Spanish colonial church in the village centre

Cantel is a village in Guatemala, 10 km from the major city of Quetzaltenango. It is inhabited by K'iche' Maya.

Just like going to its neighboring village Zunil, take a bus from either Minerva bus terminal or Rotonda bus stop in Quetzaltenango, or from the corner of 7 calle and 15 avenida in Zona 3. Some buses to Zunil pass on the highway through Cantel but do not stop in the centre - but buses to Zunil via Almolonga do not go through Cantel. There are also buses directly to Cantel centre, stopping by the Catholic church. Buses to Zunil will generally display "Fabrica" if they stop at Cantel (because of the now defunct textile factory), buses to the centre will display "Cantel Pueblo".

Get around

Much of the commercial life of Cantel is along the CA2 highway in the valley below the centre of the village.

The centre of the village is on a hilltop west of the highway, with fantastic views across the valley. The centre is fairly sleepy, has an early Colonial Catholic church, the temporary municipal offices and the burnt-out ruin of the Municipal Palace (destroyed in a fire in 2002) and not much else.

Guides to various attractions in and around Cantel can be organised by the "Muni" (Municipal offices). These are (as of October 2010) in a dead-end side street to the right of the Catholic church. Upon entering the community hall, turn right and up the stairs and along the walkway to the last office, ask for Emanuel, a young man responsible for economic development and tourism.

Buses to Quetzaltenango leave from the central park by the Catholic church and also pass frequently on the highway below the centre, where buses to Zunil and Pacific coastal cities also pass.

In October 2010, buses cost Q2.50 to and from Quetzaltenango.

See

Postclassic K'iche' sculpture at Chojolom

• Chicovix - Thermal baths outside the village on a trail to Zunil. Interesting volocanic rock formations are visible by the river (polygonal lava columns). In 2015 a new nature trail was opened, climbing the mountainside to a viewpoint some 650m above the baths, with a great view across the river valley. Below the half-way point, a zip-wire was opened in December 2015.
• Chojolom - Small K'iche' archaeological site uncovered by the elderly K'iche' farmer who owns the land (don Sebastián), on a hillside just outside Cantel. There are three rather crude stone heads to be seen, one is a largish face carved onto a fixed boulder and is in its original location. A smaller head has been moved to don Sebastián's home and a small armadillo head has been fixed into the wall of a water cistern. All have been tentatively dated to the Postclassic period immediately prior to the Spanish Conquest. There is also a small artificial cave. Most of the finds were made after the especially bad 2010 rain season, while clearing away a mudslide. None have been excavated. Visits need to be arranged with the Municipal offices, since the stones are on private land.
• Copavic - glass blowing factory, beside the highway past the factory.

Precolumbian sculpture at K'iaqbal uncovered by a landslip

• K'iaqbal - Small archaeological site that has been converted into a modern Maya ritual site by the landowner. A pre-Columbian platform has been remodelled into a terrace, with modern additions. Of particular interest are the two remaining pre-Columbian sculptures (two additional sculptures were stolen). As of December 2015, the landowner charged a nominal Q2 fee to enter. To get there climb the hill referred to in Spanish as La Pulguita ("the flea") and in K'iche' as K'iaq (likewise), passing the new general cemetery with fine views across the valley to the Cerro Quemado and Santa María volcanoes. From there a track leads up the hill, taking you to the site, situated on the crown of the hill among pine forest.

Buy

• Copavic. Small blown glass factory, with a shop to buy some nice glass pieces. (updated Feb 2016)

Go next

The best transport links are from the highway running through the valley. From there it is possible to flag down buses heading to Quetzaltenango in one direction, and Zunil, Mazatenango, and Retalhuleu in the other, passing through San Martín Zapotitlán, and going past the entrances to the Xetulul and Xocomil theme parks.

• Quetzaltenango - Guatemala's second largest city a short bus ride away, and is known as the "cultural capital of Guatemala".
• San Andrés Xecul a Maya village close by with a colourful church
• Totonicapán - A town known for its Maya dance festival, and production of wooden dance masks.
• San Francicso El Alto - Known for holding the largest weekly market in Central America.
• Zunil - A nearby village known for the image of the black Christ in the colonial church, and its women's handicraft cooperative.