Top 6 Mayan Experiences in Antigua Guatemala

1.3 Mayan Villages Tour to Lake Atitlan (full day)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 40 reviews · 1 day · from $90Our pick

Explore San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago on a private Lake Atitlán boat tour from Antigua, with Mayan culture, markets, crafts, and mountain views.

“De todas las actividades que he comprado con este app..... La mejor de todas! Brenda la mejor guía de Guatemala, amable, muy conocedora de su cultura y de sus tradiciones. Dispuesta a ayudar y mostrar todo lo bonito que tiene Guatemala. Ojalá cuándo compren esta actividad su guía sea Brenda! 200% recomendado!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Make your own Mayan Pepian – Cooking class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $89Top rated

Learn to make Guatemalan pepian with Maria’s family in Santa Ana Village, using a Mayan grinding stone, tortillas, and a local beverage.

“We enjoyed this authentic Guatemalan Mayan cooking class with Maria and her family members. We had that opportunity to make three different traditional and delicious Guatemalan foods. Our guide, Xoshil met us in Antigua and facilitated our trip to a local home on the outskirts of town. She was very knowledgeable about Antigua and Guatemala and shared many interesting facts as we moved to the city and throughout the entire class. We are English speaking and she was able to translate everything that the local Spanish-speaking family said. This is a hands-on cooking class with lots of opportunity to participate and understand the preparation of the dishes. It was clear…”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Mayan Cultural Walking Tour in La Antigua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $35Best value

Explore Antigua on foot with Wilson, learning Maya traditions, cosmovision, textiles, and Spanish colonial history in a small group.

“Wilson was an excellent guide. He added a layer depth & cultural knowledge about Mayan history & culture that enhanced our appreciation of the textiles we had come to Guatemala to see. I would highly recommend connecting with Wilson for a tour to learn more about guatemalan textiles, iconography, meaning of colours & history of Mayan people. Gracias Wilson!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.IXIMCHE MAYAN RUINS TOUR from La Antigua

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $98

Review of the Iximche Maya ruins tour from Antigua, with transport, guides, pricing, itinerary, practical tips, and booking advice.

“Our tour guides Erwin and Hugo were absolutely the BEST!!! They were both so smart and knew so much history and details, which is exactly what we wanted to hear. Bonus, they were very funny too and made the tour most enjoyable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Upper Mayan Trail from Antigua or Panajachel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 10 to 12 hours (approx.) · from $91

Hike Lake Atitlan’s Upper Mayan Trail, meet local communities, visit Solola Market, and enjoy dramatic views from Antigua or Panajachel.

“Antonio, our guide, was wonderful and very knowledgeable and attentive to my husband and me as we were the only two on the tour. The hike up the mountain is very steep and strenuous but Antonio was patient with my many breaks and lent a helping hand to pull me up the steepest parts. It was fascinating to see the views and locals hauling their firewood and avocados on this active mountainside trail. At the top of the mountain we jumped in the back of a pickup truck for the ride to Solala to walk through the market and have lunch. It was my husband’s birthday and Antonio surprised him…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Explore Mayan villages around Lake Atitlan

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · 12 to 14 hours (approx.) · from $80

Review of a long Lake Atitlán day trip from Antigua, with Mayan villages, boat rides, textiles, breakfast, costs, timing, and practical advice.

“Avoid this kind of tour: we wasted a lot of time to have breakfast in front of the lake, we only saw two villages but visited four different shops.. (too many!) and we didn't really enjoy the lake”

Check availability →Read our full review