Travel Guide Cobán

Capital of the department of Alta Verapaz, Cobán is located 220 kilometers from Guatemala City. Its name comes from the Maya Q'eqchi' and means: "Between the clouds". The reason for this is its very special climate, characterized by the regular drizzle that sometimes falls for several days in a row and is the subject of a phenomenon called "Chipi Chipi" by the locals. Unfortunately, there is not much left of the city that was awarded the title of "Imperial City" by King Charles V. Today, it is a large, unattractive town with little tourist interest, known internationally for its May half-marathon, held annually since 1974. Apart from this event, it is mainly a road junction that is used to reach the main natural resources of the department, located further north.Thus, generally, travelers cross it without stopping to reach the sumptuous natural pools of Semuc Champey. This is also what we recommend: rather than staying in Cobán, prefer one of the reserves of the Biotopo del Quetzal, in Baja Verapaz. Then, stop in the city at the end of the morning for a lunch in one of its good restaurants and a quick tour of the Parque Central, before continuing your journey to one of the spectacular sites of Alta Verapaz.On the other hand, if you are not bound by a tight itinerary, it may be interesting to spend the night there to visit the Grutas del Rey Marcos and participate in the only tea plantation tour in the country, on the way to San Juan Chamelco.