Welcome to Quiché
Quiché is the homeland of the K'iche' people, though other groups form the fabric of this culturally diverse region, most notably the Ixil of the eastern Cuchumatanes mountains. Most visitors who come to this largely forgotten pocket of the country are on a jaunt to the famous market at Chichicastenango. Similarly captivating commerce is conducted in the less trammeled territory of Santa Cruz del Quiché, the departmental capital to the north. On its outskirts lie the mysterious ruins of K'umarcaaj, the last capital city of the K'iche'. Adventurous souls push further north for Nebaj, heart of the culturally vibrant Ixil Triangle, with myriad hiking opportunities.
Top experiences in Quiché
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Quiché activities
Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan Day Tour from City
ITINERARY You will be picked up from your hotel in Guatemala City. We will take the road to the Western Highlands, the region of Guatemala that most travelers think about when daydreaming about a trip to this country. The region is home to quaint and colorful mountain villages, highland lakes, pine forests, and the majority of Guatemala’s indigenous peoples. Arrive at Chichicastenango Market and begin your walking tour inside the market. It is the center of the town and heart of commercial life for “maxeños” (name given to the natives of Chichicastenango, derivative from Max that means Tomás in Quiché language). The merchants go down every Thursday and Sunday to the central plaza to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little throughout the centuries. Explore the pathways of the market and view the colorful handicrafts and produce offered by the local people of the region. In Chichicastenango, we will also visit Santo Tomás Church, built in 1540 over the base of an archaeological pre-Hispanic temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, as the Mayan and Latino influence is mixed throughout both the interior and exterior of the building. After exploring the market you will enjoy a delicious lunch (Not Included, You can add a lunch in Optional Extras for aditional price.) Then, continue to the town of Panajachel, which sits on Lake Atitlan. Visit Santander Street and enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Atitlan, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Three spectacular volcanoes, Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro form the natural frame of the lake itself. It has a surface of 125 square kilometers and sits 1,560 meters above sea level. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing return transfer back to Guatemala City. Take note the order of the itinerary of this tour can vary, sometimes we visit first the Lake Atitlan and then continue to Chichicastenango Market.
Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Day Tour from Guatemala City
You will be picked up from your hotel in Guatemala City. We will take road to The Western Highlands, the region of Guatemala that most travelers think about when daydreaming about a trip to this country. The region is home to quaint and colorful mountain villages, highland lakes, pine forests and the majority of Guatemala’s indigenous peoples.Arriving at Chichicastenango Market we will begin our walking tour inside the market. It is the center of the town and heart of commercial life for “maxeños” (name given to the natives of Chichicastenango, derivative from Max that means Tomás in Quiché language). The merchants go down every Thursday and Sunday to the central plaza to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little throughout the centuries. Explore the pathways of the market and view the colorful handicrafts and produce offered by the local people of the region.In Chichicastenango, we will also visit Santo Tomás Church, built in 1540 over the base of an archaeological pre-hispanic temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, as the Mayan and Latino influence is mixed throughout both the interior and exterior of the building.After exploring the market you will enjoy a delicious lunch (included if option selected).Then, continue to the town of Panajachel, which sits on Lake Atitlan. Visit Santander Street and enjoy a spectacular view of Lake Atitlan, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Three spectacular volcanoes, Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro form the natural frame of the lake itself. It has a surface of 125 square kilometers and sits 1,560 meters above sea level.In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing return transfer back to Guatemala City.
Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Private Tour from Antigua
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Gray Line, Antigua, Sacatepequez DepartmentYou will be picked up at your hotel in Antigua Guatemala and transfer to ChichicastenangoStop At: Mercado de Chichicastenango, Chichicastenango, El Quiche DepartmentUpon 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.Duration: 2 hoursStop At: Santo Tomas Church, Chichicastenango, El Quiche DepartmentWe 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. Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Cementerio De ChichicastenangoWe visit the Cemetery, the Graves are often painted in the favourite colour of the deceased, while shamans can be seen burning incense, candles and in special cases, chickens, in offerings to the gods. The colors themselves are steeped in symbolism—white represents purity, turquoise is for protection, yellow represents the sun’s life force, and others pay homage to the favorite color of the deceased.Duration: 50 minutesStop At: Mercado de Chichicastenango, Chichicastenango, El Quiche DepartmentWe will also appreciate a morería where the elaboration of Moorish costumes and masks that are used in traditional dances are hand-made by local people.Duration: 30 minutesPass By: Gray Line, Antigua, Sacatepequez DepartmentAt the end of our tour we return to Antigua Guatemala.
Chichicastenango Market Private Day Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Gray Line Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala DepartmentYou will be picked up at your hotel in Guatemala City and transfer to Chichicastenango, sometimes your transfer will be via Antigua Guatemala Stop At: Mercado de Chichicastenango, Chichicastenango, El Quiche DepartmentUpon 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.Duration: 1 hour 45 minutesStop At: Santo Tomas Church, Chichicastenango, El Quiche DepartmentWe 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. Duration: 30 minutesStop At: Cementerio De ChichicastenangoContinue to the Cemetery, the Graves are often painted in the favourite colour of the deceased, while shamans can be seen burning incense, candles and in special cases, chickens, in offerings to the gods. The colors themselves are steeped in symbolism—white represents purity, turquoise is for protection, yellow represents the sun’s life force, and others pay homage to the favorite color of the deceased.Duration: 50 minutesStop At: Chichicastenango MarketWe will also appreciate a morería where the elaboration of Moorish costumes and masks that are used in traditional dances are hand-made by local people.Duration: 30 minutesPass By: Gray Line Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala DepartmentAt the end of our tour we return to Guatemala City via Antigua Guatemala.