Tecpán is a special corner. Its name, of Nahuatl origin, means “the royal palace.”
Famous for its gastronomy, this municipality of Chimaltenango witnessed some of the most important historical events in Guatemala and the region. Here is Iximché, the ancient Kaqchikel Mayan city where, to this day, important Mayan ceremonies are held.
A team from Guatemala No Se Detiene left for Patzún, Chimaltenango.
Chichoy is located at kilometer 78 of the Inter-American Highway, in Chimasat, Chimaltenango. The restaurant began operations more than four decades ago and has since become a popular stop for travelers traveling this route. Today it has two locations: Chirijuyú and Agua Escondida, both in Chimaltenango.
In Tecpán, the gastronomic corridor is one of the main letters of introduction. More than 20 kilometers of road bring together different culinary proposals on a high-traffic road. For Jorge David González, executive chef of Chichoy, this concentration of restaurants has been one of the keys to the municipality’s tourism development.
After Chichoy, the tour continued to Laguna de Chichoy, located about 109 kilometers from Guatemala City. To get there, you have to take a detour next to the restaurant and travel approximately six kilometers along a dirt road.
The lagoon offers a peaceful environment, cool climate, mountains and trees. It is a private place, ideal for walking, climbing or simply disconnecting from the noise of the road for a moment.
But getting there also leaves a first warning for the visitor: a 4×4 vehicle is preferably needed. The path is part of the experience, although not always in the best way. Upon arrival, the recommendation was to go up to the viewpoint. From there, the landscape shows part of the natural wealth of the area.
However, during the journey, less pleasant signs also appeared: garbage on the road, unkempt bathrooms and little presence of people, despite being a tourist destination.
That contrast opened one of the central questions of the tour. A competitive destination does not depend only on its natural beauty. It also needs basic services: drinking water, bathrooms in good condition, rest areas, parking, lighting and connectivity. They are elements that often go unnoticed, but that end up defining whether a person decides to stay, return or recommend the place.
The Chichoy Lagoon is located in the Agua Escondida village, a few kilometers from the urban area of Tecpán. Along the way, rural areas and forests appear that show the natural wealth of the region. The potential of an area that is part of the paved section between Tecpán and Patzún is also evident, one of the routes identified by the Guatemala No Se Detiene Infrastructure Board for its tourism potential.
The road already exists. The connection is there. Now the challenge is another: determining whether the destinations surrounding this route have the necessary conditions to take advantage of that opportunity.
The third stop was Paseo Xejasmín. This place is located at kilometer 87 of the Inter-American Highway, a few minutes from the Tecpán highway, on the 1st. 1-10 street. It is a space designed for outdoor activities, with a canopy, a giant slide, walking areas and cabins to spend the night.
Claire Dallies de Masaya, director of the Master’s Degree in Sustainable Tourism at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, points out that the connectivity and quality of the roads must be ensured. González also considers that the road situation affects the sector. He mentions, for example, the constant problems on the Chimaltenango bypass, the deterioration of the road and the lack of maintenance.
Cecilia Rivera, administrative assistant manager of Paseo Xejasmín, affirms that a little more support from Inguat is needed. He explains that the place has grown through its own efforts, by making itself known through its service and also thanks to social networks.
The case of Tecpán is not isolated. As well as the section traveled, in Guatemala there are other rural roads that have already been identified with the potential to bring visitors to different destinations.
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