Cotzal to Cunén

Leaving the town of Cotzal after tasting the best chuchitos yet in Guatemala, we began to climb slowly but steadily on a gravel road. After about an hour we approached a small town, and men with shotguns approached us. There was a blockade on the road and a fire under a make-shift hut to the left. Men from this town take turns keeping armed guard to protect their town from the gangs that had been making their presence known in other villages around the area. After a short conversation the men searched our packs and let us pass, wishing us well. 

After passing through town we took a turn up a dirt path. A few stream crossings and even more darting under barbed wire and we were still climbing. 

At this point and path led us into the forest. A tunnel entrance on a rocky path that had to have been ancient. 

The forests were amazingly lush with big trees draped in moss and in-navigably thick underbrush.

The story goes that a while ago someone wanted to start a zoo or a wildlife park in this area. The zoo failed and the proprietors decided to just let the howler monkeys go. Supposedly these monkeys have adapted to the drizzly and cold weather and are thriving. We didn't hear any that day; probably because it was drizzly and cold. 

Nic demonstrates the enormous size of the ferns. 

Just like home.

After reaching the ridge, completely socked in, we stopped for some nourishing PB & J. The decent emptied us onto a beautiful wetlands area with this promising green path leading the way out.

And the sun came; after 6 hours of hiking in cold, drizzly, view-obstructing weather as we were finishing our decent. This valley was farmed with wheat, still green in the forefront of this photo and finally gave us a view of the Chuchumatanes Mountains area.