Rabinal is located about 4 and half hours from Guatemala City. It is a small town located in Baja Verapaz. The main economic activities include , agriculture and handicrafts. Rabinal is famous for its oranges. Peanut is also grown in the area, as well as coffee, cardamom, and the basic food staple of the population which is corn and basic grains. In the area of handicraft you have weavers, wood carvers, pottery made from clay, wax and other artisan work done with local material. Rabinal's annual "fiesta" takes place from January 19 through January 25. This celebration ends with Mayan ritual at a nearby fortified city (only small ruins remain) in a hill overseeing the town.
Rabinal was severely affected by the internal thirty-six year old war of Guatemala. Many thousands of people were taken from Rabinal and the surrounding villages by the Army and Civilian Militia and never seen again. Today there are major excavations going on exhuming the corps in those sites that have been found. Rabinal has a small museum which reminds the visitors of the violence that rocked the foundation of this small town. Market day takes place on Tuesday and Sunday in the main plaza across the Church and City Hall. For more information, visit the local Chamber of Commerce and its' Internet Center.
Below are some of the pictures that portray this small rural Achi Mayan town. Double click on the picture thumbnail to enlarge it.
Do not reproduce these pictures without written consent from Bernai Velarde©
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Date this page was last updated: 07/31/2003