Cerro El Baúl, National park and nature reserve in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Cerro El Baúl, also known as El Baúl, is a lava dome that rises above the valley of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala, protected as a national park and nature reserve. It sits a few kilometers north of the city center and covers around 60 hectares of forested hillside.
The hill was declared a national park in 1955, making it one of the last large green areas protected within Quetzaltenango. Long before that, indigenous communities used its slopes for farming and spiritual ceremonies.
The park is in Zone 4 of Quetzaltenango and is easy to reach from the city by following signs toward that area. Morning visits are a good option since the air is cooler and the paths are less crowded.
At the top of the hill stands an obelisk honoring Tecún Umán, a figure from Maya history whom local tradition says is buried on this hill. Layers of pumice left by an ancient eruption are still visible in the slopes today.
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