Top places to see in Guatemala and major festivals: Here we present a description and dates of the main festivals of Guatemala, activities that you can easily include in your vacations, we are sure that will improve your experience in the Heart of the Mayan World.
Major Festivals in Guatemala : Jueves de la Ascencion at La Laguna de Chicabal in Quetzaltenango. La Laguna Chicabal is a lime-green lake, at 2712 m, in the crater of the extinct volcano of the same name. The Mayas believed the waters are sacred, and it is thought that if you swim in the lake, you will get ill. Ceremonies of Maya initiation are held at the lake in early May (40 days after Good Friday), known as Jueves de la Ascensión, and it’s celebrated with traditional music, flowers, and prayers at the Lake. Be respectful of the tradition, and you should not take pictures.
Festival of Rabin Ajau and election of Indian Princess Tesulután in Coban. July 25th: The celebrations that occur in the location of Cobán through the Folkloric Festival of the Rabin Ajau and also the election of the Princess Tesulutlán are the single most remarkable celebrations of indigenous traditions in Guatemala. The communities of Alta Verapaz are probably less popular with regards to tourism, and yet they are probably the most charming and rich in folklore. In many of the villages in Alta Verapaz, particularly Cobán and San Pedro Carchá, the majority of the ancestral celebratory customs are conserved, especially the religious festivity of the Paabanc which is a unique traditional dance that is performed all over this area by the natives, the Kekchis, who express the perpetuation of their traditions and attires. Throughout this festivity, you’ll be able to discover and appreciate traditional meals and dances. See even more info at Guatemala Vacations.
Extra Guatemala attractions: Antigua Guatemala, most often referred to simply as Antigua, is one of the highlights of Guatemala and certainly one of the most beautiful cities in Central America. Set amid surrounding volcanoes, this former capital of Guatemala offers a unique glimpse of a city unblemished by modern day concrete buildings and high rises. Here, the cobbled streets are lined with lovely old colonial buildings, some of which show evidence of the earthquakes that have contributed to the city’s history. Everywhere in the old city center are grand churches and convents. While many of the buildings have been completely restored, some reveal cracks caused by past earthquakes, and some have been reduced to ruins. In many cases the ruins have been creatively incorporated into more recently constructed buildings, some of which are now hotels. The city has many interesting museums to explore, along with beautiful old convents that are open to visitors.
Located close to Antigua, Volcan Pacaya, is an active volcano, last erupting on May 27, 2010. While there are trails and hiking opportunities open to the public, this is not a site for the faint of heart and care should be given in the preparation of your visit. If you’ve got your heart set on climbing Volcan Pacaya and seeing the magnificent view it affords, plan on setting aside at least one whole day for your journey – if not more. If El Mirador piqued your passion for archeological sites, then you’ll want to add Yaxha to your Guatemala bucket list. It’s smaller than the more famous Tikal, but still the third largest Mayan ruins in Guatemala. Yaxha was the ceremonial center of the pre-Columbian Mayan kingdom. Its indigenous name translates as blue-green water, appropriate since it overlooks a lake. The northern Guatemala settlement had around 500 buildings, including 13 altars and nine temple-pyramids. Be sure to climb to the top of Temple 216 for views of the lakes and jungle. Discover even more info on martsam.com.