Zaculeu, Archaeological site in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.

Zaculeu is a Mayan settlement in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, perched on a natural plateau at roughly 1900 meters above sea level. The compound features several pyramid temples arranged around open plazas, along with a ball court and buildings with broad twin staircases.

The settlement grew between 250 and 600 CE, drawing influence from distant Teotihuacán and becoming a key center in the western highlands. In 1525, Gonzalo de Alvarado took the city after a prolonged siege, ending the independent rule of the region.

The name Zaculeu comes from saq ("white") and ulew ("earth") in Mam, K'iche' and Q'anjob'al; in Mam the site is also called Chinabajul. Mam Maya still hold ceremonies on the plateau, and a small museum at the site displays finds such as a butterfly ornament worked from tumbaga, a gold-copper alloy dated to the Postclassic.

The compound sits on a plateau bordered by steep ravines on two sides, with a single land access from the north. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as the paths can be uneven and the temple steps quite steep.

Excavations uncovered metal objects made from tumba, a gold-copper alloy, pointing to long-distance trade links during the Postclassic period. Such finds are rare in the region and show that the city took part in wider exchange routes.