Top Things to do in Western Highlands
10 Walking Tours in Western Highlands That You Shouldn't Miss
Guatemalas spectacular Western Highlands run from Antigua to the Mexican border. Pines blanket misty hillsides, rivers cascade through sliver-thin ravines, volcanoes rumble overhead. Catch market day or witness offerings to drinking, smoking St. Maximon, in Chichicastenango. See traditional life in the Ixil Triangle. Clamber the Cuchumatanes Mountains. Mayan dialects and ceremonies are still part of everyday life for the majority of Guatemalas indigenous population, living where their ancestors trod.
Restaurants in Western Highlands
1. Experience the Culture, Art, & Sacred of Santiago Atitlan.
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
We customize our tours to fit your interests and the depth you want to explore. Our decades of experience bring lots of information and insight. And we are great at bringing together the history, sacredness, art, stories, and ensuring we have fun while we do it!
Inclusions: Tour, translation, custom tour, lots of awesome info, meet local people, personalized service.
Exclusions: Food, additional transportation, other activities, costs for personal ritual, see website for more.
2. Tikal Sunset Tour from Flores in Small Group
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Small group of maximum 9 people, premium tour visiting the best spots to photograph the monuments Guaranteed departure, we operate only with 1 passenger without additional charges and if we go over 9 people, we make 2 groups Extensive tour, with enough time and flexibility, excellent for photographers Entry fees available in advance, we pay those for you, just send us a list of names, last names and ages Excellent English-Spanish bilingual guide with deep knowledge of local history, flora and fauna and with service attitude to give a meaning to each monument visited Bottles of water, lunch at Restaurante del Parque included (gluten-free and vegan options)
Inclusions: Mosquito Repellent Application, Professional bilingual tour guide in Tikal, Tikal Map, Air-conditioned vehicle, Lunch at Restaurante del Parque, 5 options
Exclusions: Sunset and Day Entry fees to Tikal for a total of US$34 only payable for guests 10 year old and on.
Reviewed By dandelionc361
Marlon Diaz - the epitome of a personal tour guide. Very punctual, a confident and experienced driver, he is well informed in the history of the country, the local traditions and customs of each town that he drove us to, which were enthusiastically and effectively communicated, and helped to making our visit an unforgettable experience Marlon was eager show off the natural beauty of his country, giving us the names of the trees, flowers, birds, pointing out a lot that we would not have noticed but for his keen eye, making it for us a very cultural tour Courteous, interactive, sensitive, humorous, coupled with professionalism, he was particularly mindful of our individual requirements for the twelve days that he guided us through his country. I truly appreciated the constant attention he paid to my safety and well being, encouraging me to go the extra bit, when I thought I could go no further. . Highly recommended, without a doubt
3. Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience
A true cultural sharing experience by making beaded friendship bracelet jewelry with a local Mayan woman. Perfect for individual travelers, volunteer groups, and families. Learn about the Mayan culture, and get a glimpse into their daily life. Beading class is around 2 hours, lunch is 1 hour or less, the village tour is around 2 hours. Income from classes and tours supports our non-profit economic empowerment and social enterprise programs at CECAP vocational center
Inclusions: Beading class includes materials for jewelry making., Lunch option includes a 3 course lunch, Tour option includes a walking tour of the village.
Exclusions: Transportation to/from Santa Cruz, Gratuities, Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Reviewed By Destination319352
We are very happy that we were referred to Lee at Los Elementos Adventure Center by our AirBnb host. From the very beginning (even when our trip had to be postponed for a year due to the pandemic), Lee was very responsive, kind and helpful. We ended up spending a day trip going from Panajachel to the Solola market. We also took a short hike and had a picnic in the forest. We thoroughly enjoyed our day and are really thankful that we got to experience the culture and beauty of this area on Market day. What really made this excursion extra memorable and fun was the fantastic guide that we had, a young man by the name of Marce! He was the perfect guide for our family, so adventurous, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile to provide a unique day for us. It is such a treat when guides are flexible and open to whatever adventures may present themselves. We would definitely go with Los Elementos again and highly recommend Lee's personalized services and wonderful guides!
4. Chichicastenango Market Day Tour
Enjoy and discover the colorful market day of Chichicastenango! This is an unique experience that you will see how is the local people live and doing their activities in the market days. The real Mayan culture is still live. Also since their typical dress till the Mayan language that they speak.
Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off (Lake Atitlan area), Round-trip shared transfer (Collective shuttle), One-way shared boat taxi transfer (San Pedro to Panajachel), Professional guide
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities, Transportation to your next destination (we cover just to Panajachel)
Reviewed By 309kattieh
Okay FIRST OF ALL, Salvador is the best guide we’ve had out of four trips here. The hike was either incredibly hard or we were very out of shape ???? but he worked with us to still have an amazing time. We ended up also birdwatching and found many Quetzales. It was a beautiful time. He’s super knowledgeable, very kind, speaks English/Spanish, and even will offer you a raincoat if you tell him ahead of time! :) I would recommend this hike if you’re a cross fitter or really in to long hikes, but if recommended Salvador taking you anywhere whether you are traveling alone as a female, or this is your first time in Guatemala, or you’re in a family with kids, or a business trip, or literally whatever- he’s the guy!! We felt safe and taken care of the entire day. We can’t wait to come back and see more with him next year and the years to come.
5. Quetzaltenango Walking Tour
Discover the Quetzaltenango, through this walking tour of about three hours, you will enjoy the beauty of its buildings and architecture. By Guatemalan standards, it is an orderly, clean, and safe city.
Inclusions: All activities, Local English speaking guide
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Gratuities
Reviewed By Kenton A
Adrenalina Tours made our trip so easy! Patrick was very responsive with any questions we had prior to and during our trip. We hiked Tajumulco and our guide Gustavo was excellent. He was even patient enough to help us practice our Spanish on the hike. We had private shuttles arranged for transport for various parts of our journey which made our short trip efficient. Everyone arrived exactly on time and were so kind! I highly recommend this company for any help you may need on your trip to Guatemala.
6. Tour Rum, Casa Botran
Casa Botran has made the manufacture of rum in a delicious art, producing aged rums through the combination of raw materials with unique characteristics, giving life to the exquisite rum that positions the land of the quetzal as a producer of one of the finest rums of the world with a personality different from the rest of European and Caribbean style rums.
Inclusions: Round-trip shared transfer, Local guide, Professional guide, Alcoholic Beverages
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Kenton A
Adrenalina Tours made our trip so easy! Patrick was very responsive with any questions we had prior to and during our trip. We hiked Tajumulco and our guide Gustavo was excellent. He was even patient enough to help us practice our Spanish on the hike. We had private shuttles arranged for transport for various parts of our journey which made our short trip efficient. Everyone arrived exactly on time and were so kind! I highly recommend this company for any help you may need on your trip to Guatemala.
7. Quetzal tour on lake atitlan
This bird watching tour takes place in Santiago Atitlan if you are in Panajachel you can send us your hotel one of our specialized guide will go for you and will take you by boat to Santiago where we will take a track that will take us at the entrance of the reserve. The rey Tepepul trail is located in the mountains that connects the Pacific of Guatemala, the type of forest is cloudy and you walk for about 3 kilometers that will take about 3 hours approximately it is recommended to have a good condition. Also a place that connects with nature. There are river, mostly time of the year is humid. olso you can see local people warking in farm. the birds that we can find we have resplendet quetzal, azure-rumped tanager, norhern emerald tucanet, crested guan, black thrush, brown backed solitare and more. this tour requires a minimum of two people.
Inclusions: Equipo de binoculares
Exclusions: Breakfast
Reviewed By jenniferhQ9189XD
We booked a coffee and culture tour of San Juan during our honeymoon at Lake Atitlan. We really enjoyed this experience getting a closer look at the Guatemalan culture and way of life of the local people. We toured San Juan and got to see the process behind chocolate, textiles, coffee, bees, and herbal medicine. The trip was entertaining and educational! Our guide was excellent and patient with us as the trip went a little longer than planned. We would definitely recommend this tour!
8. Atitlan Boat Tour from Guatemala City
Lake Atitlan & Villages is part of the traditional one-day tours of Tikal Go. The tour can start from Antigua Guatemala or Guatemala City, depending on where you are. If you are looking to visit Lake Atitlan for a day, this is a great option since you’ll be visiting Panajachel and also Santiago de Atitlán in a private boat. You’ll have enough time to enjoy one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Atitlán owes its greatness to its enormous size and its spectacular volcanic environment. Lake Atitlán was formed when a volcanic caldera detached itself from its magma. Three majestic volcanoes, Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro, increase its grace from its southern shore, its perfect cones are reflected in the blue mirror of the lake. You can also see the fabric made and worn by the Mayan women Tzutujil and Cakchiquel who live around the lake and many of the men also wear traditional hand-woven clothes, in this wonderful and incredible place.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Air-conditioned vehicle, Fuel surcharge, Boat Tour, Pick up and Drop Off from your Hotel
Exclusions: Gratuities
Reviewed By 988niklasd
We took a roundtrip over Flores and the surrounding lake. Awesome! A wonderful experience for an incredible good price. Very professionell and efficiently organized. We felt very safe at all times. Highly recommended!
9. Magic Christmas Tour in Guatemala city
The exclusive tour only in the Christmas period! This special times brings magic Guatemala. The territory of modern Guatemala once formed the core of the Maya civilization, which extended across Mesoamerica. Together with the professional local guide, you will visit the most beautifully decorated places. You will feel spellbound with the charming atmosphere in the streets which you can feel only this time of the year! What is the story of the Christmas tree? Who was the first to decorate it in the world? What magical things can happen during the Christmas period? Have you heard about Christmas spells? You will hear miraculous Christmas legends about Guatemala. You will visit the old-fashioned Christmas Market in the city. What makes it so popular? What local products is must taste at Christmas? Fill your heart with the joy and experience magic of Guatemala.
Inclusions: Professional local guide
Exclusions:
10. Atitlan Hiking and Birding - Day tour from Antigua
This is the ideal day-tour for those who love culture and nature. We will leave Antigua at 6 in the morning and drive for 1:50hrs to visit the beautiful Los Tarrales Natural Reserve. This 1,300-hectare private reserve is located right at Atitlan´s volcano slope. In its extension, experts have counted more than 350 species of birds reside. During our morning visit, you will also enjoy miles of trails with coffee bushes, ornamental plants, jungle and water springs. For lunchtime, we will visit the charming Mayan Village of San Lucas Toliman. Before to take our shuttle back to Antigua, don´t forget to interact with the locals right at lake Atitlan´s shore and check out their products and handicrafts. This activity has been designed to amaze and fulfill the expectations of travelers looking for re-encountering nature. From amateur/nature lovers to avid birders.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, Bottled water, All Fees and Taxes, Snacks, Private transportation
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Trvl_Mor_Often
If you are traveling to Guatemala, you have to ride with Byron! He had all of the essentials covered! He was right there for us when we arrived at the airport with a sign and everything. His vehicle was well maintained and absolutely pristine. Not only was he polite, kind and great with kids; he also spoke flawless English which helped quite a bit because my Spanish is... a little rusty. I cannot say enough good things about this experience. He went above and beyond in every way possible including but not limited to amazing knowledge of local custom and history. My wife and I have traveled all over the world and I can say I would come back to Guatemala just to see Byron again. He was that good!
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