San Juan Ixcoy (also known as in
Qʼanjobʼal) is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
in the
Guatemala
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...
n
department of
Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango () is a city and municipality in the highlands of western Guatemala. It is also the capital of the department of Huehuetenango. The city is situated from Guatemala City, and is the last departmental capital on the Pan-American Hi ...
. The municipality covers an area of and is formed by the town of San Juan Ixcoy, 11 villages and 33 ''caserios'' (rural communities). Its population of 19,367 (in 2002)
is predominantly of
Maya
Maya may refer to:
Ethnic groups
* Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America
** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples
** Mayan languages, the languages of the Maya peoples
* Maya (East Africa), a p ...
Q'anjob'al descent.
San Juan Ixcoy is located in the
Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
The Sierra de los Cuchumatanes, in western Guatemala, is the highest non-volcanic mountain range in Central America.
Etymology
The name "Cuchumatán" is derived from the Mam words ''cuchuj'' (to join or unite) and ''matán'' (with superior forc ...
range and borders with the municipalities of
Soloma and
Santa Eulalia in the North,
Chiantla in the South and
Nebaj in the East. By road, San Juan Ixcoy is directly served by RN-9-N. No rail transport exists nearby, and while there is an airport in
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango (, also known by its Maya name Xelajú or Xela ) is a municipality and namesake department in western Guatemala. The city is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of above sea level at its lowest part. It may reach above ...
, the closest international airport is
La Aurora International Airport
La Aurora International Airport (, ) serves Guatemala City, Guatemala. It is located south of Guatemala City's center and from Antigua Guatemala. It is administered by the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (Guatemala), General Directora ...
.
Most households depend on
subsistence agricultural and produce maize, beans and ayote (''Cucurbita argyrosperma''), as well as potatoes, wheat, and horticultural products. Artesanal production of textiles and traditional crafts adds to household income. Other economic activities include labour migration to the large plantations on the Guatemalan south coast and in some cases to the United States.
References
External links
Official site of the Municipality
{{Coord, 15, 36, N, 91, 27, W, display=title, region:GT_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki
Municipalities of the Huehuetenango Department