The town is generally a bit pricey by Guatemalan standards, and it is full of odd contrasts. On one hand, there is a wealthy elite here, and on the other, a large contingent of migrant farm workers looking for their next job.
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The Parque Central in Cobán demonstrates the odd contrasts that define this town, with its stately old colonial church overlooking a modernisitic gazebo of quasi-space-age architecture.
In Cobán, Rob, Mark and Jennifer enjoyed good coffee, walked in a beautiful national park on one edge of the town, and toured a coffee finca (farm) on the other edge of town. The coffee tour was especially nice, as they showed us the whole process of growing, harvesting, preparing and roasting the coffee.
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At the coffee finca that we toured, bananas grow side by side with coffee. They also grow black beans, cardemom, and allspice here.
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Coffee beans drying in the sun at the coffee finca.
On to the nearby swimming holes at Semuc Champey