Travel Guide Laguna De Chicabal

24 km south-west of Quetzaltenango, the village of San Martín Sacatepéquez is dominated by Volcán Chicabal, which houses the lagoon of the same name in its crater at 2,900 m altitude. This is a sacred site for the Mayans, who believe that the clouds descend here to bring water to Earth. Essential to life, the liquid then returns to the sky in the form of rain, to feed the corn crops. Ceremonies are held on the volcano all year round, culminating on May 3 with el Día de la Cruz, then 40 days after Maundy Thursday, with the Rogativa por la Lluvia, a very special moment for the Mames. Purpose: to bless the harvest.Chicabal is one of the few volcanoes you can visit without a guide, which is one of the reasons why it is one of Xela's most popular tourist activities. Although it's by no means a must-do, it does make for a pleasant half-day outing. Get there as early as possible, before the clouds fall over the lagoon and obstruct the view.