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Take a tour of San Cristobal Verapaz:    

Use the menu to look for places of interest in the municipality:
Artesania of Rope
Camp Chichoj/ACJ
Chapel of Pan Quinich
Community de Aquil
The Calvario
Meeting of the Two Rivers and the Machine House
Petencito y Lake Chichoj
Hostell Nuboso, Comunidad de Pamuc
Parish Church
Worm Farm
Pokomchi Massages
The Market
Museum Katinamit
Central Square
Dam Chixoy
Marimbas Workshop
Vivero Antonio Ruiz




lugares de interes - Comunidad de Pampacche

lugares de interes - Comunidad de Pampacche
Artesania of Rope, Community of Pampaccheve arribapulsar por mas informacionpulsa por la mapa

The craft work of the ladies of San Cristobal Verapaz is traditionally the production of "lazos", hamacs and bags made of maguey. The Community of Pampache is the best option to observer the elaboration of the products.



Camp Chichoj/ACJ

The Young Mans Christian Association (YMCA) has pioneered educational and recreational camps in Guatemala. Campamento Chichoj is a 28 manzana site surrounded by nature situated at the edge of Laguna Chichoj. Its facilities include a swimming pool, football pitch, basketball court, volleyball court, conference rooms and barbacue areas, as well as space to sleep 120 people.
lugares de interes - Campamento Chichoj/ACJ

lugares de interes - Campamento Chichoj/ACJ



lugares de interes - Cerro y Capilla Pan Quinich

lugares de interes - Cerro y Capilla Pan Quinich
Chapel of Pan Quinich

Situated on the outskirts of the town, the chapel of Pan QUinich is a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute car ride from the center. At the top of the hill you will find a cross and chapel where Mayan rituals are carried out (Quemas) at different times of the day and night. When you visit Pan Quninich you have to take care not to interrrupt one of the celebrations. Pan Quinich is used by Sacradotes from the region as well as those from other parts of Guatemala. From Pan Quinich there are also fantastic view of the town. the lake and the surrounding mountains.



Community de Aquil

The Community of Aquil is situated about 7km from the pueblo of San Cristobal. The main attraction of the area is the old "trapiche". Other attractions include the coffee, pepper and pacaya cooperative, the River Aquil and the huge diversity of flora and fauna.
lugares de interes - Comunidad de Aquil

lugares de interes - Comunidad de Aquil



lugares de interes - El Calvario

lugares de interes - El Calvario
The Calvario

One of the highest points of the Verapaces, El Calvario of San Cristobal has an impressive geographical location, from where you have a unique view of the town and surrounding countryside. Many of the idols that you can see inside El Calvario have been made by Pokomchi craftsmen. Easter Friday the people of the town make the longest carpet in Guatemala stretching all the way from El Calvario into the central square.



Meeting of the two rivers and the Machine House

Here you will find the machine house of Represa Chixoy inside which you can observer the turbines and the control systems for water flow and electricity production. Just a few hundred metres further on is the Rio Quixalito with its pools of crystal clear water similar to Semuc Champey, perfect for bathing. To arrive at the pools you have to climb a set of natural steps which begins from the water. The only service for visitors in this area is a shop at Finca Quixal.
lugares de interes - Encuentro de dos rios: Quixal y Quixalito

lugares de interes - Encuentro de dos rios: Quixal y Quixalito

lugares de interes - La Casa de Maquina


lugares de interes - El Petencito y Laguna Chichoj

lugares de interes - El Petencito y Laguna Chichoj
Petencito and Lake Chichoj

The lake is situated at the heart of the town of San Cristobal and is one of the major attractions of the villa. In 1989 it was formally declared as a wildlife reserve and much work is underway to maintain the environment. In Pokomchi the name of the lake means the Mouth of the Mouse. At the edge of the lake can be found the park El Petencito, an inviting place to relax and enjoy the views.



Hostel Nuboso, Community of Pamuc

The hostel offers you the opportunity to spend one, two or more days living with a Pokomchi family. Services the hostel offers include 2 rooms with private bathroom and typical food of the region. During your stay you will have the opportunity to learn how to make tortillas, participate in making products from maguey. The hostel is found close to an area of cloud forest where you can walk and see the famous Quetzal at certain times of the year. Whats more you can visit local caves and the river Chixoy.

lugares de interes - Hostel Nuboso, Comunidad de Pamuc

lugares de interes - Hostel Nuboso, Comunidad de Pamuc


lugares de interes - Iglesia Parroquial

lugares de interes - Iglesia Parroquial
Parish Church

This colonial style church is situated in the central square. It was constructed in 1652 and renovated in 1986. It has a flower garden with a beautiful statue of the Virgin Mary. The interior is well decorated with drapes and candles and the ceiling is made of decorated wood. The church isn't always open. In the entrance there is a stand of religious articles for sale.



Worm Farm

Calzado Coban who run a factory in the town of San Cristobal have created a treatment plant for waste whose mission is to reduce the impact on the environment of the shoe production proccess. Using a worm farm waste products from the factory are transformed into organic material which can be used to help with the recuperation of infertile land.
lugares de interes - Lombricultura

lugares de interes - Lombricultura


lugares de interes - Masajes y Temascales Maya-Pokomchi

lugares de interes - Masajes y Temascales Maya-Pokomchi
Pokomchi Massage

Using aromatic herbs with healing properties a traditional Pokomchi massage will help you unwind and free you of all your tensions. Live this experience and feel like a Aj Wal Pokomchi´(lider of the Pokomchi people). Whatsmore the onwner runs Cafe Orquideas which offers tipical food and drinks as well as selling pictures by local artists.



The Market

The market is to one side of the church on the corner opposite the central square. Housed in a building with two floors with fixed stalls inside and temporary stalls outside. On market days the sellers fill a number of the streets around the market hall. They sell products such as artesania, flowers, fruit and vegetables. Main market days are thursday and sunday opening very early in the morning and closing around 5.30pm.
lugares de interes - Mercado

lugares de interes - Mercado


lugares de interes - Museo Katinamit

lugares de interes - Museo Katinamit
Museum Katinamit

The museum teaches the ways in which the Pokomchi people live. Amongst other things, you will be able to see a typical Pokom house, traditional kitchen implements and tools of work, an exhibit of flora and fauna of the area . The museum is locate in the centre of the town of San Cristobal next to the central square.



Central Square

Located 8 blocks from the town entrance, the square as it can be found today, was constructed in the 70-80's. Its is made up of different elements making it quite differenct from the symetrical squares traditional to Guatemalan towns. For example: There is a kiosk in the center, a colonial style fountain, benches around the trees, a representation of some of the countries volcanoes, etc. At the weekend there are Marimba concert in the halls of the town hall and in the evenings food can be bought from stalls around the square.
lugares de interes - Plaza Central

lugares de interes - Plaza Central

lugares de interes - Plaza Central


lugares de interes - Represa Chixoy

lugares de interes - Represa Chixoy

lugares de interes - Represa Chixoy
Chixoy Dam

The generator of approximately 35% of the countries electricity. Construction began in 1978 and was completed in 1983 and involved companies from 8 different countries. The main sections that make up the hydroelctric plant are: a) A dam of 110m in height with a volume of 3.2 million cubic meters. b) Resevoir with a total volume of 460 million cubic meters and an active volume of 315 million cubic meters. c) 26 km long tube with a diameter of 4.93 meters d) A Machine house containing 5 turbines. e) Sub-station Quixal Its possible to visit the dam situated in the mountains half an hour from the town of San Cristobal. Like the Machine House near Quixal is it necessary to obtain permission to visit.



Marimbas Workshop

A visit to the Marimba workshop will allow you to observe the elaboracion of the national instrument of Guatemala.
lugares de interes - Taller de Marimbas

lugares de interes - Taller de Marimbas


lugares de interes - Vivero Antonio Ruiz

lugares de interes - Vivero Antonio Ruiz
Vivero Antonio Ruiz

This vivero, property of Antonio Ruiz can be found 10 minutes outside the town of San Cristobal after the factory of Calzado Coban. The ornamental plants that it produces include cacti and creepers/climbing plants which are exported to Japan, Holland, the USA and Canada. On the grounds they also produce coffee. To visit you must arrange an appointment.