M11430 is a magical place in the Guatemalan highlands for relaxing, finding guidance, & curing what ails you. It's fun; rustic but comfortable; located in the mountainous rain forests of the K'ekchi Mayans. The power and peace of the land are perfect surroundings for meditation and yoga. There is a spirit woods for those with a pagan orientation, and we are closely affiliated with the Mayan spiritual world for those who are interested.
Cobán is located in the cool, humid mountains of northern Guatemala. Its lush, subtropical cloud forests are perched on top of the watershed dividing the Yucatán Peninsula; the pristine rivers of the department of Alta Verapaz feed into the Chixoy-Usumacinta system (Gulf of Mexico) to the west, and into Lake Izabal-Rio Dulce (Caribbean Sea) to the east. Cobán is the center of Guatemala's gourmet coffee-growing region, and also produces cardamom and allspice for export.
Because of its unique history (Alta Verapaz was never "conquered"; rather, Juan Matalbatz, the chieftain of the warlike K'ekchi Mayan Indians, voluntarily converted to Christianity and allied himself with the Dominican priests), the Indians of Alta Verapaz have preserved their language and customs to a remarkable degree. Indeed, the dominant language of the Alta Verapaz remains K'ekchi Mayan, not Spanish. The K'ekchis are shy and wary of strangers, but if you can say a few words in their language, they become warm and friendly ("en-kwan-bee" means "hello"; "ban-tee-osh" means "thank-you").
Nearby attractions and activities:
Coffee Tour – Finca Margarita in downtown Cobán offers a tour of the coffee plantation. Bilingual (Spanish-English) guides explain the history of the plantation and demonstrate the culture and processing of coffee.
Principe Maya Museum – this is a varied collection of Mayan artifacts, including carvings in mother of pearl and jade; polychromatic pottery; magical and ceremonial objects; work tools and implements of warfare; hieroglyphic panels; and a replica of a Mayan tomb.
Location:
The elevation of Coban is 5000 feet and the average temperature is 70 degrees. Annual rainfall of 70 inches makes the countryside green and lush.
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