Home
Guatemala
PLAN MY VISIT
Guatemala Destinations HotelsThings to do Transport Maps Vacations Team
  • Top Destinations
PLAN MY VISIT →
  1. Home
  2. Guatemala
  3. Destinations
  4. Western Highlands

Western Highlands, Guatemala

The Western Highlands are one of Guatemala’s most beautiful and enchanting areas. The landscape – composed of mountains and high alpine lakes – is stunning and the cultural offerings are some of Guatemala’s best.

Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
Western Highlands Guatemala
←→

The Western Highlands stretch from the area outside Antigua to the border with Mexico. A volcanic chain hems in the southern side, while the northern end is dominated by the Cuchumatanes mountain range. Amidst all of this is some seriously beautiful scenery—lakes, streams, valleys, and forests. Lake Atitlán, which was formed from the crater of an extinct volcano, is undoubtedly one of the region’s most beautiful attractions.

What’s more, it’s not only the physical landscape that is impressive—the cultural offerings are equally attractive. Many of the mountainous villages, particularly those around the shores of Lake Atitlán, have strong Mayan roots and intact cultural traditions. Other cultural attractions of the Western Highlands include the markets at Chichicastenango and Todos Santos Cuchumatán.

Lake Atitlán has attracted the attention of locals and foreigners for centuries. In fact, Aldous Huxley once visited Lake Atitlán and called it “The most beautiful lake in the world.” One look at this gorgeous, crescent moon-shaped lake and you’ll likely agree. The lake was created some 85,000 years ago after the collapsed caldera of a volcano filled with water. The main tourist towns along the lakeshore are Panajachel and San Pedro La Laguna.

Panajachel is set along the northern shores of Lake Atitlán and is an interesting mix of Central American, European, and North American influences. Although once a small Mayan village, Panajachel is now one of the most developed towns along the lake. It has good accommodations and a range of tasty restaurants and cafés. And as with any larger tourism-driven town, the bars here are fun and sometimes rowdy. Just outside town is the Reserva Natural Atitlán, where you can hike through forests, visit waterfalls, and even go zip lining.

Second in popularity is San Pedro La Laguna. Set on the southwest corner of Lake Atitlán, this town is a favorite of hip international travelers. Activities revolve around hiking the San Pedro Volcano, relaxing, riding horses, and partying. The San Pedro Volcano rises behind town and can be hiked in about 4–5 hours. The setting here is absolutely beautiful.

A handful of other villages dot the shores of Lake Atitlán, including San Marcos La Laguna, Santa Catalina Palopó, and Santiago Atitlán. These villages are small and many still retain their Mayan roots. They are peaceful and provide travelers with a good place to unwind for a few days.

The Western Highlands have some of Guatemala’s most traditional towns, including those of Chichicastenango and Todos Santos Cuchumatán. Chichicastenango is a small town with a fascinating outdoor marketplace. The market here accommodates visitors yet still manages to retain its authenticity. It’s a good place to find high-quality weavings, pottery, masks, and fabric. Look across the street and you might see indigenous people praying or reciting incantations on the steps of the Santo Tomás church.

Todos Santos Cuchumatán is one of Guatemala’s most traditional towns. It’s one of the few places in Guatemala where you’ll see locals wearing traditional attire, including the striped red shorts (for men) and purple huipiles (for women). Todos Santos is also famous for its celebration of All Saints’ Day on November 1. This is a wild and colorful three-day festival, and if you’re in the area around this time of year you should consider checking it out. While in Todos Santos it’s important to not take photographs without first asking permission.

In addition to observing living traditions in the Western Highlands, there are also some ancient ruins that are worth visiting. Mayan tribes dominated this region until the Spanish arrived in 1524. Although the Spanish eventually destroyed most of the original city-states, many ruins still remain. These include the site of Iximché, which was originally a Kaqchikel capital in the fifteenth century. Iximché is notable for its strong Mexican influences, which likely came from Toltec groups who migrated here from present-day Veracruz. Iximché was probably mainly used for religious rituals; some Mayans still use it for this purpose today.

Mixco Viejo is another Mayan site worth visiting. Set 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala City, Mixco Viejo was originally the capital of the Poqomam Maya, who was one of Guatemala’s main tribes prior to the arrival of the Spanish. It shows both Toltec and Aztec influences and once had a population around 10,000. A French team excavated and restored Mixco Viejo in the 1950s and 60s. Today, the site’s 120 structures include temples and plazas.

The final Mayan site in the Western Highlands is that of Zaculeu, which is set just outside the town of Huehuetenango. The ruins at Zaculeu date back to 400–700 AD and were made by the Mam, a Mayan group who lived here for around 1,000 years before being conquered by the Spanish in 1525. Zaculeu was restored in the 1950s. The tallest surviving structure is around 40 feet (12 m) high.

The Western Highlands are home to Guatemala’s second largest city, Quetzaltenango. This cosmopolitan city sits an elevation of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and is the main population center for K’iche’ Mayans. Despite being a fairly large city – around 300,000 people live here – the residents are still relaxed and friendly. Quetzaltenango is often called Xela, an abbreviation of its original K’iche’ name.

There are a number of sites to visit within Quetzaltenango, and several nearby volcanoes that can be climbed—the Santa María Volcano is the most popular. Quetzaltenango is also a popular place to study Spanish or volunteer with NGOs. Travelers often stop here for a week or two to brush up on their Spanish skills at one of the many language schools.

The Western Highlands is definitely one of Guatemala’s most incredible regions—there are very few places in Central America that can compare with the physical and cultural beauty of this area. Whether for a few days or a few weeks, a visit to this region will undoubtedly heighten your experience in Guatemala.

Personalized Trips for Western Highlands, Guatemala

Friends Vacation Exploring Mayan Ruins, Guatemala
Guatemala
Friends Vacation Exploring Mayan Ruins

Customer Reviewed I think efforts are being made, and change can be slow. People are aware of the problems of pollution in the air and lake.

10 days $$View Trip
Lakeside Villages and Relaxation, Guatemala
Guatemala
Lakeside Villages and Relaxation

Customer Reviewed My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this lakeside getaway by Lake Atitlan. We stayed in amazing places and will be using Anywhere again as we explore more of Central America!

8 days $$$View Trip
A Wedding Celebration Made Better, Guatemala
Guatemala
A Wedding Celebration Made Better

Customer Reviewed Thank you for making my Wes and Ines's wedding so special! We were taken care of at all times and will return and only use your services!

9 days $View Trip
An Unforgettable Trip to Tikal, Guatemala
Guatemala
An Unforgettable Trip to Tikal

Customer Reviewed Visiting Tikal is a one of a kind experience that we recommend to anyone traveling to Guatemala. Our family is fairly active and this exploration type vacation was just what we wanted.

14 days $View Trip
Active Couple Mayan Culture Explorer, Guatemala
Guatemala
Active Couple Mayan Culture Explorer

Customer Reviewed We loved GUATEMALA. This was our first visit to Central America and found the country intriguing, complex, and exciting. Hope to visit Central America and South America in the future. Would definitely recommend traveling to Guatemala for friends and family.

13 days $$View Trip
See More Trips

Where to go in Western Highlands, Guatemala

Panajachel, GuatemalaPanajachel, Guatemala
Lake Atitlan, GuatemalaLake Atitlan, Guatemala
Quetzaltenango, GuatemalaQuetzaltenango, Guatemala
Santiago Atitlán, GuatemalaSantiago Atitlán, Guatemala
Santa Cruz La Laguna, GuatemalaSanta Cruz La Laguna, Guatemala
Chichicastenango, GuatemalaChichicastenango, Guatemala
Huehuetenango, GuatemalaHuehuetenango, Guatemala
Santa Catarina Palopó, GuatemalaSanta Catarina Palopó, Guatemala
San Pedro la Laguna, GuatemalaSan Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala
Sololá, GuatemalaSololá, Guatemala
San Juan La Laguna, GuatemalaSan Juan La Laguna, Guatemala
Santa Cruz del Quiché, GuatemalaSanta Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala
La Mesilla (Mexico border), GuatemalaLa Mesilla (Mexico border), Guatemala
San Marcos la Laguna, GuatemalaSan Marcos la Laguna, Guatemala
Atitlán Nature Reserve, GuatemalaAtitlán Nature Reserve, Guatemala
Chichicastenango Market, GuatemalaChichicastenango Market, Guatemala
Santiago Atitlan Friday Market, GuatemalaSantiago Atitlan Friday Market, Guatemala
←→

Key Attractions

Atitlan Natural ReserveBiotopo del QuetzalChicabal Volcano and LagoonChichicastenangoEl Mirador TrailIximcheLake AtitlánMixco ViejoSan Pedro VolcanoSanta Maria VolcanoSantiago Atitlan Friday MarketSantiaguito VolcanoTajumulco VolcanoTakalik Abaj (Retalhuleu)Todos Santos CuchumatanFuentes Georginas Hot Springs

Key Destinations

ChichicastenangoHuehuetenangoLake Atitlan, SololaLake AtitlanQuetzaltenangoSan Juan La Laguna, Lake AtitlanSan Pedro la Laguna, Lake Atitlan Santiago AtitlanSolola
Excellent!
Trustpilot Rating
Based on 705 reviews
Trustpilot
GUA and BZE a success!
Anywhere inc made another trip a delight. I can’t wait for my next Adventure with Anywhere!!
Mar 17, 2020
– Shawn Ng
Trustpilot Rating
Easy & Cost Effective
easy to use and transact, would definitely recommend to friends and family. thank you for making my experience while in ...
Mar 11, 2020
– Elle Mac
Trustpilot Rating
Enrico Estrada of Anywhere.com planned…Great Trip!!
Enrico Estrada of Anywhere.com planned an amazing trip for my husband and me to Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica. The tr...
Jun 24, 2019
– FAITH HOF.
Trustpilot Rating
Book with Anywhere! Easiest decision you'll have to make
Booking with Anywhere was the best decision we made. Our trip was absolutely amazing, everything we wanted, plus everyth...
Apr 26, 2019
– Stephanie
Trustpilot Rating
Great company
Great company! They’re more than helpful and they make your trip a time to remember. The customer service is in a class ...
Apr 26, 2019
– Johnny
Trustpilot Rating
We were delighted with the quality of…
We were delighted with the quality of service. The staff were professional, courteous, punctual and reliable. We would ...
Apr 05, 2019
– Deepak D
Trustpilot Rating
The trip was a once in a lifetime…
The trip was a once in a lifetime experience. Anywhere.com did an exceptional job of planning this trip. It couldn't h...
Mar 30, 2019
– Vickie B.
Trustpilot Rating
This service is outstanding
This service is outstanding. We had changes to be made, and they were done so with ease. All of the excursions and dri...
Mar 23, 2019
– Linda A
Trustpilot Rating
Wonderful staff, amazing service.
I highly recommend this company! Everyone throughout the whole process was friendly, professional and so understanding a...
Mar 08, 2019
– Luanne
Trustpilot Rating
awesome company to deal with
awesome company to deal with. Everything they planned, including hotels and sightseeing tours, was wonderful. Every ve...
Mar 06, 2019
– Happy tra.
Trustpilot Rating
The Hidden Treasure of Travel Agency ( that shouldn't be anymore )!
Super pleasant, helpful, and knowledgeable staff! We plan to have them coordinate our next trips to the areas they ser...
Feb 15, 2019
– Mari
Trustpilot Rating
I would recommend anywhere to anyone…
I would recommend anywhere to anyone traveling anywhere. I was treated exceptionally well with professionalism and kindn...
Feb 14, 2019
– Steven
Trustpilot Rating
Best vacation of my life
Best vacation of my life! I told them the type of vacation and experiences I wanted and they somehow found the most perf...
Feb 08, 2019
– Lisa
Trustpilot Rating
This is our second vacation with…
This is our second vacation with Anywhere. As the first time, the use experience of the website was easy, our travel pla...
Feb 07, 2019
– Rosemary
Trustpilot Rating
Anywhere did a fantastic job planning…
Anywhere did a fantastic job planning my vacation. My family loves to travel and this was one of the best trips we’ve ta...
Jan 11, 2019
– Elena
Trustpilot Rating

Let's Dream Together

Share your bucketlist to get inspiration and local connections.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.

Guatemala Vacations
  • Adventure
  • Archaeology
  • Bird-watching
  • Community
  • Family
  • Nature
  • Rainforest
  • Romantic
  • Sustainable
Highlights
  • Mayan
  • Unique & Authentic
  • Relaxation
  • Mountains
  • Rainforests
  • Lakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Indigenous
  • Colonial
PLACES TO GO
  • Antigua
  • Tikal
  • Peten
  • Panajachel
  • Languin
  • Chichi
  • Quetzaltenango
  • Pacific Slope
  • Quirigua
  • Acantenango Volcano
  • Pacaya Volcano
  • Todos Santos Cuchumatanes
THINGS TO DO
  • Nature Walks
  • Birdwatching
  • Ruins
  • Archeology
  • Hiking
  • Coffee Farms
  • Horseback Riding
Trustpilot 5 of 5 rated service
Trustpilot "Excellent"
Plan My Visit→+1 (888) 456-3212
MessengerContact AnywhereWhatsapp ContactCall USA: +1-888-456-3212

© 2023 Anywhere Inc. All rights reserved.Privacy Policy