Discover El Progreso Department

In Guatemala’s El Progreso Department, you’ll find the archaeological site of Guaytán and Cerro La Trementina, with its forests and wildlife. The Sierra de las Minas is a biosphere reserve. Church architecture and patron saint festivals round out the picture. You can plan your trip around whether you’re especially interested in archaeological history, architectural styles, nature, or local traditions.

Guaytán and colonial architecture

The archaeological site of Guaytán is located in the municipality of San Agustín Acasaguastlán, in El Progreso Department. It was discovered toward the end of the 19th century. The discovery provides a historical point of reference, while its location in San Agustín Acasaguastlán establishes its geographical setting.

Iglesia de San Agustín Acasaguastlán offers another way to explore history: its white façade is designed in the colonial Baroque style. The bell tower stands in the center rather than on either side. Together, the style, color, and position of the tower give the church façade a distinctive architectural profile.

Landscape and nature

In El Progreso Department, the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve extends across the municipalities of Morazán, San Agustín Acasaguastlán, and San Cristóbal Acasaguastlán. Its description therefore encompasses several municipalities. Cerro La Trementina, by contrast, is located in the municipality of Sanarate, in the south of El Progreso Department.

The hill has pine and oak forests, as well as birds, small mammals, and reptiles. The two natural attractions differ in focus: the Sierra de las Minas is notable for extending across several municipalities, while Cerro La Trementina is notable for its combination of forest types and wildlife. This gives you a concrete guide if nature is one of your travel interests.

Patron saint festivals and traditions

At the patron saint festival of San Antonio La Paz, celebrated every year on June 13, Saint Anthony of Padua is honored. A procession carries his image through the streets of the municipality. If you’d like to plan your trip around the festival, check the details of the June 13 celebration in advance.

The patron saint festival in San Cristóbal Acasaguastlán includes a horseback procession with riders from various regions of Guatemala. The two celebrations have different highlights: in San Antonio La Paz, the annual date and procession take center stage; in San Cristóbal Acasaguastlán, it’s the horseback procession with participants from different regions.

Guatemala in a broader context

Elsewhere in the broader destination of Guatemala, other places offer a wider cultural and historical perspective. Antigua Guatemala was founded in 1524 as Santiago de Guatemala. The city has preserved its 16th-century layout and most of its architectural heritage. Its churches and monasteries testify to the influence of the Christian Church on every aspect of city life during the colonial period.

The ruins of Quirigua preserve 17 monuments carved between 426 and 810 AD. Stelae and carved calendars document social, political, and economic events of the Maya civilization. Tak'alik Ab'aj also offers a glimpse into long stretches of history: its 1,700-year history spans 800 BC to 900 AD; in its first half, the transition from Olmec civilization to early Maya culture took place.

Discover more destinations: Sololá, San Marcos Department, Zacapa, Jalapa Department, Petén, Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz Department, Jutiapa Department

Return to the main travel overview: Guatemala.