Huehuetenango
GuatemalaCwb
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Tierra de los antiguos | Land of the ancient ones
Why visit
A jumping-off point for some of Guatemala's most spectacular highlands, the Cuchumatanes plateau, the indigenous textile market town of Todos Santos Cuchumatán (especially during its November 1 horse race), the Zaculeu Mam-Maya ruins, and serious specialty coffee from the surrounding mountains, prized by roasters worldwide.
When to avoid
Guatemala carries elevated travel advisories due to crime, gang activity in some neighborhoods, and roadside robberies on rural highways, travel by daylight and consider organised tours. Altitude (1,900 m) catches some visitors off-guard. The annual rainy season (May to October) can wash out mountain roads. Some Cuchumatanes villages have had recent ethnic-political tensions. Check current advisories.
