Newsletter No. 7 GUATEMALA

Guatemala NEWSLETTER TOURISM

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Luna de Miel Guatemala

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No. 07 May - June 2014

Servicios turisticos Centro America S.A.

Photo By :César Catalán (www.flickr.com/photos/cesarangel/

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NEWSLETTER

SERVICIOS TURISTICOS C.A.

SERVICIOS TURISTICOS C.A.

Zunil and its Surroundings Quetzaltenango is a department of 24 municipalities, one of which is Zunil. Zunil has more than 12,000 inhabitants and an altitude of 2,076 meters. K’iche’ and Spanish are the spoken languages.

It is located 15 kilometers from the city of Quetzaltenango. It is located near the volcanoes Santa Tomas, Santa María and Santiaguito, an active volcano.

The festival of Santa Catarina of Alegandría, their patron saint, is celebrated on November 15th.

There is evidence of the existence of Zunil in the writings of Francisco of Cuaga in 1689.

Zunil women wear colorful handmade garments that are priced very high for their elaborate decoration. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture. There are several places to visit in Zunil such as the Catholic Church and the municipal market that is organized by a cooperative of widows of post-conflict Guatemala. They sell traditional

items from the region that visitors can take home as souvenirs of their visit to Zunil.

Walks can be made from Alaskan Summit to Fuentes Georginas.

Or they can start at Fuentes Georginas and go towards the southern coast where there is a place for Quetzal watching. The Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala. Fuentes Georginas is another place to visit. There, you can relax and unwind in the hot springs.

Along the route towards Fuentes Georginas, you can see shrines dedicated to Mayan ceremonies and a black pool that is believed to boil when people approach it.

The pool is located below the cliff near the Samala river.

During a chat with a Geothermal Engineer, he explained that because we live in an area full of volcanoes, we have hot springs and volcanic vents. He said the black pool is a volcanic vent that has a high temperature.

My interview was amazing.

SAN SIMON, ZUNIL

Quetzaltenango I learned so much about how the earth works, like the fact that there are layers of different textures with some being waterproof. Our everyday water is found 80 meters below and is clean, but after depths of 1500 to 2000 meters there is another layer that is not advisable to drink.

This layer has water that has been around for millions of years. It has different chemicals like sulfur which is great for medicinal treatments for the skin and body.

The geothermal plants work to remove the vapor and prevent the pressure that leads to disasters or eruptions of volcanoes.

We are blessed to have the Sierra Madre, a range of volcanoes and mountains with a variety of climates: hot, semi-tropical, cold, and wet. We also have diverse landscapes like highlands and lowlands, flat areas and mountains. No wonder they call us the country of the eternal spring. The world must see this paradise. We invite you to visit us.

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Tecun Uman

SCULPTURE Tecun Uman

Guatemalan Myth or Legend? by : Claudia Alvarado

Within our culture, we have grown up with the legends of Tecun Umán. But, who was he really?He was a K’iche’ Maya fighter who, with bravery and dignity, fought to protect his land and people.

There are many stories about how this hero died but they all lead to the same conclusion.

He was a man of determination and bravery for defending his people against the Spanish invaders.

During his time, he was known as “Abau Galel” which means “grandson of the king.” He was also the last ruler of the K’iche’ Maya civilization.

A manuscript that chronicles the conquest of Pedro de Alvarado describes a garment that Tecun Umán wore that was adorned with Quetzal feathers.

The Guatemalan border city of Ciudad Tecun Umán, which leads to Hidalgo in Chiapas, bears his name.

This is the basis of the subsequent naming of the nearby battleground, that was founded by the Spaniards, to Quetzaltenango.

Tecun Umán was declared a National Hero and his death is commemorated every year on February 20th.

But the most important question is “What do the kids and adolescents think

about the legend of Tecun Umán?”

Come and visit our city of Quetzaltenango where you can explore hiking paths to the different volcanoes like, Santa Maria, Santiaguito, Laguna Chicabal, and our hot springs.

Tour the historic center and enjoy our Independence Fair in September.

Contact Adrenalina Tours at info@adrenalinatours. com, or call us at 7932-5858 ext 108, 7761-4509

Quetzaltenango

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hike to cerro Quemado

SERVICIOS TURISTICOS C.A.

The BURNT HILL (Cerro Quemado) With a height of 3,197 meters above sea level, this volcano is visible from several vantage points as one approaches the city of Quetzaltenango.

Although the volcano has a very complicated structure (and configuration?), it seems to be a large cumulus - type volcano; that is to say, it is a mountain that was formed by the accumulation of viscous lava flows.

Although there is no indisputable data on its last eruption, it is worth mentioning that there are historical accounts that mention the appearance of strong lava flows from the Hill in 1785. However, there are other sources reporting tremors and strong fumarolic activity for the year 1818.

Either way, this volcano captures

the attention of all kinds of people.

Its rugged terrain is a challenge for any hiker, and in previous years it was possible to climb to its summit from different points. Starting from the city of Quetzaltenango, one can begin at a point often visited, known as the Muela. This route does not take more than an hour’s walk from the starting point, which is at Village Chicua. Another route of ascent to the summit can be done from the baths known as “Fume”; this route takes less than 2 and a half hours.

around 6 in the afternoon, the ascent to the summit from this point has remained closed due to the boulders that used to serve as steps haven fallen from their former position.

One tradition used to be to cross the area known as “the Chimney.” This is the name of the opening between the rocks on the summit of the volcano, and was formed due to a geological event leaving a fault facing the volcano, running from north to south. Due to the earthquake that occurred on September 6, 2013.

We recommend using boots or sturdy shoes, as the walk on dry lava making up the ground could leave you almost barefoot if wearing inadequate shoes. We also do not recommend doing the ascent during the afternoon in rainy weather, as atmospheric electromagnetic activity can be quite strong. Making the

Although the climb is challenging , reaching the summit is quite rewarding.

From the 3197 meter-high summit, on a fairly clear day you can see the whole valley of Quetzaltenango and its surroundings, as well as several volcanoes.

climb with an experienced guide is the best way, and can leave you with fond memories of an amazing walk (or adventure?).

It is also possible to do a mountainbike ride across (around?) this hill , beginning in the city of Quetzaltenango. The route goes around the base of the volcano, where the terrain is a bit technical (technical describes a method of climbing and perhaps biking, but not terrain--maybe you should just say difficult), but this is another way to see the volcano .

In Guatemala there are many places waiting to be visited, and the Cerro Quemado is one of them (one of the best near Xela might be better). So put on your boots and go for a walk! www.caminandoguatemala.com

Cerro Quemado Quetzaltenango