A cup of hot chocolate is the best motivation to continue our trip. The temperature is not more than 3°C. It is almost nine o'clock and we are on the skirts of the majestic Tajumulco Volcano, the highest in Central America. We have traveled 25 kilometers from San Marcos, where we left at six thirty in the morning, covered with our jackets, bonnets, globes and wool scarves.

The exact time cannot be measured when you constantly stop to take pictures of those impressive landscapes and the scenes of children and women with their herds of sheep. The original plan was to ascend the volcano, at least half of it, but the weather conditions are not in our favor.

A clear sky allows us to contemplate the volcanic range, on which the Tajumulco stands out with its 4,220 meters of height.

The cold makes us approach a small cabin located right on the crossingof the Tajumulco, over the road that leads to Ixchiguán. Inside wediscover a scene that we wouldn't have seen from the road, but whichrepeats in every adobe and wood house that covers the area. Mr.Benjamin Chávez, his wife Rafaela Ramos and six of their twelvechildren surround a medium fire where a black pot boils.

In our way to Tajumulco, the scenes of children and women grazing sheep are constantly repeating.

In a few seconds, the small house of three meters wide by four meterslong is completely filled with the group of seven people with whom Icome. But the Chávez' family is not intimidated and invite us toapproach the fire and eat some cooked potatoes, accompanied bytortillas and chili, which constitute the family breakfast.

At ten o'clock we decide to continue our trip towards the town ofTajumulco. It takes around 45 minutes going down the unpaved road, buttime goes by between the beautiful scenes of children with their redcheeks, grazing sheep and cows, the maize fields and declinations thatform a sort of canyon in the foothills of the volcano.

The waterfall formed by the Cutzulchimá River has 12 meters of height.

Looking for a place where we can eat breakfast we found ProfessorHelber Ramírez, who is also an alderman of the local town. He is adescendant of witches, and takes us to meet the famous Pila Maya,archeological piece which was supposedly used by the ancientinhabitants of the Mam ethnic to celebrate baptisms. Today, the stonelocated on the property Las Pilas, is the center of a ceremonial altarwhere the new witches are subjected to the questions that willdetermine their official appointment.

After traveling for about 250 meters through a narrow path, betweenmaize fields and vegetation, we arrive to the Cerro de los Amores (Hillof Lovers), a beautiful mass of rock where people come in company of awitch to catch a spell that will help them conquer the heart of abeloved. According to Ramírez, in the old times, this was the placewhere they celebrated weddings between the Mam people.

The love spells are carried out with the murmur of the CutzulchimáRiver as background. This river begins in the village of Tuinimá andsurrounds part of the hill forming a romantic scene. A few metersahead, the riverbed breaks into an enormous slot, with a waterfall of12 meters high.

The Pila Maya, located in the property Las Pilas, is an archeological jewel of the mystic Mam people.

Sprinkled by the water of this beautiful waterfall, which will turninto the Cabús River when arriving to Malacatán, we finish our journeythrough this town of beautiful landscapes and gentle people.

In order to get to Tajumulco you must drive towards the town of SanMarcos, located at 253 kilometers of the capital city. After travelingfor 27 kilometers over the road that leads to Ixchiguán, you will reachthe crossing of Tajumulco in the village Villareal, where you must turnleft and keep going on an unpaved road for other 10 kilometers.

Adalecio and Gladys, members of the Chávez Ramos' family, play between the flowers that grow right next to the maize fields.

If your intention is to climb the volcano, you will find the point ofdeparture when reaching kilometer 25. Nowadays, you can make almosthalf the journey in your vehicle, since the road is prepared for it.Including the walking part, the ascending time is approximately of fourhours and three for descending.

-It is necessary to bring appropriate clothes and shoes, due to the intense cold; as well as gloves, scarf and bonnet.
-If you are thinking about climbing all the way to the peak of the volcano, take hot beverages and food.
-If you descend over the town of Tajumulco, ask for the bakeries andthe market; in here you will find different options to buy food.
-In the town of San Marcos you will find hotels and restaurants with different tariffs.