Tecpán

The town of Tecpán proper is about half a kilometer from the main highway via a signed turnoff, though few people actually go into the town unless they’re en route to the ruins of Iximché [1]. You’ll find plenty of roadside restaurants along this stretch of the highway, many with nearly identical menus. Some of these, such as Katok (Km. 87.5, tel. 7840-3384, www.ahumadoskatok.com [2]) and Kape Paulino’s (Km. 87.5, tel. 7840-3806, www.kapepaulinos.com [3]), are perennial favorites with Guatemalans and are usually very busy, serving a variety of grilled steaks, chicken, Guatemalan dishes, and cured meats in a log cabin atmosphere.

If you’re not a big fan of crowds, just across the road is the usually emptier and somewhat more charming atmosphere of Hacienda Tecpán (tel. 7840-3780, haciendatecpan [at] yahoo [dot] es). The large, hacienda-style building is set among sprawling landscaped grounds traversed by small streams and grazed by sheep and goats. The pleasant dining room overlooking the grounds features tablecloths and somewhat more upscale country decor than its neighbors, with the emphasis on Guatemalan dishes.

At a turnoff from the main highway at Km. 90.5 heading to the village of Santa Apolonia, El Pedregal (tel. 7840-3055) has pleasant grounds in a country setting away from the noise of the busy Pan-American Highway. It also makes a great place for kids, with ducks, cows, and other farm animals for them to enjoy. Delicious home-cooked meals including sandwiches, fresh bread, and cakes are served in a lovely covered patio fronting the gardens.

Farther along the road at Km. 102, Restaurant Chichoy (also at Km. 78 in the village of Chirijuyú) is another good choice, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was originally started by a cooperative of widows from the civil war.