Top Central Highlands Historical Tours

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.

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.

Satisfy your appetite for Guatemalan street food during a private half-day tour during which you’ll sample several dishes from stalls and eateries that you might otherwise have missed. Plus, benefit from the undivided attention of your guide throughout to learn more about Guatemalan cuisine and culture than you would independently.

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.

Take a walking tour through Antigua without worrying about being corralled into shops by signing up for this tour. You'll visit and learn about the city's numerous historic landmarks and gain insight into the history of the area since pre-Colombian times. And if you do want to shop, your guide will take you to a shopping area after the tour is over.

Take a tour from Guatemala City that showcases the mix of Spanish and Mayan traditions that have influenced this incredible nation. Journey into the Iximche ruins—one of Guatemala’s most famous archeological sites—and then make your way to the iconic Spanish colonial town of Antigua. Follow your expert guide to all of the local sites, including churches, plazas and shops—before making your way back to Guatemala City after this exciting day trip.

Antigua Guatemala is a city that once was the capital of Central America. With its cobblestone streets, Catholic churches such as Iglesia de La Merced and convents, unique monuments, and gastronomy, you'll travel back in time to the 15th through the 17th centuries on this all-day guided tour from Guatemala City.

Delve into Guatemala’s rich and colorful history with a guided tour to two of the region’s most significant historical and cultural sights: Chichicastenango and Iximche. You’ll start your trip with a guided walking tour around Chichicastenango, which is known for its huge outdoor market and 400-year-old churches. You’ll then head out to the Iximche archaeological site and learn about how the historic Mayan city became the first Spanish capital in Guatemala.

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.

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.

Walk through Guatemala city to see all the sites, and also travel like a local on the public bus, with help from your local guide. Together with your small-group, you’ll visit prominent places like The Constitution Plaza, The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago of Guatemala, and more, plus stopping at historic houses like Pavon House in San Martin for the chance to purchase a Guatemalan coffee.

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.

Experience the buzzing capital of Guatemala on this 3-hour afternoon sightseeing tour of Guatemala City, including hotel pick-up. Get your bearings in Central America’s biggest city, as you follow your guide around landmarks like the Avenue of the Americas, Constitution Plaza and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Learn more about the city’s rich history and heritage as you admire the murals and mosaics of the Bank of Guatemala, browse for handicrafts at the bustling Central Market.

Experience Guatemala City through the eyes of a local on this half-day historic and cultural tour of Guatemala’s capital city. A great way to squeeze plenty of sightseeing into half a day, you'll visit museums, markets, a cathedral, the palace, and the historical center. If you’re really short on time, you can even arrange for your private driver to pick you up or drop you off at Guatemala City La Aurora Airport.

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 busy town of Panajachel and small villages like San Juan.

Uncover the highlights of Guatemala City on a private tailor-made tour with a local guide. A great way to ensure you’re focusing on what interests you, your support team will help put together your dream itinerary for exploring Guatemala’s capital city. Customized to your group, you can choose from half-day or full-day tours, evening pub crawls, historical walking tours, food tours, or even shopping tours around the city’s different malls.

Discover a fantastical world of hobbit houses, amazing nature, panoramic volcano views, and crumbling palaces and churches on this fun-filled day trip to Hobbitenango and Antigua. Combining the natural beauty and inspired architecture of Hobbitenango with the fascinating history and faded grandeur of the old Spanish capital, this private day trip is a great way to maximize your time in Guatemala.

If you’ve ever wanted to roast marshmallows on lava, this is the tour for you. Besides experiencing this cooking technique, this private tour takes you on a tour of Guatemala City during the day. Visit places like the San Jose Cathedral, National Palace, and have some time for shopping at the central market. When the sun is about to set, hike up to the volcano and see the glowing lava, with your marshmallows.

Unlock the beauty and history of one of the oldest cities in the Americas during this Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City. Your full-day excursion includes stops at some of the colonial town’s top attractions, including the Museo del Jade, La Merced Church, and even a picturesque coffee plantation that’s still in operation. Take in epic views of the cityscape from Cerro de la Cruz and learn about the former capital’s colorful past while you listen to your friendly local guide as they lead you through the cobbled streets.

Get acquainted with the colonial treasures of Antigua, Guatemala, on a 3-hour afternoon walking tour. Replete with charming churches and brightly colored buildings, the UNESCO-listed city of Antigua is ideal to explore by foot. Alongside your guide, you’ll stroll past landmarks such as La Merced Cathedral and the Cathedral of San Francisco while listening to history-rich commentary. See, too, the recognizable yellow Santa Catalina Arch, backed by the mighty Agua volcano, and Palacio del Ayuntamiento. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 15 people.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating Mayan culture with a guided tour of the Iximche archaeological site on this private day trip from Antigua. Built in 1465 as the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya, Iximche became the first Spanish capital of Guatemala. You'll uncover the turbulent history of this sacred site as you explore the ruins with your Mayan guide. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see a Mayan spiritual ceremony.

Discover the ancient ruins of Tikal and gain a deeper understanding of Mayan culture and traditions on this Tikal day trip by air from Guatemala City with lunch. Take a scenic flight from the nation’ capital and make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archeological park in the comfort of an air-conditioned coach. Wander the jungle with your expert guide who will offer up facts, stories and history about the temples that surround you. Get the most of your time in Guatemala with this truly memorable day trip!