Chichicastenango
Select Dates
Choose dates
Recent Searches
Clear
Chichicastenango
Chichicastenango

Chichicastenango

Btw 7a & 8a Calle

The Basics

Chichicastenango is easy to visit on a day trip from Guatemala City, Antigua, or Lake Atitlán. Check out the museums, and wander around Central America’s largest market. Take a look at the colorful murals steeped in symbolism, and experience a Maya tradition such as a fire cleansing ceremony (performed by a shaman). Tack on a stop at the nearby archeological site of Iximche, the last Maya capital before the Spanish conquest.

If you have more time, multi-day tours explore the stunning volcano-rimmed shores of Lake Atitlán, the colonial architecture and fascinating history of the UNESCO-listed city of Antigua, or even farther afield, the Maya ruins in Tikal National Park.

Show all
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
star-4.5
USD89.95 per adult
Traveller Favourite
Book it
Unexpectedly had a private tour and had a wonderful day. The drive from Antigua is quite long but very scenic! Learned loads about the local culture. Would 100% recommend this trip! Very grateful for my guide Luis Pedro who was wonderful.
Tessa_M, Apr. 2022

Recent reviews from experiences in Panajachel

We had a great time....
star-5
We had a great time....
Simone_B, Apr. 2023
Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel
We had a great time. Emanuel did an amazing job and we definitely recommend this tour to anyone. He was very honest and authentic and asked for our personal preferences and adapted the tour to our interests and needs.
GREAT TOUR!!!
star-5
GREAT TOUR!!!
Liz_H, Jan. 2021
Tour To Chichicastenango, An Ancestral Mayan Market + Panajachel
This tour was amazing!! My guides, Winston and Astrid, were so nice, knowledgeable, and professional. The drivers were also fantastic. I learned so much about Guatemala and Mayan culture. I also took some great photos at Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango. This tour is great for families, couples, and solo travelers. Awesome experience!!!
Chichi and Pana day trip
star-5
Chichi and Pana day trip
Kristen_B, Jun. 2021
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
Miguel was the best. Very informative. Provides great history. Very careful with your safety. The lake is beautiful. You should spend more than one day there. My schedule did not allow for that so this was a great trip.
Wonderful Experience
star-5
Wonderful Experience
Gregory_T, Sep. 2022
Full Day Trip in Chichicastenango
The tour started very early, our guide Gonzalo and driver David were very nice. We stopped at Katok Restaurant for restroom and coffee break, then we went to Panajachel for a quick lookout of the lake. The market was very interesting, very colorful and so much fun learning about their culture and history. The churches are amazing and we wish we had more time to spend there but otherwise great tour.
Market Day
star-5
Market Day
Gina_B, Sep. 2022
Full Day Tour: Chichicastenango Maya Market and Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City
Urbano picked us up at the hotel and brought us back home. We picked up Celestino our tour guide at Antigua. They were both friendly and knowledgeable. You do spend apt of time in the car as it is far away, however it was worth the drive.
Chichicastenango & Lake Atitlan
star-5
Chichicastenango & Lake Atitlan
Minerva_S, Apr. 2022
Full Day Tour: Chichicastenango Maya Market and Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City
Guide (Tino) and driver (Mynor) very nice and professional. I learned a lot about Guatemala 🇬🇹 just be aware that you will spend 6-8 hours on the road.
I’d do this again
star-5
I’d do this again
Taneal_C, Nov. 2021
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
My friend and I really enjoyed this activity. Our guide Carmen was really cool and full of knowledge. I would definitely book this tour again. I learned a lot, saw a lot, and I didn’t feel like a tourist (lol). The market was much more crowded than I expected, but that was a part of the authentic experience I was hoping for. My only regret is not stopping to buy mementos.
Pana and lake Atitlan tour...
star-5
Pana and lake Atitlan tour...
peter_w, Jul. 2021
Tour To Chichicastenango, An Ancestral Mayan Market + Panajachel
Great tour with Winston...he was the best....He had a great knowledge of the area and explained it well...
AMAZING tour with Moises!!
star-5
AMAZING tour with Moises!!
Lauren_D, Jan. 2022
Chichicastenango and Iximche Pyramids Private Day Tour from Antigua
Moises was an excellent guide for this trip! He really made sure the day was personalized to my friend and I. We were picked up in time and stopped for breakfast at a great local restaurant on the way. At Chichi, Moises gave us a tour of the church, different areas of the market, and a nearby cemetery. He have plenty of detail on everything that was happening and local customs/beliefs. We had time to shop by ourselves and met up with Moises and our driver to head to Iximche. Moises was very thoughtful and made sure we had opportunity to eat and use a restroom. At Iximche Moises talked about the history, explained the different structures, and took great photos for us! On the return to Antigua we asked for his restaurant recommendation and he dropped us off at a wonderful steak house near the main square of Antigua. I highly recommend this tour and MOISES!
Fantastic!
star-5
Fantastic!
Linda_A, Oct. 2021
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
I had my tour on October 24, 2021 and it was amazing! My guide picked me up on time. He was very knowledgeable about the towns and the country and the people. I learned so much. We visited the markets, the waterfall, the towns and I even met some of the Mayan people. What an incredible experience! 5 out of 5 I would highly recommend!
Amazing Experience!
star-5
Amazing Experience!
Eliza_C, Nov. 2020
Tour To Chichicastenango, An Ancestral Mayan Market + Panajachel
I highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to learn about the history of Guatemala, the Mayan Culture, or simply see more of the country. I absolutely loved everything about this tour, it was well timed and thought out. My tour guide Jenny was fabulous, she really personalized the tour to me and gave great recommendations! I am SO happy I did this!
Great tour
star-5
Great tour
Mark_C, May 2021
Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
Super fun trip to the market and lake. Our guide was excellent and provided so much valuable information and sights we would have never found by ourselves. He knew exactly where to go and was very attentive to our needs. He also let us stop at a nice leather store where my wife got a great jacket and cowboy boots. The level of service was outstanding. The market for a little overwhelming because we were some of the only tourists due to covid. I just laughed when people were trying to sell me everything under the sun. If you feel like it's too much, just tell your guide and they'll take you away. I felt like we made a friend on this tour. You won't be disappointed. Since it was just my wife and I, we were able to adjust the tour to our needs. Great service
We perform checks on reviews

Things to Know Before You Go

  • Chichicastenango’s nights can get chilly, and rain is likely—take a jacket or sweater.

  • Gentle bargaining is expected at the market.

Show all

How to Get There

Located roughly 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Guatemala City, Chichicastenango is reachable by regular buses and shuttles running from Antigua and Guatemala City.

Show all

When to Get There

Go to Chichicastenango on a Thursday or Sunday to catch the local indigenous market that draws communities from all over the region and travelers from all over the world. As it’s in the highlands, Chichicastenango enjoys pleasant spring-like weather year-round, with little variation. The warmest season is from May to August, and the driest months are October through December.

Show all

Saint Thomas Church

Saint Thomas Church dominates Chichicastenango’s main square. Built atop a Maya temple more than 450 years ago—mainly by Maya artisans indentured by Dominican priests—the church features Maya symbolism throughout. (For example, each of the 18 stairs leading to the entrance represents one month of the Maya year.) Nowadays, both Catholic and Maya priests share the interior to perform ceremonies and sacred rituals. Use the side entrance to enter, as the front is reserved for locals.

Show all