Chichicastenango and Iximché Day Trip from Antigua
Description
Experience Guatemala’s mixture of Mayan influences and living culture on this full-day tour of Iximché and Chichicastenango. Learn about Mayan history from your knowledgeable guide as you explore the archeological site of Iximché. In Chichiscastenango, discover its main attraction, the local open-air market, where you can browse wood products, ceramics and more. You’ll also see the Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Santo Tomas) and the Calvary Church, located in the main plaza.
Tour Options
Itinerary
After pickup from your Antigua hotel, venture northwest approximately an hour to the dusty town of Tecpán. Here, explore the Mayan ruins of Iximché, once the Kaqchiquel Maya capital and a Guatemala must-see attraction. Upon entering the ruins, you'll see four ceremonial plazas, which are surrounded by tall temple structures and two ball courts. Tour the site with your knowledgeable guide and discover the ancient history of Guatemala.
After exploring the Ruins of Iximché, continue your day trip to Chichicastenango. You'll feel like you've stepped back in time as you walk through the town’s narrow cobblestone streets and past its red-tiled roofs. In the main town plaza, visit the famous Chichicastenango open-air market, filled with locally made products like ceramic pots, wood carvings and handmade goods, as well as fruits and vegetables. Browse the local wares and pick up a souvenir or two to take home!
While you’re in the plaza, visit the Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Santo Tomas), located on the east side of the plaza. Dating back to 1540, the church is often home to Mayan rituals. You are free to eat lunch (at your own expense) after exploring the market. Once finished, enjoy convenient transportation back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick up time will be within 15 minutes of the established departure time in your confirmation.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(49)
We really appreciated our guide Gustavo and our driver. They were very hospitable and did a great job. We spent about 45 minutes at Iximche and an hour and a half at Chichicastinango and made two short pit stops. The rest of the 10 hours we spent in the van on winding roads. We enjoyed the stops, but would probably not have opted to go if we understood how much driving was involved relative to sight seeing. We would not recommend if you experience car sickness.
The ruins were very cool. The shopping had stalls with very similar material and stuff for sale over and over. Very crowded and very aggressive sales people. Having said that I’m glad I did it. Our guide showed us several churches and several vantage points that made the trip worthwhile. Our Guide was personable, knowledgeable, and very experienced. He made the trip.
The guide Jorge made the day not only entertaining, but educational. Good places to visit and once in a lifetime experiences. Driver Carlos was always very polite and handled the whole trip prudently
Great experience all around. Oscar, our guide, was amazing. Knowledgeable, kind and generous, with an awesome personal history to boot. The driver was careful and we had no trouble during the trip. Chichicastenango had a once-a-year event going on ("convite", if I'm not mistaken), which meant it was jam-packed with people and there was a huge traffic jam. Oscar was able to make it work and we even got to enjoy the festivities! Really, I have nothing but positive things to say.
Long day (11 hours). Know that Chichicastenango and Iximché are not very close to each other so about half the day is driving. That said both are well worth a visit and i felt we had enough time at both places. Our guide was good though did not have much to add during the long drives. Adding wifi to their vans would be nice in the future.
Be prepared for a long day (11 hours start to finish, and while Iximché and Chichicastenango were very interesting each in their own way it is quite a distance between the two. Our guide was good with excellent English, though didn't offer much other insights on the long drive there, between, or back. The van was comfortable, and it was just four of us in total. the guide did make some special stops at our request for some pictures. If you are going to do this tour choose a Market Day in Chichi (Thursday and Sunday). Since it is such a long ride Wifi in the van would have been nice. Maybe a USB charger or two. I am glad we did this tour. Well worth it
Quite an interesting adventure, to see both the Mayan beliefs merge with catholism, superstitions, and great things to buy, souvenirs, mask fabrics, etc
Carlos is an excellent guide! Thoughtful, warm and engaging. Carlos would communicate readily in both Spanish and English for those from the States and Colombia. He wanted the small group (two pairs of mother/ adult daughter) to be comfortable and enjoy the experience. The driver Ariel was focused and made the route from Antigua to Chichi and back safe and secure. Chichicastenango is bold and colorful! Go order some food from the market sellers! The ruins of Iximche and the surrounding grounds are really nice to explore in the later afternoon. Really glad I booked this trip and with Carlos Ordóñez.
It was historic. Oscar was a really good guide, he knew all of the historical facts and the nuances to be able to explain it and link both sites together.
Gustavo was knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. The two sites were small but beautiful. And are 7,000+ feet so be careful if you have elevation issues.
