE ACTIVE SANTIAGUITO LAVA DOME FROM THE SUMMIT, IT TOOK US ABOUT 8 HOURS TO GET UP THERE AND ALL I SAW WAS CLOUDS, THAT WAS WORTH IT!

NAH IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT WAS A CLOUDY DAY WHILE GOING UP THERE.

THIS HAS TO BE THE TOUGHEST VOLCANO CLIMB I EVER DID (WAS 3772M ABOVE SEA LEVEL)...IF YOU'VE ALREADY CLIMBED PACAYA AND THOUGHT THAT WAS HARD AND THINKING OF DOING THIS ONE, THEN YOU'LL SOON APPRECIATE HOW PACAYA IS! IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHALLENGE SO BE IT. BUT YOU NEED TO BE FIT FOR THIS ONE AS THIS COULD TAKE BETWEEN 6-7 HOURS TO CLIMB UP IT PLUS IT IS STEEP ALL THE WAY UP! IF YOU HIKE UP SANTA MARIA ON A CLEAR DAY THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE ACTIVE SANTIAGUITO LAVA DOME FROM THE TOP WHICH IS ALWAYS ERUPTING. YOU'LL SEE OTHER VOLCANOES IN THE DISTANCE TOO.

BEST TO START CLIMB VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AS YOU'LL NEED ALL THE DAYLIGHT YOU CAN PLUS THE LAST PUBLIC BUS IS MEANT TO LEAVE THE VILLAGE AT AROUND 6PM. YOU START OFF AT A VILLAGE AT THE FOOT OF A MOUNTAIN IN WHICH YOU TAKE A TRAIL ON ABOUT AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF'S HIKE UPHILL TILL YOU HIKE THE ACTUAL VOLCANO.

WE ENDED UP COMING BACK DOWN TO THE VILLAGE AT AROUND 7PM AND WE HAD TO PAY Q50 TO TAKE A PRIVATE SHUTTLE BACK TO QUETZALTENANGO AND THE VILLAGERS ACTED LIKE AS IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE US BEING THERE.

IT IS ADVISEABLE TO HIRE A GUIDE AS YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU GOING. IF YOU SPEAK SPANISH THEN YOU CAN CALL JUAN HERNANDEZ TO ARRANGE THINGS WITH HIM BUT I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ACTUALLY GOT TO BOOK THE TRIP AT A TRAVEL AGENT FIRST (LIKE WE DID).

ON THE FINAL NOTE, YOU WILL NEED HIKING SHOES OR GOOD TRAINERS, A 1.5 OR 2 LITRE BOTTLE OF WATER, SOME FOOD (SANDWICHES WOULD BE BEST), A WARM TOP IN CASE IT GETS CHILLY AT THE TOP, A SMALL BOTTLE OF JUICE OR FIZZY DRINK (PEPSI, FANTA, ETC.) FOR ENERGY, AND A SMALL TORCH IF THERE'S A CHANCE OF GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE DARK.

during my stay in quetzaltenango i climbed a big vulcano nect to town.
we climbed it at night to get the sunrise in the morning from the top.
i went with an organisation called quetzaltrekkers.
they were very good and the profit that the group makes goes to a shelter for homeless kids.

The Central Park is a great place to base your explorations of Xela. There are great restaurants and cheap hostels nearby, as well as many areas of cultural interest. It's also a great place to spend an afternoon people-watching and taking it easy.

At the south border of the Central Park you will find the House of Culture or Casa de la Cultura, were the National Museum of History is currently located. The museum houses a collection of pre-Hispanic pieces and historical memories.

"The Cathedral of the Sacred Spirit" is one of Xela's most interesting sites. This church has two exterior designs. The first of them was constructed in the year 1535 and the second was built in the Neoclassicist style of 1899. The first one, is very ornamenal, and latter, of neo-classical style, forms part of a structure made of several domes. It's quite a unique building!