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Lake Atitlan: Mayan Ceremony at the Sacred Caves
Panajachel, Guatemala
From $105.00
Price varies by group size
Select Date and Travelers
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
- 2 hours
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take a journey through the traditions of Mayan spirituality as you experience a 2-hour traditional fire-cleansing ceremony with a guide in the Sacred Caves of Lake Atitlan. Step inside these mystical caves, used by local Mayans for many centuries, to observe the performance of this holy and powerful ritual by a local shaman. Listen as your guide explains the history and traditions behind the ritual and provides insight into the Mayan calendar system. Before you leave, you’ll have time to admire the gorgeous views of the lake down below.
- Observe a mystical Mayan spiritual ceremony inside the Sacred Caves of Lake Atitlan
- Discover the history of the Sacred Caves, used by local Mayans for rituals over many centuries
- Watch as the traditional Mayan fire cleansing and protection ceremony is performed by a local shaman
- Learn about Mayan spiritual beliefs and their unique calendar system
- Once-in-a-lifetime experience
What's Included
- Local guide
- Gratuities
- Materials for your own ceremony are available for an additional fee
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- FerryPanajachel, Guatemala
Xocomil Tour office, Calle Embarcadero, Panajachel
Start time
Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.
Opening hours
- 8/20/2022 - 3/5/2025
Monday - Sunday : 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Operated by Los Elementos Adventure Center & Day Spa
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.
Traveler Photos
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Reviews
4.5
28 reviews
Jessica_C, Apr 2024
Alex was so friendly - what a gentleman and nice guy! Brilliant English. My boyfriend and I attended with another couple - so there were 4 of us in total, and Alex as the shaman and guide. We had avoided “chicken buses” but this was a nice chance to use one with a local chaperone! Picked up in central Pana, then 10 mins on bus up the hill. Walked to the cave and did the ceremony. Prepare to be covered in ash and smell of smoke, also ingredients in the fire ceremony are burnt (bien sur!) so maybe not great for anyone with respiratory conditions, cave might also be difficult for tall people. Exploding eggs and popping seeds also an interesting addition! Really appreciated Alex explaining how he’d been trained, I would have loved some written information sketching the ceremony placement out and explaining what each of the elements were / what they signified.
Dinora_L, Jan 2024
I did the private ceremony with Shaman Carlos, and Mario the guide. I set an intention of what I’d like to receive from the experience, and it exceeded all expectation. It was intimate & healing. Grateful to the ancestors, spirits, and shamans for their guidance.
Shoshana_B, Jan 2024
Meeting Alex and experiencing a ceremony with him was very powerful. It's clear that he is welcoming and thoughtful. He also maintains a strong relationship with the local community.
SANDRA_E, Aug 2023
What an amazing truly unique experience. Mario our guide and Carlos the Shaman were incredible. Extremely helpful. The whole spiritual experience is something that moves and changes you. A moment you will always remember. 100% recommend to everyone!
Harvir_K, Aug 2023
This ceremony was has been the highlight of my trip to Guatemala. It was a beautiful, touching, heartfelt, and sacred experience. I would definitely recommend to those wishing to learn more about the Mayan culture.
Inna_A, Aug 2023
It worth it. Excellent, unforgettable experience! Highly recommend. Though I don’t think most children would like it.
Kavita_C, Jun 2023
Of all the excursions we did in Guatemala this was hands-down the most special thing we did. I was a bit skeptical since no other tourists were aware of this however, I cannot recommend this enough to you if you are looking to connect spiritually with the ancient Mayans culture.
Our guide Alex met us promptly on time and started the tour with a ride on the chicken bus to the starting point of our hike, which was such a pleasant surprise! On the bus the historical and cultural significance of the ceremony were explained so we could appreciate it once we were in the cave. From the starting point of the hike to the cave was maybe 10-15 minutes. There were some slippery parts so I recommend sneakers with good grip. At the cave, there are many locals conducting their own ceremonies, which you can watch as Alex continues to explain the different things going on around us. Our cleansing ceremony involved own prayers, and lighting a candle to banish bad spirits. After some moments of silence, you hike out of the cave to a stunning overlook to have time to meditate further, and attract good energy/spirits. My friend and I were deeply moved by this experience and are SO grateful to have gotten a chance to participate. Truly something that we could not have done it anywhere else in the world.
James_N, Mar 2023
This experience was very impactful for me as I‘ve been taking on a lot of energies during the couple months prior. Marcelino, our personal Mayan Shaman, took the time to understand each one of our intentions and prayers before the ceremony. Alex, our guide/translator, did an amazing job of helping us understand the Mayan culture and fire ceremony process. Thank you again Marcelino and Alex for allowing us into the sacred caves and providing the cleansing, healing, and protection we requested! ✨♥️💫
Leslie_C, Oct 2022
My guide Mario was awesome. Shared a lot about his culture and the significance of the places we visited. We also went to see a shaman who shared his gifts with me. Truly a memorable experience. I’ll be visiting Guatemala again with friends and family and will definitely be booking this experience for them.
Sam_J, Apr 2022
We scheduled our tour for Easter weekend, which little did we know would be insane. Our shuttle from Antigua caused us to be late but Humberto was only concerned with our well-being. When we arrived at Xocomil Tour office they were not particularly polite but thankfully Humberto was in contact with us. Be prepared once you hit the road that leads to the boats for multiple men to approach you trying to take you to your ferry. We happily hopped in Humberto's van to first arrive at the house of Marcelo, the Mayan shaman. Humberto's passion for sharing knowledge about his culture was obvious. We gave a small donation to the alter and were blessed by the shaman. Then we walked by some locals preparing lunch and stopped to purchase a water. We then hiked down a mountainside and this is when I realized we probably should've worn hiking shoes. There were some quite precarious moments Humberto just graced through as we grasped on and made sure each other weren't going to fall. If you are scared of heights this isn't for you. Due to time constraints we were only able to see one cave but Humberto made our tour absolutely worthwhile. Leaving the incredible view of the cave we climbed back up the mountainside and hopped in the "pick-up" Humberto arranged for us last minute. He was determined to get us across the lake for our next tour on time and we even managed to be early. After the most authentic Guatemalan travel I can think of, only 2nd to a chicken bus, we hopped out of the back of the pick-up at the beach full of festivities. Not only had Humberto arranged a pick up to get us down the mountain, he also arranged a boat ride for us across the lake. It was like being James Bond and just contacting Humberto for help. Even after the boat ride he walked us to our next tour.
I would HIGHLY recommend purchasing this tour and soaking up the opportunity to learn directly from Mayans. Bring decent shoes for hiking and if you're from the flat lands like me get a little incline cardio in before you go.
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Lake Atitlan: Mayan Ceremony at the Sacred Caves
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