The Tourism Institute (Inguat), which promotes the initiative, has decided to add this area on the shores of Lake Atitlán to the island of Flores, Petén; Estanzuela, Zacapa; and San Juan del Obispo, Sacatepéquez.
The aim of this program is to promote the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of cities, improve the cityscape and promote local development, emphasized the head of this institution in the country, Anayansy Rodríguez.
Santa Catarina Palopó, with almost three thousand inhabitants, created murals and paintings that represent its identity while preserving important tourist sites that are now more lively, especially on social networks.
The people, mostly indigenous Maya who speak Spanish and K’akchiquel, are essentially devoted to smokestack-free industries, apart from the production of corn, beans, coffee and raising livestock for subsistence use.
Atitlán, the deepest lake in Central America and the third largest in the country, offers different environments to both locals and foreigners.
Beyond Santa Catarina Palopó, the characteristic tranquility of Santa Cruz la Laguna and San Pedro stand out, popular places, to the party and party atmosphere of Panajachel, the most popular place in Sololá.
Inguat announced that he would arrive this year with “Picturesque Towns” in a fifth of nine areas: Quetzaltenango (Xela), also as a solution to the degree of deterioration of the urban image due to tourist overload.
The first award of its kind was presented on November 18 last year in Estanzuela for cleanliness, reorganization of road traffic, green spaces, signage and the implementation of a visitor safety program.
Other beauties of the Land of the Quetzal that may be listed as picturesque towns include San Juan del Obispo in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez; Livingston, Izabal; and San Cristóbal Totonicapán, Totonicapán.
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