Cobán

Cobán, city, north-central Guatemala, situated 4,331 feet (1,320 meters) above sea level in the Chamá Mountains on the Cahabón River. Cobán is the capital of the department of Alta Verapaz, and it also serves as the administrative center for the municipality of Cobán. It is located approximately 133 miles (213 km) from Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. Pop. (2018) 212,047.

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Founded about 1538 near Mayan ruins and named for the Indigenous chieftain Cobaóu, the city developed as the major urban center of northern Guatemala. One of its most historic landmarks, the St. Dominic Cathedral (Catedral de Santo Domingo de Guzmán), also known as Cobán Cathedral, dates to the 16th century and stands today as one of the oldest buildings in the surrounding area. From the late 19th century until World War II, German coffee farmers settled in Alta Verapaz, establishing Cobán as an exclave of European culture in Guatemala. One prominent example is the Finca Margarita, a coffee plantation (the Spanish term finca refers to a rural estate or farm) founded in 1888 by the German family Dieseldorff, whose descendants have maintained a continuous presence in Guatemalan coffee production.

Cobán is a popular eco-tourism destination because of its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. Visitors to the area can explore Orquigonia, a private nature reserve dedicated to conserving and protecting rare orchid plants, including the white nun orchid (Spanish: monja blanca), Guatemala’s national flower. Orquigonia is home to a plethora of different orchid species, highlighting its role in the preservation of orchid biodiversity. Approximately 30 miles from Cobán in nearby Purulhá is Biotopo del Quetzal. This cloud forest and nature reserve dedicated to preserving Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal, is open for tourists. The agricultural hinterland of Cobán is best known for its coffee, tea, cacao (the source of cocoa beans), vanilla, cardamom and other spices. Grains, livestock, and hardwoods are also significant. The city was formerly an important commercial and manufacturing center. Much of the agricultural produce now bypasses Cobán and goes directly to Guatemala City.

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The Rab’in Ajaw (also known as Rabin Ajau) is an annual folklore festival held in Cobán, typically during the last week of July or the first week of August. This festival attracts a significant number of visitors to the city and holds considerable cultural importance for the Indigenous people of Guatemala. A central aspect of the event is an Indigenous women-led beauty pageant, in which participants demonstrate not only their physical beauty but also their knowledge of Mayan culture, language, and traditions. The winner of the Rab’in Ajaw pageant is regarded as a key representative for Indigenous women across Guatemala, with their perspectives and opinions on important social and political issues given significant weight.