natural wonder
Lake Atitlan
A breathtaking volcanic lake surrounded by three towering volcanoes and traditional Mayan villages, often called the most beautiful lake in the world.
21 km · about 25 min drive
North AmericaGuatemalaChimaltenango
Santa Apolonia
Chimaltenango, Guatemala · North America
About Santa Apolonia
Santa Apolonia is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Tecpán Guatemala, 21km from Lake Atitlan.
Santa Apolonia is in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, with about 2,400 people. The nearest town is Tecpán Guatemala, about 4 km away.
Santa Apolonia is a municipality in the northern part of Chimaltenango department of Guatemala. Santa Apolonia is bordered by the towns of Tecpán to the west and south, San José Poaquil to the east and San Juan Comalapa to the southeast.[1] The geographical extension of the town is 96 square kilometers (37 mi²).
SantaRead more
Apolonia is well known for its handicrafts, particularly its earthenware pottery, although this tradition has been in decline for the past few decades. The typical indigenous blouse, or hüipil, of the town is a simple white cotton cloth with partial multichromatic embroidery patterns (pink, green, yellow, etc.). The skirt, or corte, is a navy blue with white stripes.
According to the 2002 Census, the town's population was 13,595.[2] Officially, 81% of its population is of Maya origin although Census figures pertaining to ethnicity are highly contested. The indigenous people of Santa Apolonia predominantly pertain to the Kaqchiquel ethnic/linguistic group and some estimate informally that more than 90% of town residents speak the Maya Kaqchikel language, the third most spoken indigenous language in the country. 76.8% of inhabitants are classified as poor and 19.5% as extremely poor (the highest level in the department). According to the UNDP, the Human Development Index for the town was 0.491 in 2002, up from 0.387 in 1994, but still the lowest among all municipalities in the department.[3] 81.4% of the population is rural.
The region is prone to frosts during the winter months and has also been affected by heavy rainfall from tropical storms and hurricanes, including Mitch in 1998 and Stan in 2006.
The principal staple crops of the area are maize and black beans. Commercially, snow peas are produced for export to markets in North America and Europe. The region produces various other horticultural products, including carrots, onions and tomatoes, as well as fruits, such as peach, passion fruit (granadilla), and soursop (anona).
The elevation at the town's center is 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) and the town is characterized by a variety of micro-climates ranging from semi-tropical to very cold.
Where to Stay in Santa Apolonia
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Santa Apolonia.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Santa Apolonia.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Santa Apolonia?
Within an hour or so of Santa Apolonia: Lake Atitlan (21 km), Chichicastenango Market (23 km), San Pedro La Laguna (34 km), Acatenango (34 km).
Where is Santa Apolonia?
Santa Apolonia is in Chimaltenango, Guatemala, about 4 km from Tecpán Guatemala.
Road trip
Drive to Santa Apolonia
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Santa Apolonia. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 2,396
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- Guatemala
- Region
- Chimaltenango
- Timezone
- America/Guatemala
- Coordinates
- 14.7905, -90.9727
Tags
Worth the detour from Santa Apolonia
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Chichicastenango Market
Central America's largest indigenous market held every Thursday and Sunday, overflowing with textiles, masks, flowers, and Maya rituals.
23 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
San Pedro La Laguna
A backpacker and artist hub on Lake Atitlán's shores beneath San Pedro Volcano, known for Spanish schools and Tz'utujil Maya culture.
34 km · about 40 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Acatenango
A 3,976 m stratovolcano near Antigua climbed overnight so hikers can camp on the ridge and watch neighbouring Volcán de Fuego erupt through the night: one of the most reliable live-eruption views on earth.
34 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Antigua Guatemala
A UNESCO colonial city framed by volcanoes, filled with cobblestone streets, pastel-colored buildings, and stunning ruined churches.
37 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Santa Apolonia
- 34 kmAcatenangoA 3,976 m stratovolcano near Antigua climbed overnight so hikers can camp on the ridge and watch neighbouring Volcán de Fuego erupt through the night: one of the most reliable live-eruption views on earth.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Santa Apolonia.
Plan a trip around Santa Apolonia
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Santa Apolonia.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.