Zunil (Spanish pronunciation: [suˈnil]) is a town and municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala with a surface area of 80 square kilometres (31 sq mi). The town of Zunil is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) from the city of Quetzaltenango, on the bank of the Salamá River. Zunil has an altitude of approximately 2,075 metres (6,808 ft) above mean sea level. The population of the municipality, which is 100% indigenous, was 14,118 at the 2018 census. The inhabitants speak Kʼicheʼ and Spanish. There are thermal baths with volcanic water around the town, for example Fuentes Georginas and Almolonga.
Religion
Zunil possesses active worship of San Simón (also known as Maximón), a life-sized mannequin representing a Maya god, sitting in a wooden throne, which is moved to a different house every year, and many people visit and leave gifts at his shrine.
Namesakes
A crater on Mars, which may be the source of Mars meteorites, is named after the village.
Gallery
Notes
References
- Cattelan, Marino (2004). Quetzaltenango. Guatemala: Xibalbá Publicaciones.
External links
- Zunil travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Zunil at Inforpressca
- Fuentes Georginas
