GuidetoCobánandtheVerapaz.docVIP

Guide to Cobán and the Verapaz A Cornucopia of Beauty and Wonder Contents 1) General information 2) Stuff to do of an afternoon in Cobán Vivero Verapaz orchid nursery Finca Margarita coffee tour Principe Maya Museum Calvario Church Parque Nacional Las Victorias 3) Full day trips out of Cobán Cecilinda / Rey Marcos Cave Quetzal Biotope, Cave of Chicoy. Chixim Church Sachichaj waterfall El Salto de Chilascó waterfall 4) Several days trips out of Cobán Lanquin / Semuc Champey Proyecto Eco-Quetzal Candelaria Caverns Laguna Lachuá Jungle hike to Río Ikbolay Rafting on the Cahabon river 5) Special events and fairs 6) Spanish schools 7) Lodging and services in Cobán Hotels, Cafes, Restaurants Doctors who speak English Banking, ATM’s, and Internet access 8) Fun Stuff 9) How to get to … (bus schedules) 1) General Information Cobán is located in the cool, humid mountains of northern Guatemala. Its lush, subtropical cloud forests are perched on top of the watershed dividing the Yucatán Peninsula: the pristine rivers of Alta Verapaz feed into the ChixoyUsumacinta system (Gulf of Mexico) to the west, and into Lake IzabalRio Dulce (Caribbean Sea) to the east. Cobán is the center of Guatemala’s gourmet coffee-growing region, and also produces cardamom and allspice for export. Because of its unique history (Alta Verapaz was never “conquered”; rather, Juan Matalbatz, the chieftain of the warlike Q’eqchi Indians, voluntarily converted to Christianity and allied himself with the Dominican priests), the indigenous people of Alta Verapaz have preserved their language and customs to a remarkable degree. The dominant language of the Alta Verapaz remains Q’eqchi, and Pocomchí, not Spanish. The Q’eqchis and Pocomchís are shy and wary of strangers, but if you can say a few words in their language, they become warm and friendly (“enkwan-bee” means “hello”; “banteeosh” means “thankyou”). The elevation of Cobán is 5000 feet