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Chicacnab
(Alta Verapaz) |
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| In short |
Q´eqchi guides take you to the beautiful cloud forest at 2200 m amsl. Enjoy traditional Maya hospitality with finger-licking meals and cozy nights. Quetzal prime time is March through June.
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| Get there: |
From Carchá(17 kms., 1:30 hrs.)
Mateo Chub Microbus (Q 9, Terminal de Caquipeq, Carchá, 5767-2953):
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| What to pack? |
Torch, raincoat, warm clothes, boots, sun block, binoculars.
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| Activities offered: |
GuatemalaStory (Aldea Chicoc, Cobán, 7952-3762, 4013-7912, www.guatemalastory.com):
Hike from Cobán to Chicacnab. Don't miss this unique chance to see the Quetzal and to stay with a K'ekchi host family. Prices include host family, guide and meals.
| prices per person | 1 pers. | 2 or more pers. | | | | | 1 night | Q 360 | Q 304 | | | | | 2 nights | Q 480 | Q 400 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Description: |
Trip Proposal: (you can book in Cobán with Guatemala Story):
1.day: 7:00 start at your hotel in Cobán. Your guide takes you to the Caquipeq bus terminal of the next town, Carchá. At 8:00 start with a microbus to San Lucas, drive through egg-carton-landscapes (1 ½ hrs ride), from there walk through corn fields and cloud forest to Chicacnab (2 hrs, from 1800 to 2300 m altitude). After your first Maya lunch your guide takes you into the cloud forest. The host families’ fathers are trained guides who know the song of the Quetzal. If they hear a flock they take visitors to leave trails, sneak through the mossy forest and catch a glimpse on what many people call the most beautiful bird on this planet. During May and the first half of June the guides can take you to old rotten trees where the Quetzal nests in. This is a good opportunity to observe the bird arriving with food for the young and even to take photos.
At the end of the day you can relax with your numerous host family, retreat into your cozy room, or partake in an activity offered by your host family. Candle light dinner at 7:00. Host families know little Spanish, but they are very cordial. On request they invite their guests for dinner to the fireplace – warming moist clothes and watching tortillas being prepared for food.
2.day: Breakfast at the families’ fireplace. Then set out on a day’s tour through the forest, including a sacred cave, an enchanted lagoon and a vantage point. Eat “Mayaburgers” from your lunch packet and look for wild animal’s footprints (jaguar, wild boar and tepezcuintle are common to see). Gather juicy Rok Tix leaves and help your host mom to prepare delicious forest spinach with pumpkin seed seasoning.
3.day: Give an hour of classes in English in the local school (or partake in other local activities). After lunch, descend to San Lucas and return to Cobán.
Visitors, who want to experience a trip into the past of humanity can help searching firewood, make fire and tortillas. You can weave, learn to work with machete and hoe in the field or help to carry water on the head from the spring to your host’s home. During a moonless night you can participate in "Tepezquintle" hunting.
With your trip, you motivate local people to protect their forest.
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Travel Sites
Q30-80 
Q80-150 
