Hostels in QUEZALTENANGO, GUATEMALA

Quezaltenango – Preserving Guatemalan Spirit and Culture

Quezaltenango, located in Guatemala’s south-western part, is blessed with natural beauty like volcanoes, rivers, mountains and valleys, and a number of important monuments making it a true representative of Guatemalan spirit and culture.

History
The city was inhabited by the Mam Mayas or the Xelaju in the pre-Columbian times. The city was conquered by the Spanish in the 1520s. After Guatemala’s independence in 1821, the city served as a capital of the Central American Federal Republic between 1838 and 1840. But this union soon broke up and Quezaltenango was again united with Guatemala. The locals call the city as Xela after its ancient inhabitants.

Popular Places and Attractions
The Central Park Square and the area around it is easily the most popular place in the city. There are a number of commercial establishments and fairs along the square. The Museum of Natural History located in Casa de la Cultura near the park, displays arts, crafts, textiles and other information related with Mayan traditions. The Train Museum, Enrique Passage, Gobernacion and the Cathedral are also located nearby the park. One can visit Cerro del Baul for garnering spectacular views of the valley.

Some other popular attractions are the monuments of Tecun Uman and Marimba, the beautiful thermal springs of Las Georginas near the Zunil volcano and the nearby villages of Mam and Quiche origins. These villages of Salcaja, Almolonga and few more are especially famous for their colonial churches, thermal springs and handicrafts. You can also explore the beaches of Champerico, Tilapa, Tulate and Las Delicias. Santiaguito, an active crater erupting at least once per hour, located in the Santa Maria Volcano is another popular attraction.

Getting Around
Buses, minibuses, chicken buses and taxis are the available modes of transport around the city a guide to smooth travel is to keep some change handy to pay for your travel. For getting around the city, one can easily choose to walk as well because the city’s ends are hardly thirty minutes walking from its centre.

Places for Entertainment
The city’s commercial centre around Mercado de la Democracia is a heaven for shoppers. Along with this, the city’s theatres and cinemas are real fun places. Marimba concerts are often conducted at the Central Park. One can also opt for brewery tours, such as the Gallo brewery but, prior permission must be taken before embarking on the tour.

Just a walk on the city streets can provide great entertainment. One may come across art exhibitions and dance or guitar teachers doing their bit of practice while walking along the streets. Nightclubs, restaurants and bars can also be easily located in the city. Trekking trips can also be taken up for exploring the beauty of Cuchumatanes and Lago de Atitlan.

Accommodation
Budget hotels, bed & breakfast, home stay accommodation, rented houses, guesthouse, apartments, youth hostels and dorm rooms are available for tourist accommodation in Quezaltenango.

Currency
Guatemala’s official currency is the Quetzal (GTQ), for the latest exchange rates check the news and internet. It has been named after their national bird. The U.S Dollar has also been officially made its second currency. Visitors can carry traveller’s cheques, credit cards as well as International ATM cards such as American and Visa cards for exchanging currency.

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