Quiché Department, Mountain administrative division in western Guatemala
Quiché Department is an administrative region in western Guatemala covering highlands, valleys, and forested areas across diverse terrain. The region contains numerous municipalities and communities spread throughout its mountainous landscape.
The territory became an official administrative department in 1872 when President Miguel García Granados established the division with Santa Cruz del Quiché as its capital. This administrative structure has governed the region since its creation.
The K'iche' Maya communities practice their ancestral traditions through daily markets and religious ceremonies that shape local life. Visitors encounter these living customs directly in public spaces and during local celebrations.
Buses connect Guatemala City to Santa Cruz del Quiché, from where local transportation reaches various communities within the region. Travel is easier during the dry season when roads are more passable.
The region contains a biosphere reserve in the north managed by indigenous communities that protects local plants and animals. This protected area demonstrates how local populations actively steward their environment.
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