Central and East, Guatemala
Located in the department of Alta Verapaz in central Guatemala, Coban is the capital city as well as the administrative centre for the surrounding Coban municipality. Situated in the Guatemalan highlands the area is incredibly rich in flora and fauna with lakes, dense cloud forests, sparkling waterfalls, wildlife reserves and several incredible cave systems. Lush and tropical it is a popular destination for those travellers interested in eco-tourism.
Background
Founded in 1543 by Dominican priests, Coban was developed by German coffee growers at the end of the 19th century, the city was populated with around 2000 Germans until 1941 when they were expelled by the government due to the political circumstances. Today, the city is an important centre for coffee and cardamom production.
Not only does the city itself hold interesting attractions such as the El Calvario church, the Dieseldorff coffee plantation, the Principe Maya archaeological museum, and the city’s central plaza, but the surrounding area has become an area well known for its wildlife and natural attractions of which the Lanquin Bat Caves, the national monument of Semuc Champey and the El Biotopo de Quetzal are the most unique.