Quetzaltenango

Guatemala's second city, known widely as Xela (pronounced SHAY-la), sits high in a mountain valley in the western highlands and draws visitors with a walkable centre dense with neoclassical architecture, historic churches, and a lively café and restaurant scene. The surrounding department stretches from cold highland terrain down to the Pacific coast, with volcanoes, hot springs, and river valleys within reach, making the city a practical base for exploring western Guatemala.

• Population180,706
• Nearest water2.5 km
• Nearest mountain2.8 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1