In and of itself, the rather nondescript town of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa has little to recommend it. There are, however, some nearby archaeological attractions evidencing the influence of the Olmec culture and its expansion into coastal Guatemala from lowland Mexico. They might be worth a stop if you are passing this way as you travel along the coast.

The sites, in the cane fields just outside of town, can be a bit difficult to reach and you’ll probably find yourself hiring a cab if you’re coming from town on your own.

What you’ll see here are the remains of the Late Classic Pipil culture, which flourished here between A.D. 500 and 700. In 1880 more than 30 of the large stones found at the site were removed, with nine of them being shipped off to Germany. Four sets of stones can still be found on-site.

Unless you are a die-hard fan of pre-Columbian culture, I don’t suggest traipsing through the cane fields to see them, as some of the highlights can be easily and conveniently viewed from museums on two different farms occupying the original site. In general, it’s not a good idea to wander in and around the fields of tall sugarcane stalks, as they are prime territory for thieves and other assorted riff-raff.

Getting to Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa

Most buses trundling along the Pacific Coast Highway no longer go into town thanks to a bypass constructed a few years back. If heading out here you might find yourself changing buses in Escuintla or Mazatenango. Santa Lucía is also accessible from Lake Atitlán via Cocales.