Inside The Ipala Volcano

Central America is filled with a variety of volcanoes scattered across the lands, bringing rich nutrients to each country as well as entices the physically active to hike them. In Guatemala, there is a unique volcano where families spend their weekend picnicking- inside the crater.

Volcán Ipala is a stratovolcano located in Eastern Guatemala in the municipality of Ipala, Chiquimula, near the town of Agua Blanca, in the department of Jutiapa. It has a 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) wide summit crater which contains a crater lake (Lake Ipala), whose surface lies about 150 m (500 ft) below the crater rim.

Ipala Volcano has a beautiful lagoon in its crater whose waters are crystal clear and deep blue, measuring approximately 600 meters in diameter. Many families take boat rides on the lagoon & kids swim in the designated beach area. There is also a look-out point above the crater to see its entirety as well as the scenery of Agua Blanca & Chiquimula.

The volcano has the shape of a large cone. It is sparsely vegetated except in its summit and around the lake. There is a closed forest which consists of cypress trees, oaks and parasitic plants. 

There is a small cave near the water called "La Cueva de Leona," which means 'The Lioness Cave' because a Lioness was found in it some years ago. You have to climb a wooden ladder to get a peek into the small cave. 

Families enjoy their weekends inside the Ipala Volcano relaxing. There are picnic areas, a souvenir shop, and even a soccer field where families can play together. Avid hikers who wish to spend more than a day will be glad to know there are bungalows and camping areas. You can hike up to the lake along a scenic trail (about two hours) but if you’ve got a high-clearance vehicle you can drive to Ipala Lake as well. Make sure it's a 4x4 because you literally drive over rocks & dirt, no cement. The road up from the town of Agua Blanca is steep, rutted and rocky. Parking is usually 20Q. There is an entrance fee into the park which is usually 50Q. 

Guatemala's Traditions

A Procession during Semana Santa in Antigua

Guatemala is one of the world's major cultural destinations, offering one of the most popular processional traditions which are original, authentic and unique in Latin America. From the pre-Hispanic indigenous cultural heritage and traditions followed by the colonial conquistadors to contemporary times,  all of these traditions are fused in this marvelous land full of contrasts.

The most traditional cultural events in Guatemala are:

- Semana Santa or Holy Week, is celebrated each year between March and April and is a religious tradition that was started in 1543, when the Spanish moved the Holy Sacrament of Old City to Santiago de Guatemala, which was the capital of Guatemala, which today is known as Antigua Guatemala. The biggest attraction of Easter are handmade carpets with beautiful designs made of seeds, dust, flowers and colorful processions with marching bands.

- The Palo Volador is held every December 21 in different parts of Guatemala. In Joyabaj, Quiche it is held on August 15. The flying pole dance is a pre-hispanic tradition that remained intact during colonization. The stick is made of a tree, in which is placed at the top of a structure designed to be rotatable. Two ropes are wound which two of the "flying" are attached and begin to rotate so until they descend to the ground. After each of the dancers is dressed in overalls and funny movements of a dance to marimba gourds.

-La Carrera de Caballos Todos Santos Cuchumatán is a traditional horse race at an annual fair in Cuchumatán, which begins October 23 and ends on November 3. They organize various cultural activities in this municipality and is visited by domestic and foreign tourists. 

- Los Barriletes de Santiago Sacatepéquez is a fun tradition, held every November 1 in Santiago and in Zacatepequez Sumpango. This is a festival that involves giant kites that soar to the sky with messages to ancestors, and thus commemorating the Day of the Dead. These giant and decorative kites are designed by locals with great care and artistry.

-La Qema del Diablo, or The Burning of the Devil, is an exciting tradition held every December 7th throughout the country. Market stalls begin selling papier–mâché devils a week before. The tradition of burning the devil began in colonial times. In anticipation of the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patron of Guatemala City, those who could afford it adorned the fronts of their houses with lanterns. Eventually, the poor who could not afford such lanterns began gathering their garbage and would burn all of the year's rubbish in front of their houses. Over time it was formalized and in addition to individual piles of garbage, communities started to burn The Devil to clear the way for Mary's feast.

The idea is to burn all of the bad from the previous year and to start anew from the ashes. In cities throughout the country The Devil is burned at the stroke of six. In Ciudad Vieja, the first capital of the country, a devil three stories tall is constructed and burned in the city square. 

http://youtu.be/ZBH4OqLSBw8

This is by no means an exhaustive list of Guatemala's traditions as there are so many throughout the country, but it does illustrate just how culturally rich and exciting Guatemala is. Every tradition is meaningful whether it is pre-hispanic, established by the Indigenous or a tradition that came from the Spanish Conquistadors. Either way, we are left with lots of excitement.

Season For Jocotes!

Jocotes

As you walk through the mercado after living here for some time, you start to notice that new fruits that are now in season are being sold and others you were used to are not. For example, I used to see red bananas called "Majunches" all over the place and then all of a sudden there are Papayas everywhere!

Red Banana (Majunche) and Yellow Banana

Now it's the season for Jocotes. This is a Latin American fruit and I remember in my youth, since I grew up in Southern California and made frequent trips to Mexico, we would bring back with us frozen Jocotes which became my favorite fruit in the entire world! So naturally, I got excited when I would go to Guatemala and eat some Jocotes. They are small and round that are red, green, or yellow in color. The redder they are, the juicier and sweeter it tastes. If you eat a green one, it will be drier leaving you with a cotton-mouth feeling which may not make a good first impression on you. So before you try one, make sure it's red or at least on the orange side. The flesh looks exactly like a mango and there's a big seed in the middle. In fact to me, they are a mix between tiny mangoes and plums. Because the fruit is so small, you don't get much flesh when eating it. So you end up eating a handful. If you eat red ones be careful, they're really juicy! In fact that's what inspired this entry. I was eating juicy red Jocotes that I bought in El Progresso, Jutiapa a few days ago where they were selling them in buckets full and decided a little education on this delicious fruit was necessary.

Jocotes of all different colors

A Jocote not eaten next to a half eaten Jocote

According to several different sources, including Wikipedia, the Jocote is related to the cashew fruit. Now, prior to me moving to Guatemala I was unaware that cashews, the nuts, were part of a fruit.

Cashew Fruit & Nuts

Spondias purpurea , the scientific name of the fruit, is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to tropical regions of the Americas. It is most commonly known as Jocote, which derives from the Nahuatl word xocotl, meaning "fruit." Other common names include Red Mombin, Purple Mombin, Hog Plum, Sineguela, and Siriguela. The fruits are often eaten ripe, with or without the skin. It is sometimes eaten unripe with salt and vinegar or lime juice. The single large seed, which takes up most of the fruit, is not eaten.

The health benefits of Jocotes are:

• Low in calories and saturated fats
• High in dietary fiber
• Good source of Vitamins A and C
• High in potassium, iron, and other essential minerals

Next time you are in Guatemala, make it a point to try some Jocotes if you see some, especially since the dry season (October - May) is the season for Jocotes. And now with all this typing about the fruit I think I'll go eat some more.