![]() The bus services between Guatemala City and Xela are typical for the country, as you can either pick up one of the famous “chicken buses” or use the more comfortable, scheduled services. Most people travel to Xela by bus, although the small local airport does handle a few thousand passengers each year. The city has occupied an important place in Guatemalan history and culture, and its seven universities making it a popular destination for local students and international students learning Spanish. Local people often refer to the city as Xela, and the city is widely known by both names, so you won’t have a problem being understood using either name. Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado captured the city and renamed it Quetzaltenango, which was the name used for the site by his Tlaxcaltecas allies from central Mexico. The city’s double name stems from the 1500s, when it was a Mayan settlement known as Xelaju. ![]() Xela City or Quetzaltenango? A tale of two names Officially named Quetzaltenango and one of the largest cities in Guatemala, it is known unofficially Xela and as the capital of the Mayas, and that split identity makes it an intriguing place to live in or visit.
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