Full-Day Private Tour to the 4 Capitals of Guatemala
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
We have created a wonderful tour for you to know the history of Guatemala differently. You will go from being in a Mayan archaeological site to 2 colonial cities, and the current capital of Guatemala, all combined in this tour.
Guatemala, before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, was divided into kingdoms of different ethnicities. In 1524 when the conquerors set foot in Guatemalan for the first time, they did so in the Kaqchiquel City of Iximché and founded the first Spanish capital there. A few years later, they moved to Ciudad Vieja and established their second capital. Still, due to a natural disaster in 1541, they moved for the third time to what we now know as Antigua Guatemala. Finally, after an earthquake in 1773, they moved their capital for the fourth time, and they did it to where it is located today.
This is a specialized tour for history lovers and the entire family. You will be accompanied at all times by an expert guide.
Additional Info
Specialized infant seats are available
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Guatemala City
We will start this tour by picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in Guatemala City. While we go on the road until reaching the Mayan City of Iximché, our expert guide in history will tell you all the interesting facts about Guatemala City, which today is the fourth capital of Guatemala founded in 1777 and with a lot of history since it was in this site where the independence act was signed in 1821 but we will tell you how that happened later in the tour.
Once we get to Iximche, you will find the ruins of the last Mayan city. Iximche was conquered by the Spanish when they came to Guatemalan lands and became the first Spanish city. After 3 years here, the Spanish moved to what we now know as Ciudad Vieja, near Antigua Guatemala. Iximche was a Kaqchichel capital, one of the Mayan ethnic groups that still exist in Guatemala nowadays. The architectural vestiges that we see today are the remains of Mayan palaces, plazas, and ball courts that in their time were colorfully decorated and were galas of the kingdom. Much of the structures were destroyed during the conquest and the rock buildings were dismantled to use their stones in the Spanish constructions of Tecpán. Get to know these and more facts on your visit. During your time here in Iximche, you might see Mayan priests performing religious ceremonies, we ask for respect and discretion.
Options
Full-Day Private Tour to the 4 Capitals of Guatemala
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Bottled water
Entrance Fee to Iximche Archeological Site
Hotel Pick Up & Drop Off
Guided tour in Iximche + Ciudad Vieja + Antigua Guatemala + Guatemala City
Certified Tour Guide
Gratuities
Lunch
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Comfortable tour with knowledge tour guide
vka99,Mar 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Comfortable car with driver and tour guide. Easy itinerary to follow through. Very convenient as we got picked up and dropped off at the airport. Tour guide is very knowledgeable and speak English clearly.
Explore the history of Guatemala
Rdwatson3,Feb 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I worked with Guat2Do to book their day tour to 4 capitals of Guatemala. This tour is well worth you time to learn about the history of the area. We started with Guatemala City, which I found to be an unexpected gem. The city is located in the highlands so the climate was perfect. I saw amazing parks along with the government buildings and cathedral. I didn't stay in Guatemala City for this trip overnight, but I definitely will next time. The second capital visited was Iximche which is a Mayan archeological site about 1.5 hours from Guatemala City. This is a very impressive site and reminded me of similar sites in the Yucatan. You can see Mayan priests conducting traditional ceremonies. The third capital is Ciudad Vieja which is on the slopes of a dormant volcano. The colonial city was destroyed by a landslide but you can see some ruins from that period and experience the views of the valley and the volcanoes. Finally, Antigua, the fourth capital. This city is full of tourists and has an infrastructure to go along with that. You can see colonial architecture and churches and pick from 100s of restaurants for amazing food and ambiance. I stayed here for 3 nights and would definitely recommend for anyone's first trip to Guatemala.
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Operated by Guat2do Travel Experiences