Embark on a captivating tour of Guatemala’s Giant Market, San Francisco El Alto, and the iconic Yellow Church. Discover vibrant culture, religious syncretism, and charming towns.
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Quetzaltenango - This is a cultural tour where you will learn everything about the Mayan culture by visiting 3 different towns, each of them with something that makes them particular and lovely.
We will start by picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in the central area of Xela, and we will head to San Francisco El Alto. The ride to get there will only take us 40 minutes. This is the perfect chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery all the way and relax. -
Mercado de San Francisco El Alto - Once we get to San Francisco El Alto you will be amazed by the variety of products sold at the central market. This is the biggest market in Guatemala, and it takes around 6 hours to go to all of it. Here you can find all types of fruits, vegetables, and even live animals such as sheep, chickens, calves, and more.
Don´t miss the chance to try some traditional street food or buy any souvenirs that you might like. - San Andres Xecul - This is our second stop and in some way, the star of the show. San Andrés Xecul has one of the most beautiful churches in Guatemala. The intensity of its colors and the story behind each figure is amazing.
This iconic yellow church has a mix of two religions, Christianity and the Mayan. Each color represents something for the indigenous people, for example, yellow represents corn, the sacred food for the Mayans. Red represents the sun and the sacrifice of Mayan ancestors back in the Spanish conquer. All the figures tell a different story and have something to tell.
Something that is very curious for most travelers is that on the inside, you will see Christian figures dressed in traditional Mayan clothing made by women of the town.
Needless to say that this is a great spot for mind-blowing photos.
- Salcaja - Salcajá is the closest town to Xela. It has a lot of color and life in it. Small and colorful streets are everywhere you put your eyes. This place also holds one of the oldest hermitages in the area. It is small and beautiful.
This is the perfect place to learn about a traditional locally produced liquor called Caldo de Frutas or Fruit Broth which ferments in 2 years and is fruit-based.
- Quetzaltenango - The tour will start just 15 minutes after we leave Salcajá as that town is very close to Xela. Here we say goodbye for now, but we hope you return soon. We hope that you enjoy every step of the tour as much as we do and that you can take great pictures back with you.
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- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- Lunch
- Certified tour guide
- Air conditioning in the vehicle
- Guided tour in San Francisco El Alto
- Visit The Yellow Church of San Andrés Xecul
- Explore Salcajá
- Gratuities
On this journey, we’ll introduce you to three unique towns. You’ll traverse Guatemala’s biggest market, visit its most vibrant church, and conclude the excursion in a quaint, charming town.
Each destination offers something unique that we’re thrilled to share with you and we hope that you’ll enjoy them as much as we do, if not more.
The journey will commence with San Francisco El Alto and its renowned marketplace, the grandest in Guatemala. Ordinarily, it takes about 6 hours to completely explore it (though we’ll only spend a fraction of that time there on this tour). Following that, we pay a visit to the illustrious Church of San Andrés Xecul, a Guatemalan symbol and an emblem of religious syncretism. To conclude, we’ll drop by Salcajá, a small town brimming with historical significance and breathtaking sights.
You certainly wouldn’t want to skip this tour, so book your tickets and we’ll guide you through one of the most memorable travel experiences ever.
- Bring comfortable shoes for long walks, sun protection, and money for personal expenses
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.