The road diverting to El Quiché department is found at this junction and, about one kilometer farther down, is the turnoff for the road to Lake Atitlán. The Pan-American Highway (also known as the Interamericana) continues west to Quetzaltenango and Huehuetenango through lovely alpine scenery.

West of Los Encuentros at Km. 145 of the Pan-American Highway, Corazón del Bosque (tel. 7723-4140 or 5299-6915, www.corazondelbosque.com, $0.65 admission) is a community tourism initiative consisting of rustic wooden cabins, a temascal (Mayan sauna), plant nursery, and nature trails. There’s also a restaurant/bar serving typical Guatemalan fare and highland Mayan alcoholic concoctions such as kusha. The quaint wooden cabins ($27 d) are well furnished and have nice views in addition to private wooden patios. True to its name, meaning “Heart of the Forest,” it enjoys a sublime setting amid pine forests.

The site is just 15 minutes from Los Encuentros, 45 minutes from Panajachel, and 1.5 hours from Quetzaltenango.