Riscos de Momostenango National Park is a protected natural area in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. The park is known for its natural rock formations, called hoodoos, carved by wind and rain erosion over a period of millennia. The formations in Momostenango cover a small area of a few hectares on the east side of town. They are fairly short and look like church spires or towers reaching up from the ground.
Understand
[edit | edit source]The community around Momostenango was established by the Maya long before the Spanish Conquest and most of the townspeople are Mayan. The Riscos (hoodoos) were regarded as having spiritual properties and Mayan elders still perform ceremonies among the rock formations.
History
[edit | edit source]The park was established as part of the Guatemala national parks system in 1955.
Landscape
[edit | edit source]The park includes a cliff face and a rocky slope where the hoodoo figures stand guard.
Flora and fauna
[edit | edit source]Climate
[edit | edit source]Get in
[edit | edit source]Momostenango is about 5 hours by car from Guatemala City, or about 1/2 hour from Quetzaltenango.
From Quetzaltenango, drive northeast on the Pan-American Highway (CA-1) for 40 km to the town of Momostenango.
Fees and permits
[edit | edit source]This is a small park on the edge of town. There is no fence, no guards, and no facilities of any kind. You just park on the street and walk around the park.
Get around
[edit | edit source]See
[edit | edit source]- rock formations
Do
[edit | edit source]Buy
[edit | edit source]Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Lool's Pizza, Momostenango, ☏ +502 7767 8034. Daily 09:30 - 21:00. Thick crust pizza with zesty sauce and lots of toppings. Q10.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Otoño Hotel, Momostenango, ☏ +502 7736 5013. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with spacious, clean rooms that include TV and WiFi.