The city of Coban in nestled in the cloud forests of Alta Vera Paz. It is a region known for its coffee plantations and beautiful orchids. Much of the lush beauty of this place is due to its rainfall. Being from Portland, Oregon, we are used to rainfall, here in Oregon we have eight months of rain a year, so traveling to Coban was no problem for us web-footed Oregonians. Where there is coffee, you can do anything. Although we did learn a new word for rain (a novelty for people who can describe rain in about a 100 different ways) - Chipi-Chipi is what the locals call the light rain, drizzle, driving mist that isn't wet enough or cold enough to make you stay inside.
Coban has a large market area that bustles with activity and lots of incense and candle merchants.
We took time to go to the Museo El Principe Maya. The small museum is extremely well presented, labeled, and maintained. The artifacts are mostly from the local region and especially from Cancuen, a site that is currently being worked by Arthur Demerest. This museum features a beautiful collection of Mayan portrait figurines and carved jade figures. The cost of entry is 10q (about $1.25US). It is located at 6a Avenida 4-26, Zona 3 in Coban. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and it is well worth the cost of a guided tour of the museum.
After our museum trip we walked to the church of El Calvario. This church is located at the top of a hill with fabulous views looking over Coban. The church is known for its series of Mayan shrines as you go up the steps to the church. Each of the shrines is decorated differently. All have the many different colored candles. Some have flowers, copal, feathers, and other items meant as offerings.