In southwestern Guatemala, tourists can visit a very interesting city named Quetzaltenango. As the official name is quite long, local people often call their home by its Mayan name – Xelaju or Xela. This region is very popular with tourists because of the hot springs and various handmade items made by local craftsmen. The city is not particularly rich in attractions. Despite this, foreign guests enjoy visiting Quetzaltenango to explore it and make a pleasant and useful journey to the nearby villages where guests can admire the breathtaking landscapes, see how the wood fabrics are made, and maybe even buy attractive local clothes.
According to the historic record, the city of Quetzaltenango was founded on May 7, 1424. However, the archaeological excavations in the area prove that there was a settlement in this area long before that date. By the time when Quetzaltenango was officially mentioned in the documents, the city had existed for at least three centuries. Spanish conquerors were the first European settlers. They tried to make Guatemala a Spanish colony. At that time, the indigenous people were not strong enough to resist the armed enemies, so the invaders captured the territory within a short period.
What attractions should tourists see in Quetzaltenango? The main park is located in the central part of the city. This is the largest cultural center of the region. This park is a beautiful place that is always crowded. Local people enjoy spending their free time in the heart of Quetzaltenango. Go to the center of the park to see a large stone arbor. This is a circular building with several columns and a roof. It is particularly pleasant to hide here from the scorching sun rays on a hot day. The park is a green zone with numerous trees that decorate the parkways. By the way, the park offers a tremendous view of the volcanos that surround the city.
The design of the Central Plaza, which is the location of the famous park, was developed in the eighteenth century. The rotunda in the center of the park was built to honor composer Rafael Ovalle who is the author of Guatemala’s national anthem. This gorgeous building is in perfect harmony with the central part of Quetzaltenango. A tall column occupies an honorable central position. This eye-catching plinth was installed in the name of the former president of Guatemala who did much not only for the development of Quetzaltenango but the country in general. Local people treat the memory of him with great respect.
Many tourists, who come to this region, enjoy exploring not only Quetzaltenango but also the nearby settlements. Zunil, a small town that is a part of the Quetzaltenango department, is one of these destinations. A visit to this town will be particularly interesting for all fashion enthusiasts. In Zunil, tourists can visit Cooperativa Santa Ana that specializes in female textile weaving. The manufacture was established in the 60s of the 20th century. German priest Fleiner once noticed that local people were earning so little that they had no money left for attractive clothes. They used all the money they had to support their families that were usually big and had eight to nine kids.
The priest decided to help women and offered them to work in textile weaving. Starting from that time, female residents of Zunil have been making wool clothes. At the moment, there are approximately five hundred female employees in the cooperative. Many of these women work at home so that they can grow their children, do home chores, and other daily tasks. Tourists can order an outfit in the national style in Cooperativa Santa Ana. Local masters use only the finest fabric in the traditional style of Guatemala. Colorful and striped national headcovers are particularly popular.
Even though there is an airport in Quetzaltenango, it is not possible to reach this city by air. The local airport serves only private and military aircraft. For European tourists, the most comfortable way to travel to Guatemala is to fly to the country’s capital first. Tourists from many parts of the world might need to take a connecting flight with a stop in a large European city such as Madrid. Upon arrival in Guatemala City, get on an intercity bus or order a taxi to Quetzaltenango.