Quiche Tourist Places to Visit in Quiche, Guatemala, America

Quiche Tourist Places to Visit in Quiche, Guatemala, America

Quiche is one of the departments in Guatemala located about 260 km northwest of Guatemala City. Santa Cruz del Quiche is the capital of the department. Quiche occupies an area of 8,378 sq. km. and is located at highest altitude of 3,200 meters. Quiche department is home to many popular archeological sites, natural reserves and regional museums.

Quiche department is divided into 21 municipalities and the major municipalities are Canilla, Chicaman, Chichicastenango, Cunen, Playa Grande Ixcan, San Antonio Ilotenango, San Bartolome Jocotenango, San Juan Cotzal, Santa Cruz del Quiche and Uspantan.

Geography of Quiche:

Quiche is sited between latitude 15°1′48″ in the north and longitude 91°9′0″ in the west. Laguna de Lemoa, Laguna de La Estancia and Laguna de San Antonio are the three shallow lakes placed in Quiche department. Quiche is also home to several drainage basins and the major basins are Xaclbal, Salinas, Motagua and Ixcan.

Connectivity to Quiche:

The airport of Quiche is located in the capital city, Santa Cruz del Quiche and it is connected only with domestic locations. Other nearby airports includes Playa Grande Airport, Coban Airport and Quetzaltenango Airport. La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City is the nearest international airport to Quiche located at a distance of 265 km.

Other than airway, Quiche is also well connected with Guatemala City and nearby cities through roadway by private buses. Tourists can use taxi or car for local travel.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Quiche:

K’iche is a widely spoken language in Quiche’s regions and other languages include Ixil, Uspantek, Sakapultek, Poqomchi and Q’ekchi.

There are many shopping centres located in all the towns of Quiche and the major food corners in Nebaj, Chichicastenango in Quiche are:

Casa de San Juan
Casa de la India
Restaurante Don Pasqual
Tacos Cancun
Hacienda Mil Amores
Restaurant Kieq-ik-wa’im Ja

Things to do in Quiche:

Boating
Swimming
Archeological sites
Village Visiting

Places to see in Quiche:

Chichicastenango:

Chichicastenango also called as Santo Tomas Chichicastenango is one of the towns of El Quiche department famous for Church of Santo Tomas and Chichicastenango Regional Museum. Thursday and Sunday markets of Chichicastenango are very popular.

Qumarkaj:

Q’umarkaj is an archeological site housing many historic temples including Tohil, Awilix, Jakawitz and Q’uq’umatz. It is also home to small museum that showcases the history and culture of Q’umarkaj.

Visis Caba Biosphere Reserve:

Visis Caba Biosphere Reserve is located in Chajul covering an area of 450 sq. km. It is the only protected natural reserve in El Quiche department drawing tourists from all around the department.

Other places of interest in Quiche include:

Pascual Abaj
Cerro de San Andrés
Los Cerritos
La Laguna
Chichicastenango Regional Museum
Church of Santo Tomas
Chichi Cemetery
ChiChi Market
Pascual Abaj
Parque Ecologico Los Senderos del Abuelo
Catarata de Santa Avelina
Laguna Lemoa
Museo de Arqueologa

Best time to visit Quiche:

From February to August is the ideal time to travel Quiche to visit archeological sites and museums.

Accommodation Options in Quiche:

Quiche department is home to several well facilitated accommodation centres with different facilities like swimming pool, spa, hot water bath, doctor on call and 24 hour room service. The prominent hotels in Quiche are listed below: