Zaculeu
Zaculeu is a mayan archaeological site located in Huehuetenango. The original name of the city is Xinabajul and holds a rich history of warriors and resistance against the spanish conquest. Zaculeu comes from a king named "Zakuleu". The size of its temples is not as huge as the ones found at Tikal but the structures are not small at all. It was founded at the Preclassic by the mams near Selegua River.
The appearance of the buildings also differs in style from the rest of maya cities found in Guatemala as a restoration wasn't made as it was supposed to be by a fruit company who dominated a lot of the economic activities back then. Originally built with green looking rocks covered by stucco and painted with vivid colors. The restoration tried to achieve the same look but applied the paintings while the white cover was still fresh, so the images and colors where absorbed and loosed its intensity.
At the place you can find symmetric buildings, the great temples and foot ball court.
The Spanish conquest found a fierce resistance in the Zaculeu warriors who enclosed the city to avoid being taken over. All the mayan cities are built in strategic locations on hills or surrounded by natural defenses. In this case it turned against their occupants as after closing the city found themselves with no way out, no food and no water.
After this failed resistance the city was taken over and their warriors sacrificed. Its been said that Kaibil Balam, a noble from the city escaped and was never taken captive.
Directions on how to get to Zaculeu
Drive from Guatemala city via the CA1 road passing by Solola and Quetzaltenango until reaching Huehuetenango City. The archaeological site is nearby. By the time we visited the place was kinda confusing as the main road to the site was closed by maintenance works and it was needed to take some turns that almost got us lost. So ask the locals as there are to access roads to the site, one from the CA1 passing by small residential and the other one from the heart of Huehuetenango.The whole drive is about 5 hours from Guatemala City. Consider making a one day visit from Quetzaltenango.
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