Xela in Quetzaltenango
Xela, the center of Quetzaltenango is perhaps the most visited tourist destination in Guatemala besides Antigua Guatemala and Tikal in Peten, and preferred by many as the number one choice to learn Spanish.It is a large and modern city with two recognizable sides: the historic center and the still growing city with a very dominant arquitecture always including art and details.
The historic center preservers most of the artistic buildings and places, while the other one is the portrait of a modern city like any other, any way, both are worth walking by their streets.
Both parts of the city are a beautiful spectacle at day and at night.
What to expect at Xela?
- The weather is fresh to cold. I’ts surrounded by mountains and fertile grounds, the view is beautiful from any point.
- Bars and cafes! Everywhere!, you can enjoy nice chats, nice meals, from local taste to European and with the company of jazz music, live music and rock.
- The city itself is filled with many different restaurants, hotels and tourist agencies.
- Internet cafes are almost everywhere, just as Spanish schools and modest places to stay and also learn the language.
- Safety is not a problem and usually the historic center is the favorite place for walks at night.
- The Vahos are natural thermal baths at 35 minutes walking from the Central Park.
Ok, hang around Xela, walk and enjoy
Bar Tecun is one of the most famous bars at Xela Historic Center. A must! Is located at the front of the central park and mostly filled with visitors from all over the world.
Cafe Bavaria is another great option.
The meals are fantastic in taste and price. Its sausages are the finest you can taste around. The place is quite peaceful and its filled with old pictures on the walls remembering great places and moments in Xela’s History. Jazz and lounge music are often part of the atmosphere.
Xelapan is by far almost the “brand” of Xelas Bread. You can find one with easy among the streets of Xela. Trust me, the taste is great. Remember they open every day full day, except on Sundays, closing the store at 10:00 am or just before midday.
Take a visit to Chicabal Lagoon located at the top of Chicabal Volcano.
Where to stay at Xela?
My recommendations are quite simple: take a walk around the four blocks around Central Park and you will find from luxurious hotels from Bonifax and Real Plaza to Don Diego and Iximulev. Trust me, 4 blocks around is enough to find cheap places to stay.How to get to Xela
From Guatemala City follow the Panamericana CA1, reach “Los Encuentros” and follow the sign to Quetzaltenango. After a couple of hours driving Reach “Cuatro Caminos” and turn left. You will drive beside the entrance to San Andres Xecul at only minutes from there. (but stay on the road, leave Xecul for the next day) You will drive on a road with several hotels to the sides and then you will reach the modern side of Xela. Follow straight to get to the Historic Center. Quetzaltenando is about 4 hours and a hald driving from Guatemala City.Guatemala guides is written and managed by travelers and for travelers
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The beautiful Chicabal Lagoon is located inside the crater of Chicabal Volcano and protected by a deep forest and revealing relaxing trails. The trek is about 40 minutes to the summit. It is the center of the maya cosmovision and several religious rituals take place there to date.
Once you see it, is impossible to forget. The colors and the images make this church unique and worth visiting. Some travelers find it pure and almost naive tender decoration by the locals. Others wonder what made them create images like this. So get your stuff and see it for yourself. It is near Xela, in Quetzaltenango.