Quetzaltenango Travel Guide

Un article de Wikitravel.

Quetzaltenango, aussi connue sous le nom de Xela or Xelaju, c’est la deuxieme plus grande ville du Guatemala. Situee dans le Sud Ouest du pays, le departement alentour possede une grande variete de paysages depuis les fraiches Montagnes jusqu’a la chaude Cote Pacifique. on y trouve de nombreux volcans, des sources chaudes, vallees, montagnes, rivieres. La region produit a harvest de nombreux produits agricoles comme le cafe, le ble, les fruits et les legumes, sans oublier l’elevage d’ovins ou de bovins.

Ces qualites font de Quetzaltenango un endroit interessant a visiter.

Comprendre

La villede Quetzaltenango, la principale de la region est situee sur une vaste plaine et entouree de collines et de volcans. La ville de Quetzaltenango conserve les veilles traditions Maya-Quiche's ainsi que son passe colonial, tout en maintenant le dynamisme de la vie moderne.

The Mam authority, appele Kulahá, reached its most important expansion. Les anciens seigneurs Quiches's ont conquis cette zone et fonderent Xelajú precedemment situee au pieds du volcan Santa Maria. Puis , elle fut transfere au nor, et les Nahuas qui arriverent avec les Espagno lui donnerent le nom de Quetzaltenango (Place of walls).

The center of the magistrate's authority durant la period Hispanique and pendant un certain temps time la capitale du pretendu "Sixieme Etat de la confederation Centrale Americaine".

Arriver

The Panamerican Highway (CA-1) which crosses the High Lands or the International (CA-2), parallel to the Pacific Coast. Really, very intersting

En avion

En train

En voiture

En bus

Il existe 2 terminaux

Depuis Chichicastenango

Depuis Guatemala Ciudad

Depuis Huehuetenango

Depuis Mazatenango

Depuis La Mesilla

Depuis Tecun Uman

Depuis Momostenango

Depuis Panajachel

Depuis Retalhuleu

Depuis San Andres Xecul

Depuis San Marcos

Depuis Totonicapan

Circuler

Une personne normalement constitue peut marcher du centre a n’importe quell point de Xela en environ trente minutes.Des minibus circules dans toute la ville, il ne coute qu'un Qetzal. Les bus coutent encore moins mais son plus lents et moins frequents.

Pour voyager aux alentours les bus locaux sont tres convenable. Ils peuvent etre distrayant, et parfois, relativement surcharges.

Sortir

It may be possible to arrange a tour of the Gallo brewery by calling ahead.

You can spend hours in and around the Mercado de la Democracia in the commercial center of Xela. It is where the locals shop for most of their needs.

Any concert is worth attending in the Municipal Theater. It is beautiful inside.

Evening marimba concerts are often given on the steps of the Municipalidad on the west side of Parque Centro America.

Walk around town. In the side streets, you'll often come upon a master giving guitar lessons or a group of men practicing Marimba.

Go to a football game: Xelaju M. C. vs anyone. The crowd is animated and the fireworks alone can be worth the price of admission. Don't pay extra for the high priced seats, they remove you from much of the fun. Try to sit in the corner near the band. A "Xelaju M. C." flag to wave costs Q10. Grilled sausages are less. No alcohol permitted in the stadium.

Fireworks! If it's your birthday, or you just feel like it, blow off a couple of Qetzals for a big string of firecrackers. You'll normally hear them any evening or early morning.

A voir ici

Historical Center

La ville conserve les traces de la periode coloniale dans ses rues et ses avenues. The classic, neoclassic and Italian renaissance styles are evident in the buildings and the houses which have been built during the past century and the beginning of the 20th, with volcanic stones by "Quetzaltecos" artful masons. Some examples of architectural styles:

Espiritu Santo Cathedral : Consist of two structures. The "Espiritu Santo" parish's ancient facade (1535/1896) and to the back the "Diócesis de los Altos" (1899).

The Municipal Theatre is a very important Neoclassical work.

The Central America park : Situated in the centre of the town is also centre of cultural activities and amusements.

The Enrique Passage : Near the central park.

Gobernacion : one block from the central park.

Also visit the Cerro del Baúl, where one can have a beautiful view of Quetzaltenango's valley, day or night (accessible by foot, car or taxi).

Quetzaltenango has important cultural activities. There, you'll find the Occidental Cultural Centre (La Casa de la Cultura de Occidente), and Alliance Française de Quetzalteango, numerous activities are scheduled all year.

The first Sunday of each month, the "Quetzaltecos" install the artisans' market in the central park where handcrafts from Quetzaltenago and surrounding villages are displayed. In September, the annual fair and festival is offered from the 12th to the 18th.

A voir pas loin

The "Quetzaltecos" villages of Quiche and Mam origins, have small places with impressive colonial style churches where the tourist will see the regional handcrafts displayed on market days.

Salcajá: 9 kms. from Quetzaltenango. Market day: Tuesday. local festival the 25th of august. Here was constructed the church of San Jacinto, the first of the religious constructions of the region and a beautiful example of colonial architecture. Also famous for its hand-woven "jaspe " materials and unique alcoholic beverages known as "caldo de fruta" " and "rompopo" .

San Juan Ostuncalco 12 kms. from Quetzaltenango. Situated in a valley of the mountainous region, it is the commercial centre for the Mam-speaking villages which border the departament. Here you may acquire musicals instruments, wicker furniture as well as lovely hand woven materials.

Almolonga 5 km from Quetzaltenango. Market on Wednesday and Saturday. Annual festival the 26th-29th of June. Known for its variety of vegetables which are cultivated on the smell farms which surround the village. You will also enjoy thermal springs such as "Las aguas amargas" and "El rosario" .

Cantel 10 km from Quetzaltenango. Visit the interesting cooperative for handmade blown glass.

Olintepeque : 7 Km from Quetzaltenango. The place where according to legend, the famous Maya-Quiche prince Tecún Uman died in battle against Pedro de Alvarado in 1524.

San Andres Xecul : 7 kms from Quetzaltenango, in the direction of the "Cuatro Caminos" highway junction, with a colonial-style whose facade is both colorfull and picturesque.

Volcán Santa Maria, 12,256 feet, 3772 m & Santiaguito. The summit of the Santa Maria Volcano lies at the end of the steep 3-5 hours climb from the village of Llanos del Pinal (located 6Kms. above Quetzaltenango) bus 2 Q Depuis parque calvario. You'll best enjoy the truly awesome view during the clearer weather of the early morning hours. The whole coastal plain lies at your feet, along with the cities of Quetzaltenago and Tapachula, Mexico. You can look down into the very active Santiaguito crater which erupts at least once every hour. You can still enjoy the view minus the ragged hike by driving to the top of the adjacent Siete Orejas Volcano. (10,384 feet above sea level).

La laguna de Chicabal, 3 hours by foot from the village of San Martin Chileverde (14 Kms from Quetzaltenango). At this very picturesque lagoon, the sorceres of the whole region meet on the 3th of may.

Apprendre

Xela is an excellent place to take language lessons (both Spanish and some of the Mayan languages specific to the area). There are various schools in the city - most offer rates based on one week of instruction (approx. 5 hours per day). Many also offer homestay options, which is an excellent way to make sure you keep practicing at all times. One of the best reasons to learn in Xela is the price. You can expect to pay about US$130 per week including homestay. This often includes internet access. Arrangements can be made ahead of time or upon arrival (most schools have multilingual administrators who can help make arrangements via email or phone - some even offer airport pick up from Guatemala City).

The salsa scene is also very active in Xela. Lessons are very cheap and there are lots of clubs.