El Rodeo: Getting There, History and Traditions

When looking for hotels in El Rodeo, getting there is a useful starting point. The history and traditions of the municipality provide further insight into the destination. Cultural and landscape examples from the San Marcos Department add regional context.

Getting there: two routes and distances

According to the municipal plan, the municipal seat of El Rodeo is 36 kilometers from the capital of the San Marcos Department and 288 kilometers from Guatemala City when traveling via RN1 and the departmental capital. Another route described in the plan follows the Interamericana CA-2, passing Pajapita and then the entrance to El Tumbador; this route is listed as 286 kilometers from Guatemala City. These figures are distances along the respective routes, not travel times. Check current road conditions before setting out. The two distance figures from Guatemala City correspond to different routes.

Ceiba, corral and local history

The name El Rodeo is associated with a large ceiba tree in what is now the town center. According to the history of the name, the tree provided shade for passing travelers. A corral stood around it, where they kept, fed and rested their animals. Some merchants rested overnight at this place associated with the ceiba and corral. The story behind the name thus links the town to a scene of travel and animal husbandry. El Rodeo was founded on March 12, 1834; this date provides another point of reference in the town’s history.

Municipal traditions and food culture

A Convite takes place every December in the municipality of El Rodeo. Residents dress up as different characters and parade along the main streets. If you would like to plan your trip around this tradition, check the event dates in advance. For the food culture of San José El Rodeo in the municipality, a 2009 description names chicken soup made with native chicken and beef stew with vegetables as traditional dishes. It lists Wednesday and Saturday as the main days for lunch. These time references serve different planning purposes: the Convite is associated with December, while the lunch days come from the 2009 description.

More examples in the San Marcos Department

The Nan Pa’ch ceremony takes place in San Pedro Sacatepéquez in the San Marcos Department. This maize-worship ritual gives thanks for good harvests and includes prayers in Mam; the ceremony is held less frequently than before. Another regional example is the Sibinal Municipal Regional Park, which consists of four municipal forests: Canjulá, Volcán Tacaná, Los Maijones and Tocapote. A hiking and trekking trail starts at Parque Canjulá and passes through Bosque Municipal Los Maijones. The ceremony, park and trail are each associated with their respective locations in the San Marcos Department.

For the broader travel overview: San Marcos Department.