Top Western Highlands Historical Tours

Have you wanted to visit the towns around Lake Atitlan but don't you dare to go on your own? If what you are looking for is to understand the meaning of the living Mayans' traditions and customs, in addition, to learn from them their ancestral practices such as weaving techniques, natural dyeing of fabrics, the importance of chocolate and natural medicine, then we got your back. Join this collective tour and have fun while learning that and much more! We'll take you to discover 3 cultural towns on a boat ride that’ll give you insight into the heart of the Mayan culture. The local Mayans say that Lake Atitlan holds unique energy fields that run through the area. Whether you feel the vibes or not, there’s no denying that this lake is a special place.

Take a journey through the traditions of Mayan spirituality as you experience a 2-hour traditional fire-cleansing ceremony with a guide in the Sacred Caves of Lake Atitlan. Step inside these mystical caves, used by local Mayans for many centuries, to observe the performance of this holy and powerful ritual by a local shaman. Listen as your guide explains the history and traditions behind the ritual and provides insight into the Mayan calendar system. Before you leave, you’ll have time to admire the gorgeous views of the lake down below.

Sit alongside local women and learn the art of Maya beading with this hands-on workshop in Santa Cruz la Laguna. Not only is this socially responsible tour a great way to learn about the Maya cultures found on Lake Atitlan, but it also directly benefits local communities. Upgrade to include lunch at Lake Atitlan’s top restaurant—also run by a social enterprise—or a community-led tour of the village.

Veer from the well-trodden tourist path and discover traditional Mayan culture on a full-day tour from Antigua. Round-trip transportation from your hotel spares you the white-knuckled stress of riding on a public bus. Together with your guide, visit three Mayan villages and learn about the unique way of life from the people who live there. The excursion also includes some of Guatemala’s natural beauty, with a boat ride around Lake Atitlan.

Guatemala is known for being "The Heart of the Mayan World" and has a great legacy of the indigenous cultures that lived here many centuries ago. On this tour, we´ll appreciate THE LIVING MAYAN CULTURE, learn about their textiles and the meaning behind the colors and the figures we see on their traditional clothing, learn about the chocolate that centuries ago was served to the gods and that in this tour we´ll have the opportunity to taste, as well as the religious syncretism between the Christianity and the Mayan religion. There´s so much more that you will do and enjoy during this tour, including a delicious lunch close to the lake. Believe us, this experience of knowing 3 cultural towns around the lake will be something spectacular. Do not miss it!

This is a community tour that starts from Panajachel we will take a private boat that will take us to the first town where you will meet women weavers that the guide will explain the whole process from cotton to clothing using natural plants to obtain different natural colors, then the guide will take you to a chocolate factory where you will be able to taste and see the elaboration of various products made from cocoa to chocolate and to continue learning with the local people you will visit a group of women who work with plants to treat different types of diseases Also on the tour you visit the vegetable market, colonial churches, parks among others. This tour is conducted by people from the community who speak Spanish, English and Mayan

Step inside the Maya community of Santa Cruz with this NGO visit. Check out a successful non-profit vocational training center with classes in cooking, beading, sewing, and carpentry. Visit a classroom, café, and store run by the organization. Explore the village of Santa Cruz, home to one of the oldest churches in Guatemala, and end your tour with lunch at the NGO-run rooftop café overlooking the waters of Lake Atitlan.

Visit three Mayan villages around Lake Atitlan—Santiago Atitlan, San Juan la Laguna, and Panajachel—on this guided all-day tour from San Pedro La Laguna. Witness the lifestyle of the Mayan people, learn their techniques for making and dyeing textiles, and experience the local way of life as you wander the bustling markets.

Immerse yourself in the ancient Mayan heritage and fascinating traditions of Guatemala during this 6-hour day trip to the villages of San Antonio and Santa Catarina. Explore the indigenous artisan traditions of the towns near Lake Atitlan as you tour local textile and craft cooperatives and then visit a ceramics studio. Then participate in Mayan rituals as you learn about the Protection Fire Ceremony and take part in an optional hike along the lake’s edge. Your trip also includes a guide and round-trip hotel transport from Panjachel and Santa Catarina.

With their costumes, music, and parades, Day of the Dead celebrations are some of the most iconic in Latin America. Take part in the cultural tradition of giant kites on this Day of the Dead festival tour from Sumpango, which shares with you the history of the holiday and teaches you about the kite making ritual. This tour presents a rare opportunity to learn directly from a local guide about a unique regional custom.

This tour starts in Panajachel where we pick up the people who are staying at the hotels in Panajachel and on the way to Santa Catarina. We also pick up at the Tzanjuyu dock. The tour starts in Panajachel where we will tour the museum of photographs, then we will go to the villages of Santa catarian to visit the colonial church, cultural center where we will learn the history of the town history of traditional costumes, then we will continue to santa catarina palopo to learn about the manufacture of ceramics, crafts made by people, view of the vegetable market, then If we find ourselves on a sunny day we will have the best sunsets of the lake with the fall of the sun on the volcanoes

 The Guatemalan Guipil (Huipil) is a type of blouse worn by indigenous women and is unique in the world, made with cotton thread and woven by various techniques. Throughout Guatemala there are many weavers of the güipil who do it themselves with their looms. So weavers have also developed these beautiful traditional costumes with their loom standing. The importance of valuing the work of these artists is because each piece is unique, given its complexity, each weaver offers one design at a time. The meaning of each one can tell us different stories, from expressions of nature to religious or political symbolism.

Walk the Face of the Earth on the Sacred Path of the Sun: Author & lecturer Vincent Stanzione has opened his mountain home in an exclusive arrangement to offer an amazing experience. This experience will enable you to enter the Maya world in truly authentic ways. It allows visitors to learn about the Maya Civilization by entering the Maya World of the Present Day. Let us take you to places nobody but the Maya ever go while learning all you can from a researcher and writer who is hungry to share the world he has made his home. Guiding enables those of us who have attained a great deal of knowledge to share it with others in a direct way. So take a walk with Vincent along the flowery paths during this fascinating day in the highlands, high above Lake Atitlan. Learn about the Maya and the Mesoamerican traditions, their cosmo-magical thinking, their calendar, the way of living in the world, their myths and their deep sense of being the descendants of divine ancestors.

Go beyond the traditional tourist sites of Guatemala and interact with locals during this extensive 11 day community-based tour. You’ll stay with a host family in San Juan del Obispo for the duration of your visit, taking time to learn about the Guatemalan ways of life. Among other adventures, you’ll visit a chocolate factory in Antigua, read to children in Santiago Zamora, and visit the ruins of Iximche.

Immerse yourself in traditional Mayan culture during an overnight homestay near Panajachel. The 15-hour experience is a great way to help support local communities in Guatemala. Your hosts, who are part of the Kakchiquel group, are happy to show you around the village and introduce you to their customs. In addition to one night of accommodation, you also enjoy a traditional breakfast and dinner prepared by your host mother.

Step back in time to explore the ancient Olmec and Maya cultures during this 2-day, 1-night visit to the archaeological site of Takalik Abaj. Wander the through the site’s Mayan tomb, as well as its wondrous collection of Olmec-style sculpture, Maya hieroglyphics and a sophisticated water drainage system. As you explore, you’ll learn about the history and key building periods of these two unique cultures from your guide. Your trip to Takalik Abaj also includes overnight accommodation, site entrance fees and round-trip hotel transport from Panjachel.

An exclusive tour for all the romantics of the world! Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most romantic places in the city. What legends are hidden in Quetzaltenango Cathedral? You will feel spellbound in a charming atmosphere. What is considered as one of the best places to have a date in the city? Where can you make lovely photos? You will be surprised how many historical love stories are hidden in the streets, buildings, parks of the city. From heartbreaking and tragic, to the hilarious or spicy ones. In This tour is especially recommended in the Saint Valentine period!

If you are already in Xela on your trip through Guatemala, take advantage of every second of your stay and discover all its history and emblematic buildings in a unique, fun, and different tour. We will take you through the most iconic places of this beautiful city in a Trolley Bus while sharing the most relevant pieces of history of each location. Fun and history are guaranteed on this tour! Some of the most relevant places that we will visit are Parque Centroamerica, the Cathedral, the Municipal Theater, some churches, just to name a few gems of this trip. This is a collective tour for Spanish speakers, but don't worry! A bilingual guide will be with you all the time so you don't miss any detail. So, wait no more and get ready to discover Xela in the best possible way. This tour is ideal if you are short on time, but still want to take a moment to visit this historic city. We will be waiting for you!

Come on a Foodie Tour with us, where you will learn how to prepare a traditional Xela dish called Quichon, a Mayan broth full of flavor. As well as some first-quality artisan chocolate. All these from the hand of a Mayan woman who along with an association, seeks to share their ancestral knowledge with us. You will also get to know and enjoy Shecas, a traditional Mayan bread from Xela that has become very popular among national and international tourists since many years ago and that is very emblematic of this region. At the end of the day, we will enjoy a delicious cup of Quetzaltecan coffee, which due to its altitude and soil conditions, is one of the best, being exported to other countries and having a distinguished profile in Guatemala. We hope you enjoy this authentic experience with us and discover the Mayan gastronomic legacy.

Guatemala is a megadiverse country as well as a multi-ethnic one as we hold more than 22 ethnicities. Guatemala is mostly Mayan, and if you are on the West side of the country, this is not the exception. During your visit to Xela, don´t miss the chance to visit one of the most important spots: Fuentes Georginas, natural hot springs located at the base of Zunil Volcano. Enjoy paradise submerged in hot relaxing water while appreciating the calmness and sweet sounds of nature. Also, visit 2 Mayan towns, learn about their language, traditional clothing, and traditions, and visit their nation-acclaimed vegetables markets. And as icing on the cake, visit an artisanal blown glass factory, where they only use recycled materials, help the community, and work all together as one. Learn about this type of art where they create tableware, as well as house and office ornaments based on glass. Don´t miss this chance to take a diverse, relaxing, and cultural tour, all in one.

During this tour, we will take you to know 3 different towns. You will explore the largest market in Guatemala, will go to the most colorful church, and end the tour by going to a small but lovely town. Each location holds something special that we want to show you and hope you like it as much as we do or even more. The first place to visit will be San Francisco El Alto and its market which is the largest one in Guatemala. Usually, it takes around 6 hours to go through all of it (that is not the case on this tour, we will be there just a fraction of all that time). Then, we will visit the famous church of San Andrés Xecul, an icon of Guatemala and a representation of religious syncretism. In the end, we will visit Salcajá, a small but very charming town with lots of history and beautiful places to visit. This is a tour you don´t want to miss, so reserve your ticket, and we will take you to one of the greatest traveling experiences of them all.

Panajachel is a great place to start a journey to the stunningly beautiful and culturally vibrant Chichicastenango. Located only a short drive away through the breathtaking natural landscapes of the western highlands of Guatemala, Chichicastenango is home to the famous Santo Tomas Church, an iconic colonial structure with bright white walls and stairs at its base where many devotees burn incense, bring flowers, and show their gratitude. Upon arriving in Chichicastenango, you will be amazed by the number of colors, textiles, street traditional food, and all kinds of sales in the market. We will visit the indoor and outdoor market, make stops to buy if you wish, and learn about the great history of this market, its people, its traditions, and its religion. Afterward, we will visit the Santo Tomas Church, and at the end of the day, we will go to the Pascual Abaj Hill, where if we are lucky, we´ll see a traditional Mayan ceremony.

Visit an archeological site + one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Guatemala and a small town, all in one day with the best company by your side. Our first stop will be the archeological site of Zaculeu, known for its restored ruins. This place belonged to the Mam Mayan kingdom but was conquered by the Spanish and their allies in 1525 after an intense war. Then we will visit El Mirador Juan Dieguez Olaverri. Get amazed by all the beauty surrounding this place. This is one of the highest points in Guatemala and has some of the best views. There is an abandoned country house in the mountain, and it is a great stop for a picture, as well as the views of the entire valley. Lastly, don´t miss the chance to visit a small town in between Zaculeu and El Mirador Juan Dieguez Olaverri, it is a picturesque town that you will definitely like. This is the perfect circuit if you´re looking to do different activities in one day.