//
Place in San Marcos Department, Guatemala
Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta is a busy agricultural town in San Marcos department of western Guatemala, set amongst coffee plantations.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Nature reserve set among cloud forest, with nature trails and small waterfalls. Sightings of the resplendent quetzal are still regularly reported as of early 2016.
Nature trail and waterfall - take transport to San Pablo, then microbus to La Igualdad, then ask locally for directions to the nature trail, through cloud forest. The waterfall is spectacular. There is also a hot water pool close to the fall, and Volcano Tajumulco is in the background.
Spectacular waterfall accessible by a well-maintained trail heading down into the ravine through the coffee plantation of Finca El Vergel, ending at the plunge pool of the waterfall. To return, there are two options - head back up to Finca El Vergel on the same trail, or take a difficult track up the very steep far side of the canyon (turning right along the ridge at the top̠) to finish in Aldea La Triinidad, from where you can take a tuk-tuk back down into San Rafael. There is another waterfall in La Trinidad at Centro Recreativo El Vuelo del Colibrí, paid entry.
Volunteer guides are available by contacting the municipal offices in San Rafael, but please pay their transport and entry fees.
Nice restaurant with decent food, and balconies overlooking the river gorge.
Nice hotel in town with a pool, hot tub, restaurant/bar, and breakfast.
The central market has all the normal products sold in Guatemalan markets, including clothes, pharmacy, fresh meat and vegetables etc.
Buses from San Pedro Sacatepéquez/San Marcos to Malacatán pass San Rafael.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Tapachula · Regional · TAP
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta and Guatemala.
Nature & adventureGuatemala has more than 30 national parks preserving many types of ecosystems including dense lowland tropical jungle, mountainous forests, volcanic peaks, and the subterranean wonders of natural caverns.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe indigenous peoples of North America are the tribes and nations whose ancestors were already on the continent when European explorers and colonizers arrived.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe Maya civilization was one of the great Mesoamerican and Pre-Columbian civilizations. The Maya were renowned for having the most sophisticated and developed writing system in the Western Hemisphere as well as their…
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureVolcanoes come in many shapes and sizes, and their eruptions vary hugely in both frequency and intensity. Many volcanoes are tourist attractions and are worth a visit provided you take due care, in particular keeping a…
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.