Attractions in Chichicastenango & Highlands
Where ancient traditions come alive 🕯️
Showing 14 attractions · Sorted by importance
Chichicastenango Market & Historic Center
📍 Chichicastenango
🏘 Town / VillageA world-renowned open-air market where indigenous K'iche' people trade vibrant textiles and traditional goods in a historic town center.
Iglesia de Santo Tomás
📍 Chichicastenango
🏛 LandmarkA 16th-century white church built atop a Mayan temple platform where Catholic and indigenous Mayan rituals are practiced together.
Q'umarkaj Archaeological Site
📍 Santa Cruz del Quiché
🏰 CastleThe former capital of the K'iche' Maya kingdom, this archaeological site features ancient pyramids, palaces, and sacred caves still used for rituals.
Nebaj to Todos Santos Cuchumatán Trek
📍 Nebaj
🥾 Hiking & Cycling65km challenging 5-day multi-day trek with approximately 3,200m elevation gain. This is the premier long-distance hike in the Guatemalan Highlands, crossing the Cuchumatanes plateau. It passes through remote Ixil and Mam Maya villages, high-altitude alpine meadows, and rugged limestone ridges.
The Inter-American Highland Pass (CA-1 West)
📍 Tecpán Guatemala
🚗 Road Trip45km paved segment (approx. 1 hour). One of the highest stretches of the Pan-American Highway in Central America, reaching altitudes over 2,500 meters. Highlights: Distant views of the Atitlán volcanoes, expansive high-altitude plateaus, alpine pine forests, and access to the historic Kaqchikel ruins of Iximché near the start of the route.
The Road to Chichicastenango (RN-15)
📍 Los Encuentros
🚗 Road Trip19km paved mountain road (approx. 45 minutes). This winding highway climbs from the Inter-American Highway junction at Los Encuentros into the heart of the Quiché highlands. Highlights: Dramatic mountain hairpins, dense pine forests, roadside flower markets, and panoramic views of the highland valleys leading to the famous market town.
Museo Regional de Chichicastenango
📍 Chichicastenango
🖼 Art GalleryA colonial-style museum housing a significant collection of pre-Columbian jade, pottery, and stone sculptures discovered in the surrounding El Quiché region.
Pascual Abaj
📍 Chichicastenango
🏛 LandmarkAn ancient Mayan stone shrine on a hilltop where visitors can observe traditional ceremonies and offerings to the Earth deity.
Chichicastenango General Cemetery
📍 Chichicastenango
🏛 LandmarkA hill overlooking the town filled with vibrant, multi-colored tombs that reflect the Mayan belief in the afterlife through color symbolism.
Chichicastenango to Panajachel MTB Route
📍 Chichicastenango
🥾 Hiking & Cycling45km challenging day-long cycling route with 800m of climbing and significant technical descents. The route follows ancient Mayan footpaths and dirt roads across the continental divide toward Lake Atitlán. Bike rental and guided tours: Old Town Outfitters (antiguatours.net).
Feast of Saint Thomas
📍 Chichicastenango
🎭 EventDecember 13–21, a 9-day annual festival celebrating the town's patron saint through a unique fusion of K’iche’ Maya and Catholic traditions. It attracts thousands of international visitors who come to witness the 'Palo Volador' (pole flying) ritual and elaborate traditional dances. The event is family-friendly with vibrant parades, music, and extensive artisanal crafts, peaking on December 21.
Hacienda Mil Amores
📍 Nebaj
🐄 FarmA picturesque Swiss-style dairy farm in the Acul Valley where visitors can observe artisanal cheese production and explore alpine landscapes.
Nebaj to Acul Trail (The Cheese Hike)
📍 Nebaj
🥾 Hiking & Cycling12km moderate point-to-point hike, typically 4-5 hours with 450m elevation gain. This scenic route traverses the mountains of the Ixil Triangle, leading from the town of Nebaj to the Italian-influenced dairy farm of Hacienda San Antonio in Acul, famous for its Queso Chancol cheese.
The Ixil Triangle Scenic Route
📍 Nebaj
🚗 Road Trip45km loop of paved and improved roads (approx. 2-3 hours). This culturally rich route connects the traditional Mayan towns of Nebaj, Chajul, and Cotzal in the northern Quiché highlands. Highlights: Stunning limestone peaks of the Cuchumatanes range, deep agricultural valleys, traditional Ixil architecture, and the scenic descent into the Acul valley.