A much more pleasant alternative to the noise and pollution of Chimaltenango [1] is a stretch of the Pan-American Highway (CA-1) heading through the Western Highlands from the town of Tecpán [2], about an hour from Guatemala City [3], all the way west to the Los Encuentros [4] junction, from where a turnoff leads to a vertiginous drop down the sides of an extinct volcanic caldera to out-of-this-world Lake Atitlán. Another road leads north from Los Encuentros to the department of El Quiché, with its colorful markets and highland villages.
Along the road from Tecpán to Los Encuentros, you’ll find some interesting Mayan ruins and good eats, should you need to stop for sustenance or simply want a break from the drive to enjoy the wonderful sylvan settings.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/guatemala/the-western-highlands/chimaltenango-department-and-vicinity/chimaltenango
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/guatemala/the-western-highlands/chimaltenango-department-and-vicinity/tecpan-los-encuentros/tecpan
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/guatemala/guatemala-city
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/guatemala/the-western-highlands/chimaltenango-department-and-vicinity/tecpan-los-encuentros/los-encuentros