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Catedral Metropolitana
Facing Parque Central, this cathedral was constructed between 1782 and 1815 (the towers were finished in 1867). It has survived earthquake and fire well, though the earthquakes of 1917 and 1976 did substantial damage. Its heavy proportions and sparse ornamentation dont make for a p
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Cerro Tzankujil
This nature reserve is on a sacred hill west of San Marcos village. Well-maintained pebbly trails lead to swimming areas with shelters by the bank and a diving platform. The water is crystal clear here. A branch off the main trail ascends to a Maya altar on the summit, while a lowe
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Parque Central
Here you’ll find a stone monument that commemorates Concepción Ramírez, the woman on the back of the 25-centavo coin, and a basin that contains a relief version of the lake.
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Tea & Coffee Place
This charming place is a research center that doubles as a tea and gift shop for a couple of hours every afternoon in order to support the important reforestation work carried out by the environmental charity based here. Enjoying a cup of tea and a cake on the wonderful veranda at
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Casa Cakchiquel
Panas cultural center started life as one of the first hotels on the lake, built by a Swedish countess in 1948. Now it holds a radio station, Japanese restaurant and a gallery of photos and postcards of Atitlán in simpler times, when steamboats plied the lake. During its 1950s heyd
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La Galería
Overflowing with art by Guatemalan painters and sculptors, this gallery functions as both an exhibit space and cultural center, hosting lectures, films and occasional concerts. Started in 1971 by Nan Cuz, an indigenous Guatemalan painter who grew up in Germany, the gallery has canv
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Mural
Be sure to admire the mural that runs alongside the wall of the town hall on the east side of the plaza – it’s dedicated to the victims of the civil war and tells the story of the war using symbology from the Popol Vuh (a book compiled by members of the Maya nobility soon after the
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Templo El Calvario
You can get a fine view over the town from this church atop a long flight of stairs at the north end of 7a Av. Indigenous people leave offerings at outdoor shrines and crosses in front of the church. Dont linger here after 4pm, as muggings are not unknown in this area. The Ermita
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Cerro de la Cruz
Overlooking Antigua from the north is Cerro de la Cruz provides fine views looking south over town toward Volcán Agua. In the past this hill was famous for muggers waiting to pounce on unsuspecting visitors, and Antiguas tourism police were formed precisely to counter this threat.
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Museo Popol Vuh
Behind Museo Ixchel, here youll find well-displayed pre-Hispanic figurines, incense burners and burial urns, plus carved wooden masks and traditional textiles, filling several rooms. Other rooms hold colonial paintings and gilded wood and silver artifacts. A faithful copy of the Dr
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Iglesia de Nebaj
This formidable church dominates the south side of Parque Principal. Inside, to the left of the entrance is a memorial to Juan José Gerardi, the socially progressive priest who as bishop of Quiché witnessed widespread human rights abuses here. Soon after he released a report about
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CCIT
This Japanese-funded research center is devoted to the identification and restoration of pieces unearthed at the site. The 1300-sq-m facility has a huge cache of items to sort through, and you can watch the restorers at work. Though not strictly a museum per se, it features an exce
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Parque Natural Ixpanpajul
At Parque Natural Ixpanpajul you can ride horses, mountain bikes or tractors, or zip-line your way through the jungle canopy. The big attraction is the Skyway, a 3km circuit of stone paths and six linked suspension bridges through the upper levels of the forest. Camping and cabins
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Bilbao Stones
Monumento 21, whose copy is in the Museo Cultura Cotzumalguapa , still stands with three other fine sculpted stones in the Finca Bilbao cane fields to the northeast of El Calvario church, on the north edge of town. In the past, tourists have regularly visited these stones, often gu
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Museo Ixchel
This museum is named for the Maya goddess of the moon, women, reproduction and, of course, textiles. Photographs and exhibits of indigenous costumes and other crafts show the incredible richness of traditional arts in Guatemalas highland towns. Guided tours are available in English
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Museo Santa Bárbara
On an islet to the west of Flores, this little museum holds a grab bag of Maya artifacts from nearby archaeological sites, plus some old broadcasting equipment from Radio Petén (88.5 FM), which still broadcasts from an adjacent building. Phone ahead and theyll pick you up at the do
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Choco Museo
It was the Maya who discovered the culinary uses of the cacao bean, which later became a form of currency for the Aztec empire. These are a few of the things youll learn at this kid-friendly expo, the Antigua branch of a hemisphere-wide project. The museum also offers chocolate-mak
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Colección Dr Juan Antonio Valdés
The collection on display here holds a remarkable wealth of Maya pottery from the Uaxactún, Yaxhá and as far away as Oaxaca, Mexico. There are vases, cups, plates, bowls, incense burners and tall vessels for drinking chocolate. Caretaker Neria can tell you the history, origin, mea
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Memorias Frágiles
This fascinating photo exhibition was a gift from Bostons Peabody Museum; it features a collection of rare photos detailing the first archaeological expeditions to Copán at the turn of the 20th century. Many of these proved essential in later restoration work, as the photos showed
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Tecuamburro
The Tecuamburro volcanic complex comprises various peaks, including Cerro de Miraflores (1950m), Cerro la Soledad (1850m) and Cerro Peña Blanca (1850m). This last, which has several small vents releasing steam and sulfur, provides the most interesting climb, although its forested s
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