From the Green Mountains to the Pacific Lowlands

Enough with the pause! My paisanos are remarkable and unstoppable, so if they manage to get up on their feet right after the storm, literally speaking, we should do the same and continue with our journey; after all, we still have 5 amazing regions to discover!

According to the Inguat's regional classification, the Pacific Lowlands are included in region  No.6: The Exotic and Diverse Pacific Ocean, an area where we will enjoy biological preserves, archaeological sites, recreational theme parks, long stretches of black sand beaches, world-class deep sea sports fishing, impetuous surfing waves, enchanting towns and villages, and probably, much more...

We interrupted our trip last week when we were about to visit Manchon Guamuchal, the transitional area between the highlands and the lowlands of the Pacific Coast, so, Manchon Guamuchal will be today's starting point. This beautiful  Nature Reserve is located between the departments of San Marcos and Retalhuleu.

This wild, 13,500-hectare wetland reserve harbors the last remaining undisturbed mangrove swamps in the country. It is included in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, encompassing a list of globally important sites, particularly those that provide habitat for aquatic migratory and resident birds.

Manchon Guamuchal, is also a red and white mangrove forest, which is an important stop along the path of migratory birds coming from Canada and United States of America. Among the species that can be found in the area, are: 14 duck species (12, migratory), sparrow hawks, buzzards, falcons, and around 20 species of egrets. Birds arrive sometime in October to November, leaving in March after wintering in the lagoons. In addition to birds, there are crocodiles, iguanas, and abundant fish.

Despite its natural beauty and even though it is recognized as one of the most complex and productive ecosystems in the world, tourism in Manchon Guamuchal is not formally developed yet; however, there are plenty of activities that can be performed there, including birdwatching and kayaking, and for what I have seen and read, for nature lovers, exploring this area promise to be a rewarding experience.

Colors, Textures, and Aromas of San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos

I have to start by saying that across Guatemala, we are going to find towns sharing the same name, just as this case, where in order to state the geographical difference, everybody calls this municipality “San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos”.

Using a combination of silk and cotton threads, the loomers in San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos create some of the most vibrant Guatemalan textiles, for instance, the women’s corte (skirt) is made using the jaspe (ikat) technique and yellow silk threads.
I found a good video that explains the weaving process, unfortunately, the producer restricted the access; so, if you want to watch it, please click this link.

I don’t know and I couldn’t find the appropriate information to tell you where the silk comes from and why they use it. All I can tell is that they say that the yellow silk has been brought to San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos since the colonial times.

What I can tell you with certainty is that the textile industry in this town and in some of the surrounding villages is a vital component of their economy. Almost every family has at least one loomer.

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In the original post, I included a video showing the shecas making process; however, it didn't work as expected, so I removed it. If you want to watch it, please click this link.
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The "just off the oven" aromas  in San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos come from the many bakeries where traditional shecas are baked daily (a variety of sweet bread). This bread is so distinctive of this town, that locals call themselves “shecanos”.

San Pedro Sacatepequez San Marcos, populated by Maya Mam descendants, was part of the ancient Camino Real (royal road), an important commercial route for the ancient civilizations that connected the communities settled between San Juan Ostuncalco and Chiapas.
Even though today is not our last day in San Marcos, it actually is our last day in the highlands, so starting tomorrow, we need to wear lighter clothes since we are heading to the Pacific Ocean region, or as we Guatemalans call it, la costa.

The Northern Region in San Marcos

I have seen that every town, regardless its size or location, has its own enchantment and for what we all have learned through our journey, every town in Guatemala seems to have its own culture. That is something simply extraordinary that continues to amaze me and I hope, to you too!

Nevertheless, and because the department of San Marcos is divided into 29 municipalities, I selected only some of them, which I believe will give you a good perspective of the region.

Comitancillo, or Tzol ja, as it is called by its Maya Mam descendant population, was visited by my good friend Norma Monroy several months ago and once again she is sharing some of her photos with all of us.

As I have mentioned before, Maya descendants honor and respect their dead ones as much as they do with their living ones and Comitancillo couldn't be the exception. The cemetery is a focal point and it is so picturesque, that Norma didn't resist taking this lovely photo.

I would like to say that everything in Comitancillo and in most of the surrounding towns  and villages is as beautiful as we appreciate in the images, but honestly, I cannot, yet... What I could say for what I have been reading is that people in these towns, despite the day-by-day struggles, are now getting the attention they deserve and their communities are on their way to become flourished and developed.

From the Mountains to the Sea: San Marcos

Last week, one of our travel companions told me that she was happy because through this journey, I was showing the beautiful side of Guatemala; let me tell you, showing the beauty of Guatemala is not a hard task since Guatemala is truly beautiful! In the photo above, behind the golden rocks, the Tacana Volcano (4,092m) and further, like a shadow, the Tajumulco Volcano (4,200m), the two highest volcanoes in Central America.

 Tacana River Basin

Wherever you go, wherever you see, from mountains to valleys, from rivers to the sea, from big cities to tiny villages, the natural richness is breathtaking, the local culture and traditions are amazing, the people kindness has no parallel.

 Santo Tomas Volcano

As for San Marcos, our new and also our last destination in the Guatemala's Highlands, I can tell you that it is a place full of contrasts that will make this trip a transitional expedition, taking us from Central America's highest volcano, to the Pacific Ocean shoreline. From one extreme to another, San Marcos territory varies a lot and therefore, we will find many different attractions.

 Tacana Volcano in December

San Marcos is also one of the main borders between Guatemala and Mexico, with 3 different customs and immigration points -Ayutla, Tecun Uman, and El Carmen, which makes the area one of the most commercially active in the country.

 Biological Reserve Manchon Guamuchal

From San Marcos we will admire to the northern side, Los Cuchumatanes mountain range; to the west, the Chiapas valleys and the amazing depression of the Grijalva river (the Mexican side of the Selegua River that comes down from Huehuetenango); to the east, Quetzaltenango's mountains; and to the south, the Tumbador valley, the Costa Cuca coastal line, and the impetuous Pacific Ocean.

Tilapa Beach