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Iximché Mayan Ruins and Historical Antigua City: An Exploration of Guatemala's Rich Past
4.6
56 Ratings
Tecpan
Explore the rich past of Guatemala with a visit to the Iximché Mayan ruins and the historical city of Antigua. Discover the fascinating blend of Mayan and Spanish influences on this 8-hour tour, led by expert guides. Perfect for the whole family!
Explore the rich past of Guatemala with a visit to the Iximché Mayan ruins and the historical city of Antigua. Discover the fascinating blend of Mayan and Spanish influences on this 8-hour tour, led by expert guides. Perfect for the whole family!
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Iximche - Visit Iximche ruins located in the dusty town of Tecpan. You’ll explore the famous archeological site with your knowledgeable guide, who will take you past ceremonial plazas, towering temples and ancient ball courts. Many of the sites you’ll see date back as far as 1400 BC. Spend a couple of hours exploring the grounds before heading to…
- Iximche - Visit Iximche ruins located in the dusty town of Tecpan. You’ll explore the famous archeological site with your knowledgeable guide, who will take you past ceremonial plazas, towering temples and ancient ball courts. Many of the sites you’ll see date back as far as 1400 BC. Spend a couple of hours exploring the grounds before heading to Antigua.
- The Plaza Central Park - Visit Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales and Palacio Real del Ayuntamiento.
- Iglesia de La Merced - La Merced is a baroque church in Antigua. Its facade is one of the most beautiful in Guatemala. The cross in stone at the atrium and the rooms behind the main altar are the oldest structures in La Merced and date from the seventeenth century.
- Arco de Santa Catalina - Follow your guide to the arch of Santa Catalina—one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks—and learn about the Santa Catalina Convent that was once stationed here.
- Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande - San Francisco el Grande is a church in Antigua Guatemala and one of the most frequented sanctuaries by the local population because of the shrine of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur (Santo Hermano Pedro).
- Casa del Jade - Visit Jade Museum, where you’ll find local craftsmen carving this beautiful green stone.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Additional Information
See Guatemala’s mixture of Mayan and Spanish influences on this 8-hour tour from Guatemala City to the Iximch ruins and the city of Antigua. Learn about Mayan history from your expert guide as you explore the archeological site of Iximch. Then, move on to the Spanish colonial city of Antigua, where you’ll see some of its most famous sites, including San…
See Guatemala’s mixture of Mayan and Spanish influences on this 8-hour tour from Guatemala City to the Iximch ruins and the city of Antigua. Learn about Mayan history from your expert guide as you explore the archeological site of Iximch. Then, move on to the Spanish colonial city of Antigua, where you’ll see some of its most famous sites, including San Francisco Church, Calle del Arco, La Merced Church and Plaza Central. This historical day trip is perfect for the whole family!
Location
Iximche
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(56 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Helen_y
Sep 27, 2025
Fun day with Gustavo - I thought there would be other travelers on the tour, but it ended up to be a private tour which was great. We enjoyed spending the day with our guide, Gustavo. He was knowledgeable, entertaining and demonstrated professionalism throughout our trip. We loved learning the history and hearing his stories. We appreciate that he attended to our needs, waited for us while we shopped, and took us to interesting restaurants. We love the group selfies he took!
Review provided by Viator
Dalmoradie
Sep 25, 2025
Iximche and Antigua tour - What was supposed to be a small group tour became a private tour (my husband and I were the only passengers). Our guide, Davis, is very knowledgeable. We are seniors and he made sure to always walk at our pace, never trying to hurry us up. He explained, in great detail, the objects in the iximche museum and pointed out the birds, plants and other animals as we were walking through the ruins. In Antigua, it was nice walking the cobblestone streets while Davis pointed out the landmarks and narrated their history. Antigua is a beautiful place surrounded by volcanos and we witnessed Volcan de Fuego errupting and spewing black smoke. It was a very enjoyable tour. Iximche and Antigua are must sees if you are in Guatemala.
Review provided by Viator
Gus_f
Sep 8, 2025
it was a great tour; we... - it was a great tour; we enjoyed it and had a beautiful day in Antigua Guatemala! Mirko was the best! His knowledge of everything was amazing! The ruins were also a very unique experience!
Review provided by Viator
Fmonestime
Jul 31, 2025
An Unforgettable Journey Through History and Culture – Iximché & Antigua Guatemala Tour - If you’re looking for a perfect blend of ancient history, colonial charm, and natural beauty, the Iximché and Antigua Guatemala tour is an absolute must!
Our day began with a scenic drive to Iximché, the ruins of a once-thriving Maya city nestled in the highlands. The site is peaceful, mystical, and deeply moving. Walking among the temples and ceremonial altars while learning about the Kaqchikel Maya from our incredibly knowledgeable guide gave the experience so much depth. What stood out most was seeing that the site is still actively used for traditional Maya ceremonies today – a beautiful reminder that this is living history, not just a relic of the past.
From there, we continued to Antigua Guatemala, and wow – this city is truly something special. Cobbled streets, colorful facades, and centuries-old churches framed by volcanoes make it feel like stepping into a postcard. We explored the iconic Santa Catalina Arch, the La Merced Church, and the ruins of old cathedrals, each with its own fascinating story. Our guide brought the city’s colonial past to life with passion and insight, pointing out details we never would have noticed on our own.
The balance of ancient and colonial history made this tour incredibly unique. It wasn’t rushed at all – we had time to explore, take photos, ask questions, and even enjoy some delicious local food in Antigua’s charming cafes.
Whether you’re a history buff, a cultural traveler, or just someone looking to experience the soul of Guatemala, this tour is worth every moment. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esther_s
Jul 26, 2025
Excellent service... - Excellent treatment good information explained perfectly all natural and archaeological beauty the truth a wonder
Review provided by Viator
Joni_p
May 3, 2025
Ask for Pedro! Great day! - Pedro was a great guide for us. He communicated well before and during the trip. He was flexible in allowing us to change up our tour to accommodate our needs and meeting Guatemalan friends. His English was good and helped us feel enlightened and safe our whole day!
Review provided by Viator
Adam_g
Mar 18, 2025
Great combo - Highly recommend if you only have a limited time in Guatemala. The ruins were amazing and our guide was very informative. Antigua is beautiful and our guide flexed how we spent the time based on what we wanted to do. He also recommend a great lunch and coffee spot.
Review provided by Viator
Roberto
Dec 28, 2024
Excellent - Don Anibal was an excellent host and has a great knowledge of Guatemalan culture, super recommended for all ages
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jaime_g
Nov 10, 2024
Beautiful Antigua & Sacred Iximche - We had a fantastic day exploring Antigua & Iximche! We explored beautiful churches and ruins throughout Antigua.
We loved grounding ourselves in the sacred Maya-Kaqchikel ancient city of IXIMCHE (Maize Tree) where beautiful rituals and ceremonies continue to take place. We met Don Jose who is in his 70s and was 16 when he worked in the archaeological discoveries at this sacred site. We walked through the trees to the ofrenda and watched Mayan families picnic in the area. We felt incredibly peaceful as we paused to smell earth’s herbs (wild anise) and see wild flowers growing in the stones. Children came up to us in this (I know you’re not from here) curiosity while smiling radiantly with joyful laughter. We admired several volcanoes in the area and paused as Volcano Fuego erupted from a distance. Our guide, Davis was charming and knowledgeable! Mil gracias Davis
Review provided by Viator
Pepe_g
Jul 12, 2025
Antigua and Iximché - Very good tour overall. Our guide, Gustavo got in touch with us the day before to confirm the pickup location and time. He was there on time and was very knowledgeable and personable.
Throughout the tour, he tried to make us as comfortable as possible.
The only reason I don't give the tour 5 stars is because on the last part of the tour, including the return, the van's air conditioning failed, making for a less than ideal experience, as we had to ride with the windows open in the warm weather and smog filled environment.
Review provided by Viator
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