Quetzaltenango is in the Mayan highlands of Guatemala. It is surrounded by mountains, located in the heart of the Sierra Madre range, 125 miles west of Guatemala city. It was the site of the last battle between the Spaniard conquistador Pedro de Alvarado Don't mention the Spaniards!* and the Maya king Tecun Uman. The Maya called the town Xela-juj, meaning under the ten hills. The name Xela (SHAY-lah), survives in common usage even today. Quetzaltenango, meaning the place of the quetzal bird, is the name the Nahuatl tribe gave to the town.

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*I know not very original, but funny, IMHO, since I have always done my best to avoid mentioning the Spaniards.