Joyabaj (Spanish pronunciation: [xoʝaˈβax]) is a town and municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché.

It is located about 50 kilometers from Santa Cruz del Quiché, in the Sierra de Chuacús mountains.

The majority of the ladinos (people with mixed Spanish and Indian heritage) fled to Guatemala City.

This is a traditional dance in which flying angels (ángeles) spin to the ground from a huge wooden pole.

The Palo Volador reenacts the descend of the angels into the underworld to battle the forces of darkness.