Top Central Highlands Cultural Tours

Benefit from the insights of your guide on a 3-hour walking tour of Antigua that delves into the city’s history and culture. See architectural landmarks, museums, and the Catedral de San Jose as your guide shares details about their importance and restoration. Bring your camera for great photo ops as you learn about Guatemala in history and today.

Step onto the cobblestone-clad streets of colonial Antigua for this flexible-length walking tour. Stroll the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you visit top landmarks like the ‘Ayuntamiento’ (City Hall Palace), Palace of the Captain’s General, the main cathedral, and Santo Domingo, a well-known hotel and cultural center. A final stop at a local jade factory provides additional insight into Guatemala’s Mayan culture.

As one of the largest cities in Central America, Guatemala City can be intimidating to tackle on your own. This guided tour removes the challenge and introduces you to Guatemala City highlights in just a few hours: check out colonial homes, theaters, churches, and more, all with the benefit of a guide to tell you about the sights as you pass.

Visit one of the largest and most important Mayan places in Central America—Tikal—on this all-day tour from the city of Guatemala. After a flight to Flores International Airport, where you meet your tour guide, you will head to the Tikal National Park. Tikal is one of the most important archeological complexes left by the Mayan civilization. It features temples, palaces, and public squares. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.

This is the only walking tour on Guatemala city, that shows the real heart of the city. Walk and goes inside of some important houses.

This tour, by Due South Travels, is a 2+ hour guided walking tour of Antigua, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Our local guide will give you tons of great information, including the history of the city and its architecture, the geography, culture, and religion of historical and modern day Guatemala. During the tour we will visit and discuss Antigua's significant landmarks. We will talk about the volcanoes and earthquakes Guatemala has experienced, the Mayan ethnic groups, the Spanish invasion, and modern day life here. We are different from the four hour walking tours offered in town because we don't take you shopping (too much pressure!), however, our local guides would love to bring you AFTER the tour if you'd like a thorough explanation of jade or if you're interested in bargaining for some beautiful handicrafts. You'll also receive plenty of other suggestions for things to do in and around town.

Spend a day on the shores of Lake Atitlan with this private tour from Antigua. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you through the highlands, with stops at viewpoints along the way. You'll then take a group boat tour from the town of Panajachel to the Mayan villages of San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago, heading back to Antigua at the end of the day.

No trip to Guatemala is complete without visiting Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city widely considered Guatemala’s crown jewel. This half-day sightseeing tour from Guatemala City makes it possible to visit on even the shortest of time frames—squeeze it into a long layover or make the most of a quick trip without skimping on any of the sights.

Explore the Guatemalan countryside just outside Antigua during this flexible-length tour offering a taste of small-village life. You’ll ascend to the indigenous town of Santa Maria de Jesus at the base of the ‘Volcan de Agua’ volcano. Then travel to the tiny village of El Hato to the local eco-resort Earth Lodge, where you can relax and take in the views of Antigua in the distance.

Journey from Antigua to explore the fascinating market at Chichicastenango plus the town of Panjachel, along the shores of Lake Atitlán, on this 9-hour day trip. Take time to browse the ceramics and woodcrafts at the famous open-air market of Chichicastenango before visiting the city’s religious structures, Iglesia de Santo Tomas and Calvary Church. Then head to Panjachel, where you’ll take in views of Lake Atitlán as you explore the town’s main thoroughfare, Santander Street. Your trip also includes a guide and round-trip transportation from your hotel in Antigua.

The gem of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a crater lake surrounded by volcanoes and a living hub of Mayan cultures. Visiting on a day trip from Guatemala City simplifies transportation to this highland destination and lets you see the best of the lake in just a day—a difficult feat to accomplish on your own. This tour includes stops at top Lake Atitlan sites including the Maximon shrine and the busy town of Panajachel.

Visit several Antigua highlights in one convenient walking tour, ideal for first-time visitors or those with limited time in the region. There’s no need to worry about getting lost or overlooking lesser-known spots, as your guide will escort you from point to point, providing context for each attraction along the way.

Discover the lively highland culture and beautiful scenery of Guatemala during this 12-hour visit to Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City. Start by checking out the colonial architecture and sprawling market of Chichicastenango, where vendors hawk everything from colorful handicrafts to candles, food and machetes. You’ll then have a chance to explore the picturesque town of Panjachel on the volcano-rimmed shores of Lake Atitlan. Your Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan trip includes a guide, optional lunch upgrade and round-trip hotel transport.

Experience Guatemala’s top attractions, marveling at its stunning natural beauty and exploring its fascinating ancient history, on this 8-day tour. Discover the colonial architecture of charming Antigua before chilling out along the stunning shores of Lake Atitlán and its idyllic villages. Then dive into ancient Mayan history at the ruins of Tikal and Yaxha before capping the trip off with a hike to the summit of the country’s Pacaya Volcano. This all-inclusive tour also includes 7 nights of accommodation, transport between all sites by private vehicle, entrance fees and meals as per the itinerary.

Discover the beauty and rich cultural heritage of Lake Atitlan on this private full-day lake tour from Antigua or Guatemala City. Your adventure starts with a scenic drive out to the lake, stopping at viewpoints along the way. After breakfast in Panajachel, you’ll jump on a boat over to San Juan la Laguna, swing by San Pedro and Santiago Atitlan, and end the day on a sweet note with a hot chocolate in Tecpan.

Visit four traditional villages in one day with this day trip from Antigua to San Juan del Obispo, San Pedro las Huertas, Ciudad Vieja, and San Antonio Aguas Calientes. This tour packs in sightseeing at every stop: see churches, plazas, markets, and even a chocolate workshop, all while learning about the area’s Spanish and Mayan history from your guide as you go.

This tour operates every day except Thursday and Sunday, it lasts approximately 7 hours and includes lunch, ideal to know the colonial city and make souvenir shopping.

Get to know Guatemala City on this private all-day guided tour. Travel comfortably by car to some of the city's highlights and historical points of interest. Learn about the mystical Mayan civilization with a visit to the Archeological Museum and discover more about the history of Guatemala. Then, head to the historical center of the city and visit the market, cathedral, the National Palace, Plaza la Constitution, and more.

This tour is based on the important part of the city's history and is carefully crafted with the best certified guides in Antigua to offer a service of trust and satisfaction.

Explore Antigua and the surrounding villages by Vespa with this small-group tour for no more than eight participants. You'll visit historic buildings such as the Church of Ciudad Vieja. Your group will also spend time in San Juan del Obispo, where you'll learn about chocolate production first hand from a local family who work in the chocolate industry.

No trip to Guatemala is complete without a visit to Tikal. Visit the Mayan Ruins with ease on a full-day tour from Antigua. All-inclusive land and air transportation makes it possible for you to experience the UNESCO listed ruins in a single day without feeling rushed. After a guided tour of the complex, enjoy lunch and free time to explore on your own.

Get a more intimate glimpse into the colonial richness of Antigua’s culture on a private walking tour that offers a great introduction for first-time visitors. You’ll visit a diverse mix of cobblestone streets, colonial churches, vibrant markets and volcanic backdrops on this tour, which you can customize to cover the things that interest you the most. Plus, the short duration of this tour makes it ideal if you’re short on time.

Experience the Spanish-colonial charm of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during this 5-hour morning tour from Guatemala City. This atmospheric city was the country’s capital for more than 200 years, creating a wealth of historic architecture and gorgeous scenery for you to discover during your walking tour. Tread on Antigua’s cobblestone streets as you explore sites like the Cathedral of Santiago, Central Park and Palace of the Captain Generals. Your Antigua visit also includes a guide and round-trip hotel transport.

Travel deep into the mountains above mystical Lake Atitlan as you spend the day exploring the indigenous traditions and daily life in the region’s small villages. Get a true local’s experience as you wander the range of goods for sale at Solola indigenous market, an authentic site few tourists ever see. In the afternoon enjoy fresh mountain air as you visit a local farming community, largely untouched by the modern world, and explore the gorgeous city of Panjachel. Your day trip also includes round-trip hotel transport.