ITINERARY
You will be picked up from your hotel in Guatemala city. We will take the road to the Western Highlands, the region of Guatemala that most travelers think about when daydreaming about a trip to this country. The region is home to quaint and colorful mountain villages, highland lakes, pine forests, and the majority of Guatemalas indigenous peoples.
Arrive at Chichicastenango Market and begin your walking tour inside the market. It is the center of the town and heart of commercial life for maxeos (name given to the natives of Chichicastenango, derivative from Max that means Toms in Quich language). The merchants go down every Thursday and Sunday to the central plaza to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little throughout the centuries. Explore the pathways of the market and view the colorful handicrafts and produce offered by the local people of the region.
In Chichicastenango, we will also visit Santo Toms Church, built in 1540 over the base of an archaeological pre-Hispanic temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, as the Mayan and Latino influence is mixed throughout both the interior and exterior of the building.
After exploring the market you will enjoy a delicious lunch (Not Included, You can add a lunch in Optional Extras for aditional price.)
Then, continue to the town of Panajachel, which sits on Lake Atitlan. Visit Santander Street and enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Atitlan, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Three spectacular volcanoes, Tolimn, Atitln and San Pedro form the natural frame of the lake itself. It has a surface of 125 square kilometers and sits 1,560 meters above sea level.
In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing return transfer back to Guatemala city. Take note the order of the itinerary of this tour can vary, sometimes we visit first the Lake Atitlan and then continue to Chichicastenango Market.
Day Trip To Chichicastenango And Lake Atitlan From Guatemala City Or Antigua
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Tour Information
Key Details
- Mobile Voucher Accepted
- Hotel pickup Available
- Free Cancellation
- Duration: 8 Hrs
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Language:
English
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Departure Time :
Between 6:00am to 6:30am from Guatemala City Between 7:30am to 7:45am Antigua Guatemala Times are subject to change due to local traffic conditions.
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Departure Details :
Barceló Guatemala City, 7A Avenida 15-45, Guatemala City 01009, Guatemala
Traveler pickup is offered
Please Inform the name of your hotel within Guatemala City, and provide a phone number or wh.. read more -
Return Details :
Returns to original departure point
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Cancellation Policy : For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.
Overview
The market of Chichicastenango is home to what is undoubtedly the most colorful native market in North and Central America, and perhaps in the whole Americas. Lake Atitlan is considered one of the most beautiful in the world by many, including the famous novelist Aldous Huxley.Tours only operate on Thursdays or Sundays because those are market days.
Highlights
Know More about this tour
Inclusions
Professional guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions
Food and drinks
Gratuities
Additional Info
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Traveler Reviews
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We were picked up by a contracted taxi driver from Antigua in the morning and dropped off at the parking garage in Chichicastenango, this was 10:45 am-ish. The garage seems tobe shared by multiple tour companies. Someone there told me to walk around town and meet the microbus later at 2 pm. We came back expecting to meet a bus of clients with a tour guide, but nobody there at 2 pm was able to reach Maya World tours on the phone. Then a bus showed up and the driver was looking for me with a misspelled name. We got on the bus, and found out the driver was not operating a day tour, he was only there to drive people to Panajachel to their hotels. He asked me how I planned to get back to Guatemala city. When we arrived at Panajachel, they told us our bus back to Guatemala City was leaving at 4 pm, which left us with just 20 minutes in panajachel. I asked them about the Maya ritual ceremony that was in the program, they said it would take a 15 minute tuktuk ride from Chichicastenango. So other than transport connections there was no tour and no service. I don't recommend this tour company. During the day i never even met anyone who self identified as representing Maya World tours.
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We had Andrew for a guide. He was able to converse in Spanish and English which was necessary for our group. We visited the Chichicastenango market for an hour plus or minus my guess - it was so interesting that I didn't keep track of the time. Andrew told us about the history of the market and the two churches near the market - very knowledgeable. Gave us time to look and negotiate with the vendors. We had a late lunch at the Lake and had the option to walk down to the lake. On the way back, we took a quick drive through Panajachel. The driver, Jose, had excellent driving skills which were necessary on the InterAmerican Highway. We saw lots of villages and Andrew always had an answer to our questions.About 6 hours total driving time from Antigua and probably a couple more from Guatemala City. The total time for our trip was about 10 hours from Antigua to Antigua.
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The lake is absolutely stunning, probably a must-see when in Gutemala.
