Full-Day Private Tour to the 4 Capitals of Guatemala
Description
We have created a wonderful tour for you to know the history of Guatemala differently. You will go from being in a Mayan archaeological site to 2 colonial cities, and the current capital of Guatemala, all combined in this tour. Guatemala, before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, was divided into kingdoms of different ethnicities. In 1524 when the conquerors set foot in Guatemalan for the first time, they did so in the Kaqchiquel City of Iximché and founded the first Spanish capital there. A few years later, they moved to Ciudad Vieja and established their second capital. Still, due to a natural disaster in 1541, they moved for the third time to what we now know as Antigua Guatemala. Finally, after an earthquake in 1773, they moved their capital for the fourth time, and they did it to where it is located today. This is a specialized tour for history lovers and the entire family. You will be accompanied at all times by an expert guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will start this tour by picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in Guatemala City. While we go on the road until reaching the Mayan City of Iximché, our expert guide in history will tell you all the interesting facts about Guatemala City, which today is the fourth capital of Guatemala founded in 1777 and with a lot of history since it was in this site where the independence act was signed in 1821 but we will tell you how that happened later in the tour.
Once we get to Iximche, you will find the ruins of the last Mayan city. Iximche was conquered by the Spanish when they came to Guatemalan lands and became the first Spanish city. After 3 years here, the Spanish moved to what we now know as Ciudad Vieja, near Antigua Guatemala. Iximche was a Kaqchichel capital, one of the Mayan ethnic groups that still exist in Guatemala nowadays. The architectural vestiges that we see today are the remains of Mayan palaces, plazas, and ball courts that in their time were colorfully decorated and were galas of the kingdom. Much of the structures were destroyed during the conquest and the rock buildings were dismantled to use their stones in the Spanish constructions of Tecpán. Get to know these and more facts on your visit. During your time here in Iximche, you might see Mayan priests performing religious ceremonies, we ask for respect and discretion.
Ciudad Vieja is the second capital of Guatemala after the coming of the Spanish conquerors. This city was founded in 1527. During your visit, you will appreciate the town's church, the central park, and the house of Beatriz de la Cueva, who was the wife of the Spanish conqueror, Pedro de Alvarado. Ciudad Vieja was destroyed a few years later, in 1541 by an avalanche from the Agua Volcano that is very close to the city. It tells the story that it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and when the volcano's crater filled with water, a part of it collapsed, taking the city and its inhabitants with it. The only people who were saved were those who managed to take refuge in the church. Get to know these curious facts and more on our visit.
After lunchtime, we will have a tour of Antigua Guatemala. We will visit the Arch of Santa Catalina, Central Park, some convents, and churches. You will be enchanted by the history of this colonial city that seems to have been frozen in time. The last stop on our tour will be to take you safely to your hotel in Guatemala City. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your guide, he will be happy to help you.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up all travelers at the motor lobby of their hotel or accommodation in Guatemala City
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(2)
Comfortable car with driver and tour guide. Easy itinerary to follow through. Very convenient as we got picked up and dropped off at the airport. Tour guide is very knowledgeable and speak English clearly.
I worked with Guat2Do to book their day tour to 4 capitals of Guatemala. This tour is well worth you time to learn about the history of the area. We started with Guatemala City, which I found to be an unexpected gem. The city is located in the highlands so the climate was perfect. I saw amazing parks along with the government buildings and cathedral. I didn't stay in Guatemala City for this trip overnight, but I definitely will next time. The second capital visited was Iximche which is a Mayan archeological site about 1.5 hours from Guatemala City. This is a very impressive site and reminded me of similar sites in the Yucatan. You can see Mayan priests conducting traditional ceremonies. The third capital is Ciudad Vieja which is on the slopes of a dormant volcano. The colonial city was destroyed by a landslide but you can see some ruins from that period and experience the views of the valley and the volcanoes. Finally, Antigua, the fourth capital. This city is full of tourists and has an infrastructure to go along with that. You can see colonial architecture and churches and pick from 100s of restaurants for amazing food and ambiance. I stayed here for 3 nights and would definitely recommend for anyone's first trip to Guatemala.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and detailed review of your recent experience with our Full-Day Private Tour of the 4 Capitals of Guatemala. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it to be a valuable opportunity to learn about the history of our country. We appreciate your positive comments about Guatemala City, which is often overlooked by tourists but offers a rich cultural experience. We are glad that you were able to visit the government buildings, cathedral, and parks and appreciate the perfect climate in the highlands. We hope that you can come again soon and stay overnight as there is much more to discover in the city. We are also pleased to hear that you enjoyed the Mayan archeological site at Iximche, its beautiful scenery, and edifications, and that you had the chance to see a traditional Mayan ceremony taking place during your visit. We are also glad that you could visit Ciudad Vieja to see some ruins from that period and experience the beautiful views of the valley and volcanoes. And we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay in Antigua, which is a popular tourist destination for its colonial architecture, churches, and restaurants. We are confident that you enjoyed your stay in the colonial city. At Guat2Do, we are dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality experiences that showcase the best of Guatemala's culture and history. We hope you can return soon. We will be happy to be at your side for future adventures and destinations here. Take care!
