Todos Santos Cuchumatán

Although it takes about three hours to cover the short distance from Huehuetenango to Todos Santos Cuchumatán, the bumpy ride is probably the best way to experience the tremendous height of the Cuchumatán mountain range. Whether you are driver or passenger, steel your nerves: the ride becomes anxiety-provoking at the many spots where one side of the winding dirt road drops off into a deep ravine. Despite the arduous journey, Todos Santos is one of Guatemala's most frequently visited mountain villages. Though the town was one of Guatemala's hardest hit during the civil war, with a substantial portion of the population fleeing to the safety of nearby Mexico, most residents have now returned.