"Panajachel, Guatemala" a Panajachel Travel Page by Sue08080

This magnificent caldera is ringed by three volcanoes and many tiny Mayan villages. The hub of the area is the village of Panajachel, mainly a village of Kaqchikel Maya whose ancestors were settled here after the Spanish crushed a force of Tz'utujil warriors on the site. The old village has been enveloped by a new building boom attracting many foreign tourists and residents. The Mayan traditions still exist and seem oblivious to the modern invasion.

Although this is a Panajachel page for your convenience, I've included tips for the nearby villages.

We visited the tiny village of Quixaya to donate children's books to a fledgling library here. It was a highlight of our trip. The children and their mothers were happy to receive our books and we enjoyed their obvious pleasure looking through them. Thankfully this town was spared serious damage during Hurricane Stan.

My husband shared a bag of candy with a group of boys in San Antonio Palopo! The local adults also enjoyed the sight. There are ceramic and weaving cooperatives in this town that sell beautiful work.