Our most recommended things to do in Western Highlands

From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Trek

1. From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Trek

Walk for 2 hours to the summit of Pacaya Volcano and enjoy stunning views. Leave from Antigua for a 1-hour bus journey to the volcano's base before immediately starting your 2-hour trek with your local guide. Hike through wonderful pine forests up to the trickier volcanic ash section and finally to the sulfur smoking cone. On occasion, you can even see small eruptions and lava flowing, depending on the activity of the volcano. From the summit, you can enjoy great views of the nearby volcanoes, Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango, the pacific lowlands, and all the way to El Salvador. To ensure your safety you won’t be able to visit the crater, but you will get an amazing view of red-hot lava flowing and steam baths created by the heat of Pacaya. Take a break and relax here as you take in more scenic views before hiking back to the base of the volcano, from where you will transfer back to your accommodation. 

Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

2. Overnight Volcano Acatenango Hiking Adventure

Observe the sunset and the sunrise from Acatenango. Sleep overnight in the base camp located just in front of the Fuego volcano, facing it over an elevation of 3,700 meters above sea level. Begin with a shuttle from Antigua to La Soledad village in the morning. Begin your hike, and hike until the sun begins to set to catch the views from high above. Sleep in the base camp an overnight. On day two, rise early and take a quick hike to the summit. Take in an elevated view of the sunrise. Breakfast will be served back at base camp before the trek back toward the village. Finally, you'll reach the village before noon. Enjoy free time to look around before the transfer to Antigua, and enjoy the rest of your day in the city.

From Flores: Tikal Ruins Day Tour

3. From Flores: Tikal Ruins Day Tour

Tour the Tikal Mayan Ruins on a day trip from Flores. Enjoy a stunning sunrise before driving through the wild jungle and hiking through the breathtaking ruins with a local guide. Meet your driver at the meeting point by the entrance to Flores island. Drive out from the city towards the archaeoligical site and watch the sky burst into crimson color with the sunrise. Enter the jungle as you continue your adventure and be introduced to your guide at the start of the winding forest trails. Start hiking and admire the scenery as you trek, discovering the temples, pyramids, ruins, and palaces of the Mayans. Listen to the chirping birds and spot monkeys swinging through the trees. Learn about the history of Mayan culture and how these wonders of archaeology were built and used.

Antigua Atv Mountain Adventure

4. Antigua Atv Mountain Adventure

The first stop on this tour is a village called San Juan del Obispo, which sits at the foothills of the Agua Volcano. In San Juan we visit a popular chocolate factory called Chocolateria Antigua, where they show us part of their chocolate making process, taste various flavors, and purchase the ones that we liked. Once finished we visit the main plaza of the village, where we can get a nice view of Antigua below us. After a few pictures, we will head back down the mountain and cross the entire city to the mountain of El Hato, located on the North side of the valley. Our first stop on that side of the valley is ¨El Cerro de la Cruz¨ one of the best known attractions / sites in the city of Antigua. At the ¨Cross¨ we get a birds eye view of Antigua and the wonderful architecture of the city not to mention the Volcanoes. Once finished taking wonderful pictures and walking around the Cross, we will get back on our Atvs and head up to ¨Hobbitenango¨ a lord of the rings themed Eco-Park for some food, drinks, and fun. We leave our Atvs parked and head up to Hobbitenango on a pick-up truck to sightsee, enjoy great views and various activities in this enchanted little forest. Our last stop is the lunch stop, and on this tour you have the choice of going to El Restaurante La Montaña del Hato a local avocado plantation with a restaurant and cabins serving more traditional / local food like steaks, soups, and chicken dishes and known for their delicious Avocado Smoothie. The other option is Earth Lodge, another avocado plantation with a restaurant and cabins serving more casual food like sándwiches, salads, and burgers either choice you wont be dissapointed on the food. After lunch, we head back down the mountain on our ATVs to our office in Antigua.

Antigua Atv sunset tour

5. Antigua Atv sunset tour

This is the best activity you can do in the afternoon in Antigua. This tour will take you to 3 mountain tops with incredible views of the city, valley, and volcanoes near and around Antigua. Our first stop is ¨El Cerro de la Cruz ¨ Antigua’s famous lookout point known as ¨The Cross¨. After getting a close-up aerial view of the colonial city, we hop back on the vehicles and head up the El Hato Mountain towards our Second stop. We arrive at our parking lot in El Hato where we hop into our 4*4 pick-up truck which takes us to the ¨Hobbitenango¨. This is a lord of the rings themed Eco-Park where we catch the Sunset and are able to enjoy some food, drinks, and games. Here we will go up the hill and sightsee, enjoy great views and various activities in this enchanted little forest. Once, finished we will head back down the mountain where if you are hungry we can grab some food and drinks at a Guatemalan restaurant located on the side of the mountain called El Tambor.

Antigua: Pacaya Volcano ATV Tour

6. Antigua: Pacaya Volcano ATV Tour

Ride a quad bike and feel the adrenaline rush as you drive through Pacaya's active complex. Drive to explore 3 active volcanoes, Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango, before enjoying a sandwich to satisfy your hunger.  Meet your guide at the meeting point in Antigua for an action-packed adventure away from the city's crowds and chaos. So jump in your car and enjoy the ride as you head to The Pacaya Volcano. Watch as your guide gives you a quick safety induction before you hop on the ATV. First, you will jump on the ATV at San Vicente Pacaya, where you will explore the areas near and around the Pacaya Volcano, surrounded by lush forests and rocks.  Feel the endorphins rush through your body as you enjoy an exhilarating quad bike ride through various trails and to some of the local villages located at the volcano's base. Feel up close and personal to the active volcano as you hike up the side and see the bright lava bubbling up. Dive through different off-road trails, and ride through volcanic sand and lava fields inside a private plantation. Ride to the Calderas Lagoon and admire the beautiful turquoise waters. Enjoy eating a tasty sandwich as you take in the views. Make sure you take your camera as you want to take many photos.  Finally, you will enjoy a convenient lift back to Antigua when your tour ends. End your adventure on a high as you go home with memories that last forever. 

Lake Atitlan: Day Tour by Boat with Expert Guide

7. Lake Atitlan: Day Tour by Boat with Expert Guide

Cruise across Lake Atitlan and visit the villages of San Juan La Laguna on this full-day shared sightseeing tour. Ringed by 3 volcanoes on its southern flank, Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America. Departing from Panajachel, at the gateway to the lake, your private guide will take you on a scenic shared boat trip before exploring some local textile communities and the Mayan villages of San Juan La Laguna. Get amazing views of the Atitlan, Toliman and San Pedro volcanoes, as you experience for yourself why the area became such a Mecca for beatniks and bohemian writers such as Aldous Huxley. Capture the scent of coffee plantations, and then try some freshly ground coffee. Here, you can immerse yourself in the laid-back vibe of the Tz'utujil Mayans and turn the noisy dial of modern life down to zero.

Tikal Day Tour From Flores With Lunch

8. Tikal Day Tour From Flores With Lunch

Discover the impressive splendor of Tikal, which means Place of Voices. The park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, spans an area of 576 square kilometers. During this 8-hour tour you’ll have the opportunity to walk through the jungle and admire the many species of local flora and fauna. In addition to the main temples and plazas, there are several other sites not to miss. See the Major Plaza surrounded by impressive buildings such as Temples I and II, or the North and Central Acropolis. See the altars that played a role in the dynamic history of Tikal’s Mayan civilization. At the end of the tour you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch.

Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour From Antigua

9. Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour From Antigua

Your 10-hour excursion begins with a drive into the western highlands of Guatemala. The region is home to quaint and colorful mountain villages, highland lakes, pine forests and the majority of Guatemala’s indigenous peoples. When you arrive at the Chichicastenango market you’ll begin your walking tour. The market is at the center of the town and is the heart of commercial life for maxeños, the natives of Chichicastenango. Every Thursday and Sunday merchants head to the central plaza to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little over the centuries. Explore the pathways of the market and admire the colorful handicrafts and produce offered by the local people of the region. In Chichicastenango, you’ll also visit Santo Tomás Church, built in 1540 over the base of a pre-Hispanic temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, and the Mayan and Latino influence is evident in both the interior and exterior of the building. After exploring the market you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch (not included in the tour price). Next you’ll continue to the town of Panajachel, located at the edge of Lake Atitlan. Take a walk along Santander Street and enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Atitlan, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The volcanoes Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro form a natural frame for the lake. Lake Atitlan has a surface of 125 square kilometers and sits 1,560 meters above sea level.

Guatemala or Antigua Guatemala: Lake Atitlán Boat Cruise

10. Guatemala or Antigua Guatemala: Lake Atitlán Boat Cruise

Start the day with a trip from Antigua or Guatemala City to the Maya town of Panajachel. During the drive there will be a brief stop in Katok, a very famous restaurant where you can indulge in a hot drink. Once at Panajachel, it's time for a boat trip to cross Lake Atitlán and visit the Tzutuhil Village of Santiago de Atitlán. In this village you will visit the confraternity of the local saint named Maximon or Ri Laj Mam, visited by people all over the world who come to ask for health and prosperity in their lives. The lake itself owes its grandeur to its enormous size and spectacular volcanic setting. Three large volcanoes, Atitlán Tolimán and San Pedro, rise gracefully from its southern shore, creating breathtaking views around the area. You will experience these views and the traditional practices still carried out by the Maya-Tzutujil and Cakchiquel women who live around the lake. After a short transfer, we will have lunch at one of the most exquisite restaurants of Panajachel. While in town, guestes will also Santander Street and experience its vast, bustling handicraft market.

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What people are saying about Western Highlands

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 611 reviews

Henry and the two other guides were extremely experienced on both the Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes. They timed our ascent and descent perfectly so that we were at the top for the both sunset and sunrise. The guides were extremely courteous and provided us with meals which we took in our own pack for them to heat them up for us ontop if the mountain. This was accompanied with a hot chocolate for each of us at night and a coffee in the morning. Would definitely recommend this hike for Henry and the other guides knowledge alone

This was one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences. Going into the Peak takes aprox 4-5 hours depending on your pace but once you are there the beauty is incomparable. We spent the night and were able to presence about five volcano eruptions through the night. Additionally, the tour guides are fantastic, knowledgeable and helpful, specially Manuel he helped me conquer the exhaustion and supported me through the hike. FYI, there are available horses if needed for extra Q700.

Such an amazing time! I wish I remembered our guides name, he was hilarious. It’s a really easy, quick hike but the views are amazing and we roasted marshmallows at the top.

We loved our mountain bike trip. The villages were charming. Our guide Pablo, was outstanding. He had great knowledge of the Mayan history. I would highly recommend him.

Henry and the team were spectacular! They were experienced, funny and a joy to have as guides. The trek is hard but worth it. Highly recommend going with this group!