About this experience
Depart from Antigua early in the morning to Chichicastenango Maya market, and witness ancient Indian rituals at the Santo Tomas Church and enjoy the picturesque outdoor market where locals from the region gather to buy and sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains, animals, textiles and handicrafts.
Then, enjoy views at the beautiful Lake Atitlan in the Western highlands region.
At a glance
- Duration: 10 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 10 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is recommended that you bring walking shoes, hat, sunglasses, and a camera.
What is included
- Lunch (if option selected)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Local guide
- Driver/guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Meals (you can add lunch optional)
- Beverage
- Gratuities
Itinerary and highlights
You will be pick up in Antigua Guatemala to start a journey to the Guatemalan highlands to appreciate the colorful market of Chichicastenango and take a panoramic view considered of one of the most beautiful lakes.
Upon our arrival at the market we will start our walking tour inside the market. It is the center of the city and at the heart of commercial life of "maxeños" (name given to the indigenous people of Chichicastenango, derived from Max which means Tomás in the Quiché language). The merchants descend every Thursday and Sunday to the central square to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little over the centuries.
We will observe the colorful handicrafts and handmade by local inhabitants of the región also you can see various merchandise, such as clay crafts, typical textiles, fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood, flowers and the regional costumes of the place.
We are also going to visit Santo Tomás Church, built in 1540 on the basis of a pre-Hispanic archaeological temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, as the Mayan and Latin influence mixes both inside and outside of the church over time. After exploring the market you can enjoy a delicious lunch (not included, but you can add it on optionals for additional cost)
At the end of our walk you will be transfer to the town of Panajachel, which is located on Lake Atitlan. We will visit Calle Santander and enjoy a spectacular view of the lake which is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Three spectacular volcanoes, Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro form the natural framework of the lake itself
*On holy week we do not visit Atitlán.
At the end of our tour we return to Antigua Guatemala
Meeting and pickup information
- Please be ready 15 minutes prior to your pick up time
- These are our pick up points for our excursion. Please select your pick up point and be 15 minutes prior the starting time.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Gray Line Guatemala
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Minimum of 2 passengers (adults) is required for the tour to run. If the minimum size is not reached, the tour is subject to cancellation and all tickets are refunded or rescheduled.
- Tours include bilingual guide (English and Spanish).
- It is recommended that you bring walking shoes, hat, sunglasses, and a camera.
- Please contact local provider if you need a guide in any other language. French, German and Italian in private services, subject to additional costs and guide availability.
- For groups of 10 persons or more, please contact local provider to arrange
- To find pictures of our experiences, search us on Instagram as @graylinetoursgt
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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