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Guatemala City Tours
Iximché Ruins and Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City
4.5

Iximché Ruins and Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City

By Guatemalan Adventure Day Tour
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Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 9h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More


  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • Entry/Admission - Iximche
  • Entry/Admission - Iglesia de La Merced
  • Entry/Admission - Casa Del Jade
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Entry/Admission - Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande


Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • We offer pick up from centrally located hotels in Guatemala City
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        • Stroller accessible
        • Near public transportation
        • Infants must sit on laps
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5555GUAANTIXCITY

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • Most travelers can participate
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5555GUAANTIXCITY

        From
        $94.00
        per adult (price varies by group size)
        Select date and travelers

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        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Guatemalan Adventure Day Tour
          572
          Guatemala City, Guatemala
          Joined in November 2010
        • charlesf537
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fun day trip
          The lake was definitely worth seeing and our guide Mirko did a terrific job of shepherding our small motley band of tourists through the colorful maze of San Juan, boats, Panajachel, etc. His commentaries on the town and the culture was interesting as well. His recommendation for lunch at Don Rodrigo in Panajachel was helpful too that was very pleasant.
          Written December 1, 2024
        • MorganBDT
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Beautiful hiking trip!
          This was a great hike with incredible views in a beautiful part of the country. The journey from Guatemala city to the volcano was smooth and comfortable. I would say the hike is accessible even for novice hikers, but still gives you a good workout if you are pushing the pace. Peter was a great guide, and very knowledgeable about the area. We got to climb over a (cooled) lava field, some parts of which ("chimneys") were still steaming - you can stick your hand in them and feel the heat and humidity from the vegetation that got trapped underneath the lava. There were wildflowers in lots of different colors, and we saw some very interesting insects and spiders, including "hummingbird moths" (large moths that look and behave like hummingbirds, hovering from flower to flower - note that the moth in the picture is a different one).
          Written October 28, 2024
        • juliasK4421YJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Touring Antigua Guatemala
          We were picked up from our hotel in Guatemala City. Our tour guide was Mr. Mirco , he was very knowledgeable and fun . We started our tour by driving to Antigua and Mr. Mirco started by explaining us the history of Antigua Guatemala , our first stop was el cerro de la cruz , where we had an amazing view of the city , we got amazing pictures and then headed to the coffee plantation where he explained us the process of the making of coffee , we got a taste of the great coffee as well , after that we stop at different spots that were part of our tour and Mr. Mirco made it very interesting and enjoyable . We ended our tour by having lunch at a traditional Guatemala restaurant . Overall it was a tour that exceded our expectations and it’s highly recommended . Special thanks to Mr. Mirco that made our tour very special .
          Written September 30, 2024
        • Z7531QQdavidw
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Visit now before it’s lost to developers!
          Mirko was our driver and guide for three days. Mirko was a very good driver on dangerous roads. He also has a relaxed personality that made for enjoyable conversations in English. Just so you know, it is a 6 hr drive from Antigua to the ParkHotel. Most of your time will be spent getting to your destinations. Once you leave the hustle and bustle of Guatemala City, you are in for a visual treat as the central highlands are stunning and diverse. Lanquin Cave is a national park, but it is poorly maintained and quite dangerous because you are walking on very slippery wet rocks or wooden stairs. Enjoy it but be very careful because a bad slip will quickly end your vacation. On day two you have the option to visit another wet, slippery cave or visit an orchid private reserve. I highly recommend the orchid private reserve. It’s run by three generations of a single-family who saw the clearcutting deforestation around them and decided to protect these little fragile flowers that grow on the trunks. Guatemala’s central mountains boast 800 species of orchid, but they are threatened by the same destruction that is putting Semuc Champy at risk. The jungle and karst pools of Semuc are incredibly beautiful and worth the journey. Sadly, developers are clearing the jungle to make way for a new paved road to this small and fragile site. Once the road is complete expect uncontrolled development that will absolutely destroy the environment. Monkeys, Quetzals, toucans and wild mammals are already gone. The government of Guatemala clearly does not value their environmental resources, so enjoy them while you can. Do stop for traditional candies made from cardamom.
          Written August 20, 2024
        • G8918TEcatherined
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Friendly and fun tour
          Highly recommend. Wonderful day with our tour guide Diego who was very knowledgeable and friendly. Such a wonderful day! Got to learn a lot about Guatemala, Mayan cultures, and what the locals like to do and go!
          Written August 6, 2024
        • Kirstenferguson12
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Iximche was the highlight of this trip
          Very good tour just not sure if Chichicastenango is worth the 3 hour drive. Iximche was fantastic however. Our guide was very good and knowledgable
          Written July 22, 2024
        • ceciliat930
          0 contributions
          2.0 of 5 bubbles
          Poor logistics!!!
          Tour guide Luis and driver were excellent. The logistics suck! My ride to airport (ended up being scheduled for 4 AM) arrived 30 minutes later. Then we spent well over 2 hours waiting for flight to take off. Tour guide was unaware that our returning flight wasn't leaving until 9 PM. They dumped us off in Flores for 3 hours in the 104 degree weather (!!!) with 38% humidity around 4 PM to walk around. I did not want to sit around in a bar for 3 hours and I was done with souvenier shopping within 30 minutes. Get your act together. The advertisement made it sound like it would be around a 12 hour experience total. It ended up being a 19 hour experience. Do not use them until they get their logistical act together.
          Written June 4, 2024
        • O9243GHsharons
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Magical day of Guatemalan culture on the Lake
          We loved our trip to Lake Atitlán our driver was very knowledgeable, helpful and patient with us while we shopped and stayed longer and still got all our tour highlights done. We are a busy family of five and we loved speeding across the Lake and visiting all the merchants. Quality tour all around.
          Written May 22, 2024
        • denisecP3367QJ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Guatemalan cooking class in Antigua Guatemala
          Today we went to a cooking class. We booked this through a la Carta tours in Antigua Guatemala. The company is Foodietenango, guatemala. This is an excellent class. They taught us how to make guacamole, roasted Salsa, Chicken pepian and a dessert made with mashed plantains and stuffed with chocolate, beans and deep fried. All the recipes were from his mom and grandma. They cooked for us at his home. This was by far the best cooking class we've done. They picked us up at the hotel and we took a tuk tuk back.
          Written May 21, 2024
        • keeyanaw2024
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great Tour of Lake Atitlan!
          We truly enjoy our lake Atitlan tour with Gustavo. He was a great guide! He was informative. The boat ride was absolutely beautiful! I would definitely recommend this service to anyone that wants to experience the culture and see beautiful view of the lake and surrounding volcanos
          Written May 1, 2024
        • Jennifer H
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing and well worth the cost!
          Our tour guide, Louis was fabulous and so informative. He taught us and demonstrated how different coffee beans grow. The travel vehicle was comfty. Loved the stop at the weavers, where we learned how cotton is transformed into yarn using natural plants for dye. Overall, fabulous day trip!
          Written April 22, 2024
        • BheemaPatil
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great experience
          Everything was nicely organised. Driver picked us up from hotel at 4.15 am, dropped us at La Aurora airport with instructions to go to TAG airlines counter. Check in was easy. Guide picked us up at Flores airport. Tour was good. Total walk was about 7km. Lunch provided was very good. Dropped us back to the airport in the evening. Flight back to Guatemala City and the same driver picked us up and dropped us back to the hotel around 6.30pm. Long day, but totally worth it.
          Written April 6, 2024
        • ebalaz
          0 contributions
          1.0 of 5 bubbles
          Horrible tour and waste of money
          This was such a horrible “tour” I wish I could give it 0 stars. After being picked up, I discovered that the driver of the van did not speak English and while the tour guide Gustavo did, he still addressed the group in Spanish because apparently the rest of the people already on the van were bilingual. I had to interrupt Gustavo to tell him that I didn’t speak Spanish and that this was supposed to be an English speaking tour. After that, Gustavo never really addressed the group as a whole again as I would have expected him to do on our way to Lake Atitlan. I have taken several tours all over the world and every tour guide I have had before Gustavo would sit at the front of the van or bus and explain the history of where we were going and something about the country itself. Gustavo simply sat in the van silent like he was on vacation himself. My 3 friends and I were the last to be picked up and although Gustavo had notified me the night before of the pick-up time, he was 30 minutes late. After getting a late start, we hit some traffic leaving the city that caused us to be even further behind schedule. After the traffic cleared and knowing that we were now behind schedule, instead of continuing on to Lake Atitlan, Gustavo had us stop for breakfast for 1 hour. This was not mentioned in the tour’s itinerary and was a ridiculous waste of time in light of the fact that we were already running very late. I could only guess that Gustavo was hungry and was going to get a free meal at the restaurant. In any event and after breakfast, we hit more traffic making us fall even further behind schedule but again, instead of talking to us and enlightening us on where we were and where we were going as any decent tour guide would do, Gustavo went to the back of the van to an empty seat and took a nap. We pretty much drove in silence all the way to Panajachel . When we got off the van, Gustavo led us to the waiting boat that looked like it was 50 years old and informed us that we didn’t have time to tour the lake or go across it to Santiago de Atitlan but would be visiting another village instead, that is, San Antonio Palopo. Basically, this meant that the tour that I took my 3 friends on and paid for was not anything close to what was described in the itinerary for this tour. At that village, we visited a store for shopping and walked up to a church. It was ridiculous. I did not have to pay over $100 per person to see and do what we did at this village. Again, Gustavo did not tell us anything about the village, its people or the church. After spending about an hour at this village, we returned by boat to Panajachel where we were told we would have 1 ½ hours for dinner. This was insane. We paid to tour Lake Atitlan and now we were instead going to spend another 1 ½ hours to eat after already spending an hour for breakfast. Any decent tour guide would have addressed the group and inquired as to what we wanted to do in light of the fact that we were running behind schedule and ask us whether we preferred to spend another 1 ½ hours eating or stick to the itinerary and tour the lake and visit Santiago de Atitlan as described in the printed itinerary. I am confident that my fellow travelers would have opted for a tour of the lake as promised instead of taking the time for another meal as everyone seemed to be upset by this change in plans. After we had our dinner, Gustavo informed us we could have an additional ½ hour to explore Panajachel but according to the itinerary described on your website, we were to “stroll down Santander Street in Panajachel with our local guide.” Another description in the website’s itinerary that was never delivered. I blame the tour guide for the decisions he made. He obviously only cared about himself and never for a moment had our best interests at heart. The tour that I paid good money for was a waste as nothing that was described in the itinerary was delivered. Additionally, I was embarrassed in front of my friends because I had picked this horrible tour. I have been a huge fan of Tripadvisor for several years and I cannot emphasize enough how horrible this tour was and how disappointed my friends and I were.
          Written April 3, 2024
        • tanrimam
          0 contributions
          4.0 of 5 bubbles
          A fun day trip from Antigua!
          My friend and I booked this trip since we wanted to do a day trip from Antigua. The pickup/drop off service was excellent. There were 5 other people in our group which was nice, not too crowded. The guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was nice and tried to be as accommodating as possible, even personalizing the trip based on our preference (spending more time at one place vs others). I think the only thing that could be improved is the time we spent at panjachel. we went through four different cultural learning/experiences (weaving, chocolate making, honey, and coffee making). these could have been made a bit better or scrapped completely. The demonstrations were very rushed it was more of an opportunity for us to shop, we probably could have done that on our own if we got the time to explore the island a bit more. Overall an excellent day trip! :)
          Written March 28, 2024
        • Kimberly T
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Amazing Way to Visit Tikal
          From booking until the end, this trip was absolutely wonderful! The company was very communicative so that we knew exactly what to expect. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of Tikal as well as the history of the people. We saw coatli, crocodile, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and a variety of birds. The included lunch was delicious and felt like a great reward after all that hiking! The only suggestion I have for improvement is to provide more details about the pick up from the airport, although when we asked questions the company was immediately responsive in giving us answers. Absolutely would recommend!
          Written March 28, 2024
        See all 572 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        4.5
        4.5 of 5 bubbles13 reviews
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        8
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        3
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        0

        Sattie S
        New York City, NY192 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2022 • Couples
        Our guide Mike was super knowledgeable & nice so he gets a 10 stars! He tried his best to keep us entertained as it was a private tour. I was not aware if this when I booked it on Trip Advisor but apparently no one else booked the tour so it was just the 3 of us( My husband, myself & tour guide).
        However, the trip itself from Antigua to the Ruins is a long drive. There is not much to see at the Ruins except experiencing the history of being there.
        After the Ruins, we drove to a Macadamia Nut Farm which was great. We had lunch in Antigua at Pasoda which was awesome l.
        We also bought some Jade Jewelry at one of the stops which was very interesting to see how the Jade Rock becomes a piece of beautiful jewelry!
        This tour also included Central Plaza ( park area) which you can basically do yourself.
        If you are not too keen on long drives and historic places, then take another tour.
        Overall good but the Ruins were not as nice as in Mexico or Belize.
        However, please use Mike for other tours as he is fantastic.
        Written December 1, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        GloFaw
        Pittsburgh, PA49 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We loved our trip through the countryside to view the Iximche ruins of the Mayans and then to the old town of Antiqua. Our guide, Michael Angelo, was extremely knowledgeable about everything at the ruins, and we enjoyed his enthusiasm to share this information with us. He then took us to a lovely restaurant in Antiqua for lunch, and we also saw some very old historical churches and had an interesting jade museum/store tour. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves history, culture, or jade.
        Written March 17, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Elizabeth R
        4 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Nov 2022
        We did the combination ruins and city tour. Both are worth every minute! Next time I might book another day just in Antiqua though, there was just so much to see! The ruins were small and local, and still used as a place of worship, I enjoyed seeing it very much! The history of the place is fascinating. Our guide was very kind, knowledgable, and somewhat indulgent as we kept asking to see more things, or taking too long in some places. We bought him lunch and had a lovely time! Worth every penny to have a driver and guide who knows the history and how to get places. Loved every minute!
        Written November 28, 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        J & J
        Toronto, Canada9 contributions
        3.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2024 • Couples
        My husband and I went on a tour with Gustavo. He is a pretty good guy; he was very informative regarding history and culture. However, during the last bit of our trip, I think he got a little too comfortable with us and started to comment negatively on a woman’s body shape, he also talked badly about Californians which left a bad taste in my mouth as I have family there, but after reading a previous comment, it made sense as to why he doesn’t like Californians as he acted very unprofessional in one previous tour with Californians. He also started talking about tips, which made us feel compelled to leave a tip. Overall, would recommend the trip to a friend as long as sexism and discrimination is handled by management in the future.
        Written April 27, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Katie Z
        1 contribution
        2.0 of 5 bubbles
        May 2024 • Solo
        went with Gate 1. They accused me of lying about when my flight landed and why no one was there to pick me up. They told me my flights "would have been better" had I booked with Gate 1. I booked my flights with Gate 1. This trip was canceled by Gate 1 in November when I purchased with a special single supplement waiver; I rescheduled and they did not honor my waiver, so the trip cost me significantly more. NEVER AGAIN GATE 1.
        Written June 18, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        yellowcockatiel
        Singapore, Singapore238 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Enjoyed our tour with Mirko who spoke very good English. He gave us many facts about the history, culture and politics of Guatemala. The tour duration was good, with half day spent in Antigua and the other half part at the Iximche archeological ruins.
        Written May 22, 2024
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Stacy J
        Niagara Falls, Canada154 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Loved this tour. It was absolutely amazing. Our guide was awesome 5 stars for him. We have joked several times since that this man deserves a raise. His name was Mirko (sorry if spelt it wrong)

        The tour stared at 7 am we got picked up out front our hotel. Traffic was very thick took twice as long to get to our first stop (coffees, teas, bathroom break) but the van was so comfy and clean we both fell asleep and didn’t notice how long it really took. The little restaurant we stopped at was the best service and cleanest washrooms we saw while on Guatemala (our hotel room included) they also have a little souvenir shop in the front. From there it’s a 10/15 minute drive to Iximché.

        Iximché is absolutely magically. First we went through the little museum they have on site and our guide told us history and fun facts asked us questions and got us involved ( we were the only two on the tour this day ) then the best part. You walk straight into history. Your standing in the land of the Mayans. The ruins aren’t fully restored and don’t have roofs solely the foundations. So use your imagination, it was incredible. We asked our guide various questions while walking through. He had answers for almost every single one, and if he didn’t he gave us his educated guess but told us that’s just what he thought. He took us around to the various building explained there purposes and who would have lived where. At the back of the “complex” there were Mayan rituals taken place. We were allowed to watch from a distance and no photos or loud noises to interrupt. Also amazing. After walking back to the van he kind of got a head of us. So we started taking photos and probably were outta view for 10 minutes. Once we rounded the corned he was waiting with a huge smile, we apologized for lingering he told us not to worry and offered to take pictures of us together. From Iximché to Antigua is about 1.5 hour drive.

        Once in Antigua he asked if we would like to eat first or tour first. We chose tour. We went to jade a museum which we didn’t know was part of it. Very cool, we learned some interesting facts about jade, how it’s formed and where it comes from. The lady in charge of the tour was very nice and at the end while showing us the gift shop we didn’t feel pressured or watched or followed while looking through the beautiful jewelry. From there we walked around to various churches, and monastery’s. He taught us more about and Antigua and Guatemala. Unfortunately it was cloudy while we were in the city and we were unable to see the volcanoes surrounding Antigua. If your staying in Guatemala City or Antigua go on this tour. You won’t regret it. I can’t stop talking about Iximché, and am so excited to show everyone the photos and what I learned when I return home. Thank you Mirko! (Again sorry for the spelling)

        Happy Travels
        Written October 12, 2018
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
        Hi Stacy J, Thank you for letting us know all your experience in Guatemala. We are so glad to know that you can appreciate Mayan rituals, because those aren't always allowed. Knowing you have also enjoyed your Antigua tour make us happy, because Antiguan is one of our first touristic places. Hope to see you soon here in Guatemala. Best regards,
        Written December 3, 2018
        This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

        Brian B
        Peoria, AZ1,216 contributions
        4.0 of 5 bubbles
        Dec 2017 • Couples
        Beautiful preserved Cathedral in Antigua. The exterior of the cathedral is beautiful as well as interior. Antigua is one of those very special cities. We spend a day and wished we had 2+ more days. Just so much to see and experience. Highlight of our trip to date.
        Written December 31, 2017
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        DAVID V
        8 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        We had a Great day at the ruins Learn alot about the Mayan culture the different languages and tribes .Our tour guy Luis was awesome he explained everything during the ride
        Written May 1, 2023
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        FoodIQ
        Tampa, FL31 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Overall this was a great trip. Tour driver/guide promtly showed up in the hotel at 7am. Our guide had a great knowledge of the history.. he kept us busy with sharing the diverse history, general facts and customs of the locals. Iximche experience was unique.. was lucky enough to oberve a ritual being performed by a couple of families. As we had the entire van to ourselves we added an additional location to the trip. The views, food and general experience at Atitlan was amazing. Then finally we were able to see the key spots in Antigua. I would recommend this tour.. great experience.
        Written September 22, 2019
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Iximché Ruins and Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City provided by Guatemalan Adventure Day Tour

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