Experience the best of Cobán

Cobán lies in the green mountains of Alta Verapaz at about 1,300 metres, where a fine drizzle known as chipi-chipi often drifts through the streets. The department's capital, it is the heart of Q'eqchi' Maya culture, and coffee and cardamom plantations cover the surrounding hills; Guatemala is among the world's leading cardamom producers. The town has a hilltop church reached by steep steps and a city park of forest, Las Victorias.

Semuc Champey, a natural limestone bridge over the Cahabón River with a staircase of turquoise pools, lies to the east near Lanquín, where caves fill with bats at dusk. The Biotopo del Quetzal, a cloud-forest reserve for the resplendent quetzal, sits on the road south towards Guatemala City.

Cobán's signature dish is kak'ik, a spicy turkey soup coloured with achiote, and cardamom flavours its coffee and sweets. A folk festival each year, Rabin Ajau, honours Maya culture. Rain falls through much of the year, and the drier spring months are the easiest for travelling the valleys.