Visit The Mayan City of Iximche on a Full-Day Private Tour
Description
Discover the ancient Maya capital of Iximché on a private tour designed for travelers who want a deeper, more meaningful experience. With your own expert guide—specialized in archaeology and history—you’ll explore the city where the Spaniards established the first capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala in 1524. Walk among centuries-old pyramids, ball courts, and plazas while learning the stories behind this powerful Kaqchikel kingdom. If fortune is on your side, you may even witness a living Maya ceremony at one of the active sacred altars. With private transportation and personalized attention throughout the journey, this tour offers an immersive and unforgettable look into Guatemala’s ancestral heritage.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will start this tour from your hotel. We will pick you up in the lobby of your hotel early in the morning and we will go to the department of Chimaltenango, where the ancient Mayan city of Iximche is located.
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.
After our wonderful visit to the archaeological site of Iximche, we will go to Tecpàn. This is a popular area full of wonderful restaurants with decades of existence and the most delicious dishes. We are happy to take you to one of these renowned restaurants for a flavorful lunch.
At the end of the day, we will take you back to your hotel safe and sound. We hope that this is a unique experience for you and that you do not forget your camera to record the incredible moments that you will live.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up all travelers at the motor lobby of their hotel or accommodation in Guatemala City or Antigua Guatemala
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(5)
The one-on-one experience was amazing and made better by our guide, Ruben, who has a degree in archeology. I can’t think of a better guide!
Hi Emily, thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the one-on-one experience and that Ruben made it even more special. Having a guide with a background in archaeology truly adds depth to the visit, and we’re very proud of the passion and knowledge he brings to each tour. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for another enriching experience in Guatemala.
Excellent private tour by a knowledgeable guide. Overall great experience. The guide even help with purchasing some local products on the way back from Iximche.
Hello! It is excellent to know that you had a good time at Iximche. It is a magical place full of history of the ancient Mayan civilization who lived there. All our tour guides are specialized in history, culture, and the Mayan civilization so you can learn from the tour and get all your questions answered. I am happy to know that you even had the chance to purchase some souvenirs on your way back from Iximche. We hope to be your company on your next adventures in Guatemala. Contact us any time, we will be happy to help you!
As we were heading to meet our tour guides my phone gsp gave out on me. We drove around for almost 2 hrs trying to find our meeting location and to our grateful surprise our guides patiently waited for us! Our driver was so wonderful! Not like most Guatemala drivers he spared my anxiety while cruising along:) Our other guide, Ruben EXCELLED in knowledge of not only the historical facts of the Mayan culture but his knowledge of Guatemala culture was mind blowing!! After our tour we stopped at one of the most wonderful restaurants recommended by our guides! As you can see in my pictures we were able to observe while the employees made hand patted tortillas, which were amazing, as well as live music, while we enjoyed our lunch. These two are by far the ones you want to choose to take you on a safe and informative tour!! 100/10
Hello Lacey! Thank you so much for the time you took to write such a nice review about our team members and the tour to Iximche, a magical archeological site. I will make sure to pass the kudos to them and let them know about the great job they both did as a team. I am glad to know that our bus pilot helped spare your anxiety so that you could enjoy the tour. Ruben is one of the best tour guides in Guatemala, and I am glad that you could have this experience with him so that you could learn about Guatemalan culture and Mayan archeology. I am also glad that you had such a great experience not only with our team and the tour but at the restaurant too with the tortillas, the live music, and a nice lunch! We are at your service for any future tour, accommodation, or transportation service that you or your acquaintances may need. Happy new year. Take care!
Ruben was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable about the history of Iximche. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed learning about the Mayan gods and he even quizzed us a little afterwards to make sure we remember. Haha. A lot of laughs. Good time overall. Pedro was a great driver and got us there and back safely. I would book these guys over and over again
Hello Jennifer! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a nice review about the half-day tour to Iximche, a mesmerizing archeological site. We will make sure to pass the kudos to our amazing team, Ruben the tour guide, and Pedro, our bus pilot. Both of them always go above and beyond delivering an outgoing experience to our clients. For the future travelers that are planning to come to Iximche, you will love learning about the history, archeology, beliefs, and gods of this place, always accompanied by an expert tourist guide with years of experience. Jennifer, we hope that you and your boyfriend come back soon and discover thousands of great places. We will be more than happy to tour you guys around all Guatemala. Take care!
Amazing tour, Carlos was very knowledgeable and explain in detail the history of the ruins and its surroundings. Charlie our driver also was great. They both spoke about Guatemala's history. The experience has been one the best i have ever had traveling. The food was great at Chichoy restaurant delicious food. I give this tour 5 stars. Highly recommended.
Hello Denis! How great and proud we are to read comments like this. It definitely makes our day and inspires us to continue doing what we love, show Guatemala in a unique way, and create unforgettable experiences. We`ll definitely pass the kudos to our amazing team of Carlos the tour guide and Carlos the driver. We hope to have you back soon and show you all the great places, people, and experiences that Guatemala has to offer. Take care!
