Joyabaj was an important part of the royal route to Mexico during the Spanish time . On February 4 , 1976 the town was almost destroyed by an earthquake . Most of its beautiful colonial houses and buildings were lost and hundreds of people died . Joyabaj was also hit hard by the civil war that lasted about 30 years in Guatemala . The majority of the '' ladinos '' ( people with mixed Spanish and Indian heritage ) fled to Guatemala City
earthquake
1976 Guatemala earthquake
Joyabaj