The Tzutuhil (or Tzutujil) are a Native American people, part of the Maya ethnic group. The term also denotes their native language , and their nation in pre-Columbian times, a part of the ancient Maya civilization.

The Tzutuhil People

Today, the Tzutuhil people are located around Lake Atitlan, in the Solola region of the Guatemalan highlands. They primarily live on the South and South-Eastern sides of the lake in the towns of Santiago, San Pedro, San Juan and San Pablo, although they used to inhabit a much wider region. In 1523 the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, with the help of the Caqchikel Maya, defeated them in a battle close to the town of Panajachel in which they lost a portion of their lands.

Although tourism is now an increasing source of income, many still practice traditional methods of farming of the two main crops in the region, Coffee and Maize.

The Tzutuhil language is closely related to the Caqchikel language , and both are similar to the Quiché language of the neighbouring and more populous Quiché Maya. Today the majority of the Tzutuhil have Spanish as their second language, although many of the older people, or those in more remote locations do not. Many children also do not learn Spanish until they go to school around the age of 5 although more importance is now being placed upon it due to the influx of tourism into the region.