Western Highlands

The Western Highlands are a lush and beautiful mountainous region in Guatemala, stretching from the outskirts of Antigua to the Mexican border. The region is defined by two main features: the Sierra Madre, a mountain range of volcanoes on its south side, and the tall mountain ranges that form the northern side.

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Photo: Ekem, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Photo: Inkey, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Essential Destinations

Top destinations include Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango.

Quetzaltenango

Photo: Chrishonduras, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela or Xelaju, is the second largest city in Guatemala. There are a number of attractions in town, and it's also a good base for exploring Guatemala's Western Highlands.

Huehuetenango

Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Huehuetenango is a city in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. The last big city in Guatemala before you reach the Mexican border, or the first major settlement when arriving from.

Chichicastenango

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 1.0.

Chichicastenango is a small town in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Located at an altitude of 2030m, it is surrounded by valleys and mountains. It is mostly renowned for its colourful markets, held on Thursdays and Sundays, where it is said that some of the most beautiful traditional Mayal textiles are sold.

Destinations to Discover

Explore places such as Lake Atitlán and Solola.

Lake Atitlán

Photo: Wikimedia, CC0.

Lago de Atitlán is a beautiful volcanic lake in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and is one of Guatemala's most important national and international tourist attractions.

Solola

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Sololá is a city in Guatemala. It is the capital of the department of Sololá and the administrative seat of Sololá municipality. It is located close to Lake Atitlan.

Cantel

Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Cantel is a village in Guatemala, 10 km from the major city of Quetzaltenango. It is inhabited by K'iche' Maya. Just like going to its neighboring village Zunil, take a bus from either Minerva bus terminal or Rotonda bus stop in Quetzaltenango, or from the corner of 7 calle and 15 avenida in Zona 3.

Almolonga

Photo: Zigomar, CC BY-SA 2.5.

Almolonga is a city in Guatemala on the road between Ciudad de Quetzaltenango and Zunil. It provides medicinal sulfur baths, an up-close look at every day agro-business, and a taste of Guatemalan culture.

Zunil

Photo: Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Zunil is a town and municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala with a surface area of 80 square kilometres. The town of Zunil is located 9 kilometres from the city of Quetzaltenango, on the bank of the Salamá River.

Todos Santos Cuchumatán

Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Todos Santos Cuchumatán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango. It is situated in the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes at an elevation of 2,500 m.

San Andrés Xecul

Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0.

San Andrés Xecul is a town, with a population of 15,074, and a municipality in the Totonicapán department of Guatemala.

Salcajá

Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Salcajá is a town and municipality in Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala. Salcajá is best known for the Church of San Jacinto, founded in 1524, which was the first church built in Central America since it was one of the first places invaded in the Spanish conquest of Guatemala.