Nothing is more representative of Totonicapán like its famous ponchos and weavings, and of course the delicate Majolica pottery, which show a careful and artistic work.

By reaching Totonicapán's capital city, it is easy to get lost among the weavings and pottery, offered close to Central Plaza. However, the main representation of their work is the Majolica ceramic, proof of the cultural mixture between Spain and Guatemala.

These days you can walk across the narrow streets and admire many workshops, which are mostly family managed.

Vases, flower pots, cups, tableware, and ornamental pieces come to life by the grace imprinted on them by paintings and the hands of the craftsmen of Totonicapán, who spend the whole day creating objects for retail or wholesale. Many of these articles go directly to other countries due to their high quality.

In Momostenango, the warm ponchos and carpets made with lamb's wool display the weavers' talent for the designs, which is also admired on the jackets, capes, and the different handbags sold around the plaza or at the association at the town's entrance.

In San Andres Xejul, the colors in the "gŸipiles" (blouses used by indigenous women) and "cortes" (skirts) show once more the creative ability of these women, who sell their work at the Central Plaza. Among the great variety of designs, it is not difficult to find mantillas, scarves, and trousers, which are not that cheap, but not so expensive either compared with the work done to make them.

In the end, Totonicapán is a perfect place to enjoy nature, climate, and its people. But above all, it is the ideal place to get a meaningful souvenir of western Guatemala.

According to yahoo.com and its partner Google, there are about 3700 pages on the web with references to Totonicapán, its culture, industry and tourist interest.

"Surrounded by mountains that reach 2500 meters of altitude, San Miguel Totonicapán is one of the most beautiful cities of Guatemala", according to www.larutamayaonline.com, which includes tours throughout the department, its art, music, their dances, and gastronomy (tobic, kilim, joch, as fruit desserts, among other delicious dishes from this place).

On the other hand, at www.tulane.edu/-mari/textiles/totonicapan.html, the focus is academic. There you can find a virtual gallery of weavings and clothing from San Cristobal and San Miguel. Among others, you can take a look at napkins, skirts, gŸipiles, and tocoyales.

www.casaxela.com has a sample of Totonicapán's architecture, especially a picture of the church of San Andres Xecul, as attractive as it really is.

The INGUAT (Guatemalan Tourism Institute), at its website www.inguat.net/inguin/enhotels22.html, refers the surfer to hotel sites, so they can plan their trip to that beautiful place. At www.forestalcommunities.com, you can take a peak at communitarian efforts for preserving the forests in the area and at www.guatemala.travel.com.gt/itoto.htm, the traveler finds an excellent support to find hotel rooms, plan trips to the area and it also includes notes about folklore and architectural photography.

Totonicapán is very present at the cyberspace, even though we have only included a small sample of the virtual sites that represent it.