Santa Catarina Palopó

Santa Catarina Palopó is a municipality in the Sololá department of Guatemala. The municipality is located on the shores of Lake Atitlán, approximately 3 miles South-Southeast of Panajachel, a popular tourist destination. To the East-Southeast is San Antonio Palopó. The three aforementioned towns are connected by one paved road, which runs directly through Santa Catarina Palopó.

The population of Santa Catarina Palopó is approximately 5,000 according to a 2011 census conducted by the town administration. The vast majority of the residents of the town are indigenous, descending from the Kaqchikel Maya. Kaqchikel is the most common language spoken in the village, though Spanish is widely understood. Subsistence agriculture and fishing are the means of survival for most families within the community, however, a recently spurred tourist industry has created a market for souvenir style goods and services. Perhaps the most easily recognizable characteristic of Santa Catarina Palopó is the blue huipil, or blouse, which is worn prominently by the women of the community. Since the huipil has been worn since the 16th century, it may seem to be particularly indigenous trait, the blue style is, however, the result of very recent external influences.

Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó is a large painting project located in the town. The craftsmen working for the project paint houses and businesses with the purpose of creating a beautiful and pleasant environment for the local inhabitants. Families choose the colors and Mayan designs to paint their houses with. The designs are inspired by the Mayan huipil. The project's ultimate goal is to reproduce the outcome of the current project in the rest of the towns and villages around the lake. [1]

Santa Catarina Palopó has a tropical climate with stable temperatures throughout the year; (Köppen climate classification: Aw).

Lake Atitlán view from Santa Catarina

Despite its small size there are some sights to visit in Santa Catarina. The village has a museum which shows the culture of the place. Inside the village is a Confraternity, that is presenting information about the Guatemalan Catholic saints. On the Church Plaza, which is the main square, locally produced coffee is being sold. Multiple restaurants are located around the main street, especially close to the Hotel Villa Santa Catarina, that is located close to the lake and the pier. Furthermore, the village has various street shops selling traditional Kaqchikel clothes, which is one of the main sources of income for the locals. From the pier, the lake and the three volcanoes can be seen, especially in the early morning, just after the sunrise, when the weather is very clear.