Las Verapaces

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Las Verapaces - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

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  • 1. Biotopo del Quetzal

    A 2,849-acre tract of cloud forest along the road to Cobán, the Biotopo del Quetzal was created to protect its resplendent namesake species, which is endangered because of the indiscriminate destruction of the country's forests. The reserve offers the chance to see the quetzal in its natural habitat during its mating season, between April and June. Oddly enough, the best place to see the birds is not in the park itself, but in the parking lot of the Ranchito del Quetzal, 1½ km (1 mi) north. Since it is easier to spot quetzals around dawn or dusk, it's worth spending a night in the area. Even if you don't catch a glimpse of the legendary bird, there are plenty of other species to spot—you're actually far more likely to see a brilliant emerald toucan than you are a quetzal. Expect rain here year-round, or at least the Verapaces' famed, drizzly chipi-chipi. (March and April clock in as the least-wet months.) At altitudes ranging from 1,500 to 2,300 meters (4,900 to 7500 feet), temperatures here average 16°C (60°F). The resulting luxuriant greenery of the cloud forest is gorgeous in its own right. One of the last remaining cloud forests in Guatemala, the Biotopo del Quetzal is a vital source of water for the region's rivers. Moisture that evaporates from Lago Izabal settles here as fog, which provides sustenance for the towering old-growth trees. Plants like lichens, hepaticas, bromeliads, and orchids abound. If you're lucky, you can see howler monkeys swinging above the two well-maintained trails, the 2-km (1-mi) Los Helechos (The Ferns) and the 4-km (2½-mi) Los Musgos (The Mosses). The latter takes a short detour past a series of beautiful waterfalls. Plan on 45 minutes to an hour for the shorter trail and about double that for the longer hike. Both trails cross a river with concrete bathing pools where you can swim if you don't mind the cold. An interpretive guide is available at the stand at the trailheads.

    Guatemala
    no phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q40, Daily 7–4
  • 2. Catedral de Santo Domingo

    The whitewashed church bordering the main square is worth peeking into, although it is quite understated. To the right of the cathedral is the convent. Built in the late 1500s, it is one of Cobán's oldest surviving buildings, and now serves as the diocesan offices. In front, an odd, modern orange-and-yellow bandstand mars the central park and blocks your ability to get a good photo of the cathedral. Residents have dubbed it "the tortilla press," and most would be just as happy to see it torn down.

    1 Av. and 1 Calle, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7951–3396
  • 3. Centro de Idiomas Oxford

    4 Av. 2–16, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7951–2836
  • 4. Escuela de Español Muq'bil'Be

    6 Av. 5–39, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7951–2459
  • 5. Finca Santa Margarita

    For a nation so involved with the coffee industry, Guatemala offers few opportunities for visitors to watch its principal export being produced. The Finca, three blocks west of Cobán's Parque Central, is a pleasant exception. Here you can take a 45-minute tour of an operating coffee farm and witness the process of planting, growing, harvesting, and processing coffee beans. Owned by the Dieseldorff family, which has lived in Cobán for more than a century, the wooden buildings have a distinct Old World feel.

    3 Calle 4–12, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7951–3067

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q30, Weekdays 8:30–11 and 2–4, Sat. 8:30–11
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Grutas de Lanquín

    Portions of the Grutas de Lanquín, a system of caves cut through by underground rivers, are easy to explore. The first 30 minutes of the hour-long hike consist of a trail with iron railings to help you keep your footing among the huge stalagmites. Things get hairier toward the end, and you'll want an experienced guide who knows exactly how to help you navigate the path. Visit toward sunset and you'll see thousands of bats leave their dwellings and head for the starry night sky. Entering the caves is worth it, despite the garish labels painted on the rock formations. You could probably figure out yourself what the formations are, but signs point them out to you anyway: sapo (toad), oveja (sheep), tigre (tiger), or señora (woman). You'll get wet and dirty, so wear old clothes. The interiors of the caverns are illuminated, but you'll appreciate a small flashlight.

    Lanquín, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
    No phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q30; Q10 parking, Daily 8–5
  • 7. La Islas

    This very pleasant balneario, or "resort," is located in the town of San Pedro Carchá, 6 km (4 mi) east of Cobán. On a clear-running river, Las Islas ("the islands") tempts bathers with a variety of natural and man-made falls and pools, as well as a water slide. The grounds are spacious and well maintained, with picnic tables, changing rooms, and a restaurant that opens on weekends. On Sundays there's also a small handicrafts market with half a dozen vendors.

    Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16009, Guatemala
    No phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q10, Daily 7–4
  • 8. Museo Príncipe Maya

    A 10-minute walk from the plaza, this museum has a private collection of ancient Mayan artifacts recovered from El Petén, Alta Verapaz, and Quiché. Though the exhibit is relatively small, the variety of pieces is impressive. Known for its miniature Olmec quartz figurines, the museum also has fearsome masks, giant sacrificial pots, a reconstructed tomb, jade jewelry, and weapons.

    6 Av. 4–26, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7952–2809

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q20, Mon.–Sat. 9–6
  • 9. Parque Nacional Las Victorias

    Near Templo El Calvario, the park sits on what used to be a privately owned plantation. Today it is filled with lush vegetation and winding paths that have great views of the town. There are also picnic facilities and a play area for kids. Robberies have occurred here; we advise against making the visit without a guide. Aventuras Turísticas leads daily tours to the park.

    11 Av. and 3 Calle, Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    7951–3090

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q6, Daily 8–5
  • 10. Semuc Champey

    Often praised as the most beautiful spot in Guatemala, Semuc Champey lives up to that lofty billing. The site appears to be a series of emerald pools surrounded by dense forest and limestone canyon. On further investigation you'll notice that the pools actually form the top of a natural arch through which the raging Río Cahabón flows. Local legend has it that various explorers have tried to enter the underground passage by lowering themselves over the lip of the arch; many turned back right away, while some were swallowed up, their bodies never recovered. You'll find a series of trails of various lengths here. Bring practical shoes. We recommend starting in the morning with the hour-long Mirador trail which takes you high above the site to give you a feel for the lay of the land (and the water). After that tiring trek, you'll appreciate the shorter, 20-minute Champey trail which leads you to the whirlpools for a refreshing swim. (There are no lifeguards here; swim at your own risk.) The half-hour Cahabón trail takes you back to the park entrance past the point where the river emerges from the cave. If possible, try to avoid holidays, when crowds of visitors dilute the natural experience of the park.

    Lanquín, Alta Verapaz, 16011, Guatemala
    No phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q50; Q10 parking, Daily 8–6
  • 11. Templo El Calvario

    A short walk from the modern markets of central Cobán sits the city's best known sight, which offers one of the best views in the area. Tradition holds that an indigenous hunter happened upon a pair of sleeping jaguars here, but decided not to kill them. He later returned to the location to find an image of Jesus, which town elders took as a sign that a church should be built at the site. The present El Calvario is not that original church; the structure you see dates from 1810, and sits at the top of a cobblestone path with 130 steps, each representing a bead of the rosary. A series of small shrines, each sheltering a cross darkened with ash, lines the path up to the church. The lowest shrine is traditionally devoted to prayers of any type. The middle stop is for requests related to affairs of the heart. The highest shrine, near the church entrance, is the place to pray for good health. If you light a votive candle, pay attention to the way the flame burns: local belief says an upright, vertical flame is a sure sign your prayer will be answered; any flickering of smoke or tilting of the flame portends a less certain response.

    3 Calle and 7 Av., Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    No phone

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Free, Daily 5:30–6.
  • 12. Viveros Verapaz

    Run by the friendly Millie Mittelstaedt de Hernández, this magnificent orchid farm is a good place for an afternoon jaunt. The farm grows 400 different species native to Guatemala, and Mittelstaedt clearly enjoys sharing her passion with visitors, pointing out breathtaking blossoms and describing the painstaking process of coaxing the temperamental ornamentals to bloom. The orchids flower in late November through February; Cobán's International Orchid Festival is held annually the last week of November.

    Cobán, Alta Verapaz, 16001, Guatemala
    5700–7722

    Sight Details

    Rate Includes: Q10, Mon.–Sat. 7–4.

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