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Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua

Chichicastenango and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua

Badge of ExcellenceAntigua, Guatemala
  • 10 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Journey from Antigua to explore the fascinating market at Chichicastenango plus the town of Panjachel, along the shores of Lake Atitlán, on this 9-hour day trip. Take time to browse the ceramics and woodcrafts at the famous open-air market of Chichicastenango before visiting the city’s religious structures, Iglesia de Santo Tomas and Calvary Church. Then head to Panjachel, where you’ll take in views of Lake Atitlán as you explore the town’s main thoroughfare, Santander Street. Your trip also includes a guide and round-trip transportation from your hotel in Antigua.
  • Day trip to Panajachel and Chichicastenango from Antigua
  • Visit the town of Chichicastenango and shop for beautiful goods at its open-air market
  • Stroll down Santander Street in Panajachel and learn about the town’s history from your local guide
  • Admire stunning views of Lago de Atitlán
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off and all entrance fees included

What's Included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Professional guide
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:30 AM

Pickup details

Pick up time will be within 15 minutes of the established departure time in your confirmation.

What To Expect

Visit two of Guatemala’s most fascinating cultural sites, Chichicastenango and Panjachel, on this day trip from Antigua. Along the way you’ll have time to browse for handmade goods at a famous open-air market, visit the area’s top churches and see the shores of the famous Lake Atitlán.

Start your excursion with an 8am pickup from your Antigua hotel, heading towards Chichicastenango. Upon your arrival at this historic village, take some time to wander its cobblestone streets and colonial structures before continuing to the city’s renowned market for shopping. This sprawling commercial center features local produce and a wealth of handmade goods for sale, including ceramics and woodcarvings. 

Bargain for a souvenir or two, and then proceed to the east side of the plaza to Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Saint Thomas). This historic structure, built in 1540, often plays host to Mayan rituals. Just across the plaza is Calvary Church, a slightly more compact version of Iglesia Santo Tomas, which you’ll also have a chance to visit.

Leaving Chichicastengo, head next to Panjachel, a small hamlet on the shores of beautiful Lake Atitlán. This cozy town is known as a central hub for travelers as they make their way to the picturesque villages that dot the lakeshore. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant (at your own expense) then wander along the town’s main road, Santander Street. Explore this beautiful strip with your guide, pausing to observe the rhythms of daily life and shop among its various handicraft stalls, restaurants and shops. Make sure to enjoy beautiful views of the lake just in the distance, then climb aboard your transport for the return trip back to Antigua.

Mercado de Chichicastenango

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Santo Tomas Church

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Panajachel

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Lago de Atitlan

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Operated by Guatemalan Adventure

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • 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.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5
33 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Showing 1-10 of 33 reviews
Great way to spend a day
Elizabeth_H, Feb 2024
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!
Great way to experience Chichicastenango/Panajachel in a day
Jessica_G, Feb 2024
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.
Great time!
Austin_M, Jan 2024
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.
Colorful market
Emma_L, Sep 2023
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.
Great Experience
Christina_R, Aug 2023
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.
Absolutely horrible tour
Shay_L, Aug 2023
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.
Wish we could see more
Vicky_M, Aug 2023
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.
Book it
Tessa_M, Apr 2022
Unexpectedly had a private tour and had a wonderful day. The drive from Antigua is quite long but very scenic! Learned loads about the local culture. Would 100% recommend this trip! Very grateful for my guide Luis Pedro who was wonderful.
Great driver/guide but market is a disappointment
Nancy_L, Jan 2022
Our driver was amazing - shared with us a lot about Guatemala (first time in the country) and took us to a lovely Mayan restaurant for locals to eat authentic local food. When we got to Chichi, it was unfortunately not what we expected. By that, I meant the market not the church. The church was worth going but the market was inundated with locals trying to sell you overpriced products. Unlike other markets, they literally follow you. I had a woman and girl follow me for 45 minutes! My friend had a boy no older than 8 following her and trying to sell her things from his bags for 6 blocks. Just when you thought they finally gave up, they pop back out. Tourist trap.
I’d do this again
Taneal_C, Nov 2021
My friend and I really enjoyed this activity. Our guide Carmen was really cool and full of knowledge. I would definitely book this tour again. I learned a lot, saw a lot, and I didn’t feel like a tourist (lol). The market was much more crowded than I expected, but that was a part of the authentic experience I was hoping for. My only regret is not stopping to buy mementos.
Fantastic!
Linda_A, Oct 2021
I had my tour on October 24, 2021 and it was amazing! My guide picked me up on time. He was very knowledgeable about the towns and the country and the people. I learned so much. We visited the markets, the waterfall, the towns and I even met some of the Mayan people. What an incredible experience! 5 out of 5 I would highly recommend!
Chichi and Pana day trip
Kristen_B, Jun 2021
Miguel was the best. Very informative. Provides great history. Very careful with your safety. The lake is beautiful. You should spend more than one day there. My schedule did not allow for that so this was a great trip.
Great tour
Mark_C, May 2021
Super fun trip to the market and lake. Our guide was excellent and provided so much valuable information and sights we would have never found by ourselves. He knew exactly where to go and was very attentive to our needs. He also let us stop at a nice leather store where my wife got a great jacket and cowboy boots. The level of service was outstanding. The market for a little overwhelming because we were some of the only tourists due to covid. I just laughed when people were trying to sell me everything under the sun. If you feel like it's too much, just tell your guide and they'll take you away. I felt like we made a friend on this tour. You won't be disappointed. Since it was just my wife and I, we were able to adjust the tour to our needs. Great service
A Sunday to remember
Gayle, Mar 2020
Our driver picked us up on time at our hotel in a late model vehicle, very comfortable. He was a good driver, and fluent in English as well as Spanish. It is a fairly long drive, but there are rest stops going and coming. The scenery is spectacular. We went on Sunday, market day in Chichicastenango, which is highly recommended - a huge colorful lively experience. Be sure to visit the food vendors inside also. Fantastic photo ops.
Wonderful Day Trip
Becky_P, Sep 2019
Mirkos did a great job as our tour guide to Chichicastenango. He was very knowledgeable and because we ended up as the only two on the tour, he let us make decisions about how to spend our time. I would definitely recommend this day trip!
Perfect tour for a short visit!
Adriana_J, Aug 2019
This tour was ideal to pack in a lot of sites into our much too short visit to Guatemala. We were initially concerned about the long drives, but the guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the tour interesting throughout the entire time in the car (and outside of it!). We spent a good amount of time in the market and the guide made it a learning & cultural experience rather than just shopping. He also did a great job of making sure we had enough time to see everything. The time in Panajachel was a bit short, but that was expected given the time limitations.
I loved walking through the markets of...
Rachel P, Sep 2018
I loved walking through the markets of Chichicastenango I felt we had the perfect amount of a guided tour and then free time to shop. Driving to Panajachel was lovely, and we ate lunch near the lake. I would have preferred an earlier meal and time at the lake instead of just viewing it. But it was still a lovely day and one I recommend!
This day trip was a nice experice...
laruta2, Aug 2017
This day trip was a nice experice. Mike the tour guide was great. The visit to the market was impressive to me, all the colors, people, the cementery. The view to the lake.
This trip was wonderful, the driver...
Laura U, Feb 2016
This trip was wonderful, the driver was the best one we could have! He told us a lot of the history about Guatemala. He was an expert on driving besides it is a difficult road. The only thing we miss was our walk through Santander Street, we just went to it by car and that was it! We wonder why?
This tour from Guatemalan adventure...
k.raghuveer007, Dec 2015
This tour from Guatemalan adventure is ok. Market and Lake are a long drive from Antigua. Market I believe is almost 3 hrs and lake is around 1 - 1:30 hr from the Market and drive back from lake is around 3 hrs. Roads are windy and you might get sick driving up and down the hills. Traffic jams can be expected too. Market itself is nice and colorful. You can find lot of stuff to buy and you can negotiate the prices too. Our guide Ramirez I believe was a nice guy and very informative and kept us engaged throughout the trip. Lake is beatuiful surrounded by volcanoes but you wont have much time to spend at the lake. We had lunch near a lake side resturarant and spent around 15-20 mins and headed back. We couldn't find good place to walk around lake. More of resturants where we were stopped and it was dirty to walk.

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