The local color of this town of 20,000 and mountain scenery are enjoyed despite the dank and chilly weather. Cobán was founded in 1538 and is a jumping off point to Cuevas Lanquin and Champey. This was one of the regions most affected by Guatemala's civil war.
The Lanquin Caves are deep limestone caverns containing an underground river with various lagoons and unique rock formations.
A religious shrine is contained within and the caves are considered sacred by the local indigenous people.
The thousands of bats who make their home here provide an interesting spectacle as they leave in a nightly mass exodus from the cave to feed in the nearby forest.
Templo el Calvario offers a view of Cobán from atop its steep steps. Offerings of natural elements are left on the shrines and crucifixes in front of it.
Vivero Verapaz is an orchid nursery famous for the monja blanca (white nun orchid), Guatemala's national flower, and species of miniature orchids small enough to be observed through a magnifying glass.
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