Fodor's Expert Review San Antonio

The Mopan Maya village of San Antonio, 35 miles (56 km) west of Punta Gorda, is Toledo's second-largest town, with a population of about 1,000. Despite the town's name, St. Louis, the French king, is its patron saint. It was settled by people from the Guatemalan village of San Luis, who brought their devotion to their patron and protector with them. The impressive village church, built of stones carted from surrounding Maya ruins, has a stained-glass window donated by another city with a connection to the saint: St. Louis, Missouri. Cacao harvesting has brought a bit of development, prosperity, and infrastructure to San Antonio not seen in the region's other Maya villages. Yet, the people of San Antonio haven't forgotten their ancient heritage: each June 13, they take to the streets for a festival that dates back to pre-Columbian times. The San Antonio waterfall sits a mile outside of town. It cascades a scant eight feet over smooth limestone and is a popular gathering spot for picnickers (and hummingbirds). The road to the Guatemala border—still no official border crossing, but one day, perhaps—passes through San Antonio Village, making access easy. No official accommodation options exist here, but overnight stays can be arranged with local families through the Toledo Ecotourism Association (T.E.A.).