Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua: Explore Markets & Lake Views
4.2
34 Ratings
Tecpan
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Guatemala with a day trip from Antigua to Chichicastenango and Panajachel. Explore the bustling open-air market, visit historic churches, and enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Atitlán.
Duration: 11 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mercado de Chichicastenango - After pickup from your Antigua hotel, your tour begins as you head northwest to Chichicastenango. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk through the town’s narrow cobblestone streets and past its red-tiled roofs. In the main town plaza, visit the famous Chichicastenango open-air market, filled with locally made products like ceramic pots, wood carvings and handmade goods, as well as fruits and vegetables. Browse the local wares and pick up a souvenir or two to take home!
  • Santo Tomas Church - While you’re in the plaza, visit the Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Santo Tomas), located on the east side of the plaza. Dating back to 1540, the church is often home to Mayan rituals.
  • Panajachel - After exploring Chichicastenango for a few hours, continue your day trip to Panajachel, a small town located on the northeast shore of Lago de Atitlán (Lake Atitlan). Panajachel is a quaint, charming town where you’ll stop for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant (own expense) before heading over to visit the town’s main thoroughfare, Santander Street. Walk along the street with your guide and observe town life going on at the locally made handicraft stalls, other shops and restaurants.
  • Lago de Atitlan - Admire beautiful views of Lago de Atitlán from the shores of Panajachel before heading back to Antigua.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Embark on a day-long adventure from Antigua to the fascinating towns of Panajachel and Chichicastenango. Immerse yourself in the lively ambiance of Chichicastenango’s renowned open-air market, a treasure trove of woodcraft, ceramics, and other artifacts. Visit noteworthy landmarks including the Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Santo Tomas) and the Calvary Church, both reclining in the central plaza. The journey continues to Panajachel, where you get to amble with your guide down the notable Santander Street, culminating in breathtaking views of Lago de Atitlán (Atitlan Lake).

Location
Iximche
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(34 Ratings)
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Elizabeth_h
Feb 19, 2024
Great way to spend a day - Great day trip! The guide was nice and knowledgeable. Food for lunch was great! We asked to be dropped off in Panajachel instead of returning to Antigua and the company accommodated us! Would highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Jessica_g
Feb 19, 2024
Great way to experience Chichicastenango/Panajachel in a day - Luis was an incredible guide! His communication was great. He was very informative and made sure we got the most of our day. This tour delivered on everything it promised.
Review provided by Viator
11110loco
Jan 21, 2024
Typical - Impressive traditional market, typical Indian crafts, colorful fabrics, a fabulous experience, prices necessarily attractive as tourists.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Austin_m
Jan 15, 2024
Great time! - Our guide was fantastic! He was perfectly on time and very friendly and outgoing. We had a great time exploring the market/church/cemetery in chichicastenango and learned a lot about the local culture and history.
Review provided by Viator
Emma_l
Sep 19, 2023
Colorful market - I was the only one on this trip and both the driverLuis and guide Geraldo were happy to alter the itenary to meet my needs. As I had been to Panajachel the day before they were obliging in not returning for a 2nd time and extended my time at the market. The market is loud and colorful - I loved it! They recommended a different lunch destination which was fantastic and even stopped at the viewing point for photos. I’d highly recommend going with this company.
Review provided by Viator
Christina_r
Aug 23, 2023
Great Experience - The Chichicastenango market was so colorful and exciting. It was the perfect amount of time to explore and shop. My guide, Gustavo, was very knowledgable and friendly.
Review provided by Viator
Cozie2019
Feb 28, 2023
Jose y Jose the bet tour guide duet! - From the moment of arrival Jose y Jose were early, patient and communicative. The picked my sister and I from our hotel, and from the moment we hit the road it was a warm welcoming ride; Jose (the younger one) was the English guide. He allowed everyone to introduce themselves and then gave fun facts about Antigua and our destinations. The other Jose (the slightly older one and our driver) was such an amazing driver!! He knew all the off-road pit stops to see the best views of Antigua, Chichi and Pana. He was soo patient with all of us (it was myself, my sister, and 2 women from Canada). He also knew a lot of the history of Chi & Pana. The two of them as guides was an amazing experience. I got the best photos!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vicky_m
Aug 6, 2023
Wish we could see more - Chichicastenango is an amazing cultural site with a colorful market they will leave you mesmerized. However, we weren’t able to enjoy our tour as intended. Our guide rushed us all the way we spent more time on the road the actually enjoying Chichicastenango. In Panajachel we spent less than a hour taking lunch and our guide gave us 20 minutes just to take a picture and drive back to Antigua. Our guide mentioned that they were having issues with the van and he wanted to go back to Antigua to avoid being on the road at dark. However, when you travel to another country to enjoy of their culture and amazing sites, you really need time to enjoy it and not just stop for a picture. We also received little facts from our guide during the long drive.
Review provided by Viator
Jungle
Aug 17, 2023
Terrible experience - This tour was not great as we were in a personal car that was overloaded and we had to sit in the luggage area with no clearance, no views, and could not hear anything. Overall a terrible experience with this company. They did not show up at our hotel, we had to chase them down and then they showed up very late, jammed us in a small space, we had neck injuries from hitting the roof with our head repeatedly. The guide was not really a guide at all and offered very little information and was impossible to hear him in the car. Overall was just a bad experience since the majority of the tour is spend in a car driving.. I would suggest picking a different tour company for this activity and be sure the guides are certified, trained, knowledgeable, and ask about what kind of vehicle you will be riding in.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shay_l
Aug 14, 2023
Absolutely horrible tour - This was by far the worst tour that I have ever done. I feel like we only had a driver that threw out a few random "facts" here and there opposed to an actual guide. We quickly drove by sites and up the street. Most time was spent in the car and not as described in the allotted time. There was nothing fun about this tour and I actually ended up falling asleep in the car due to boredom. I wouldn't recommend this tour to anyone. It was a complete waste of time and money. I left feeling highly disappointed and bamboozled.
Review provided by Viator
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