Surrounded by mountains reaching up to 2500 meters in height, San Miguel Totonicapın is one of the most beautiful cities of Guatemala. The predominantly Maya-K'iche' community is an artistic and agricultural center, offering travellers the opportunity to visit a community rich in the culture and tradition of both old and new Guatemala, away from the traditional tourist areas.

Arts

Artisans in San Miguel Totonicapán are well-known for their textiles, ceramics, bent-wood boxes, baskets, colorful masks and costumes (used in traditional dances), plus a variety of tin, wood, and leather products.

Music

San Miguel Totonicapán is home to many traditional music groups. Some of the traditional instruments they use are the marimba, traditional drum, and the chirimía (a traditional reed flute). There are many opportunities throughout the year to hear these groups play in the city and surrounding areas.

Dances

Both pre-Hispanic and colonial in origin, the different traditional dances incorporate colorful masks, costumes, and music into the storytelling of either Mayan history or myths. Normally performed during festivals or on special occasions, some of the most common dances in San Miguel Totonicapın are the Dance of the Xacalcojes, the Dance of the Pascarines, the Dance of the Monkeys, the Dance of the Deer, the Dance of the Conquest, the Dance of the Cowboys, and the Dance of the Mexicans.

Tours offered

La Casa de la Cultura in San Miguel Totonicapán offers visitors educational and cultural tours of San Miguel Totonicapın and its surrounding areas. A typical itinerary is:

• Welcome with coffee and an audiovisual presentation on the cultural history of the area. Visit to the Nimı K'iche' Morer‚a (a workshop that makes masks and costumes for the traditional dances), with an explanation on how the costumes and masks are made, and for what dances they are used for.
  
  

• Concert featuring several musical groups that use traditional instruments, followed by a discussion of the instruments and the significance of the music.
  
  

• Tour of different artisan workshops in the city, with demonstrations on how the products are made.
  
  

• Traditional lunch prepared and served in a private home followed by a tour of the city. Tour includes a visit to a church, convent, municipal theater, cemetery, and city market. Break for hot chocolate in a popular bakery after tour.

Traditional Foods

Fruit liquor made of nances (a tropical fruit) and cherries.

Tobic (vegetable, beef and cabbage soup)
Literally meaning "made by everyone," all the women in the community make this soup on special occasions, such as weddings. It is cooked in a large ceramic pot and served with corn tamalitos.

Kilim
Chicken cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, onion, and spices, served with rice and potatoes.

Dessert
Fresh fruit of the season cooked in its own juices (usually peaches, apples, cherries, or pears).

Joch
Hot drink made of ground corn with barley, cinnamon and brown sugar.

Other Activities in San Miguel Totonicapán

• Bed and breakfast in a private home.
• Guided hikes to rural communities to see panoramic views of the area, Mayan altars (with permission), and traditional hot springs.
• Presentation of traditional indigenous dances.
• Festivals and fairs.

Reservations/Information

Adventure Maya K'iche' Casa de la Cultura Totonicapense

Contact: Carlos Humberto Molina

Tel/Fax: 011(502) 766-1575

e-mail: kiche78@hotmail.com

Reservations should be made 2 weeks in advance.

• Tours offered for groups of 4 to 20 people
• Please reserve one at least one week in advance
• Tours offered in Spanish.

Prices for Tours

     Cost per person for complete day program (in US dollars):

Cost per person for a rural walk in the San Miguel Totonicapın area (including lunch and use of local guide). Tour includes walk to villages around San Miguel Totonicapın to visit different community development projects, Mayan holy places (with permission), artisan workshops, and schools.

AVENTURA MAYA K'ICHE'
Cultura y Turismo Totonicapán,
Guatemala Telefax: (502) 7661575
kiche78@hotmail.com