El Transito
San Pedro Necta

San Pedro Necta is a municipality in Huehuetenango’s department, Guatemala, with historical roots dating back to pre – Columbian times. Its name comes from two sources: "San Pedro," in honor of the apostle of the same name, and "Necta," a Mam word meaning "where the river flows," referring to the San Pedro River that crosses the municipal seat. 

SanPedro Necta has a rugged, mountainous topography, with altitudes ranging from1,000 to 2,400 meters above sea level. It is crisscrossed by ravines, rivers (such as the San Pedro), and slopes that create varied microclimates. The majority of coffee cultivation is located between 1,200 - 2,000 meters above sea level; its economy is primarily based on agriculture, which accounts for more than 85% of its economically active population. The three most important crops are corn, beans, and coffee. Corn and beans are staple foods and are widely cultivated in almost all communities in the municipality. Coffee, meanwhile, is the most important cash crop, especially in temperate and warm zones. The municipality has nearly 4,000 manzanas (2,800 hectares) dedicated to this crop and a production that exceeds 275,000 quintals of coffee cherries per year. 

The development of coffee growing in the municipality has strengthened community organization around cooperatives and small-producer associations. Unlike other crops, coffee in San Pedro Necta is frequently grown under shade, which contributes to forest conservation, biodiversity, and soil retention.  

Among the three non-volcanic regions, Huehuetenango stands as the highest and driest area under cultivation. Benefitting from dry, hot winds that sweep into the mountains from Mexico's Tehuantepec plain, the region is shielded from frost, allowing cultivation in Highland Huehue to extend up to 2,000 meters aboe sea level. The remote nature of Huehuetenango practically mandates that all producers process their own coffee.