4 Capitals Guatemala Tour: Mayan & Colonial Sites

Follow Guatemala's capital moves across centuries of conquest and earthquakes

A full-day private tour from Guatemala City visiting Iximché (the last Mayan city), Ciudad Vieja (destroyed by volcanic avalanche in 1541), Antigua Guatemala (the third capital), and returning to Guatemala City (the fourth, founded in 1777). A certified guide in English or Spanish accompanies you throughout. Hotel pickup and drop-off, transport, water and site entry are included. Not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Guatemala's four capitals

• Pick up at hotel lobby
• Drive to Mayan City of Iximché
• Explore ruins of Iximché
• Visit Ciudad Vieja town and church
• Lunch break
• Tour Antigua Guatemala landmarks
• Return to hotel in Guatemala City

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in Guatemala City, and your guide begins the history lesson during the drive itself: explaining how the capital moved four times, and how Guatemala City's own founding in 1777 followed an earthquake that destroyed Antigua. You reach Iximché first, the ruins of a Kaqchikel capital that the Spanish conquered in 1524 and used as their first foothold. The structures you walk among are what remains of palaces, plazas and ball courts. Much was dismantled by the conquerors, who used the stone to build Spanish settlements in Tecpán. The guide points out the architectural detail and the story of the conquest itself. You may encounter Mayan priests performing ceremonies on-site. The tour asks for respect and discretion during those moments.

Ciudad Vieja, the second Spanish capital founded in 1527, sits near the Agua Volcano, and that proximity is the whole story. In 1541, after weeks of rain, the volcano's crater filled with water, part of it collapsed, and an avalanche buried the city. Only those sheltering in the church survived. You visit the church, the central park and the house of Beatriz de la Cueva, wife of the conqueror Pedro de Alvarado, to see what remains of that second capital before moving on to lunch.

After lunch, the tour turns to Antigua Guatemala, the third capital, where the Spanish rebuilt after 1541 and stayed until the 1773 earthquake forced the move to Guatemala City. You walk the Arch of Santa Catalina, the Central Park, and several convents and churches: colonial architecture that has changed little since the 18th century. The guide closes the day by returning you to your hotel in Guatemala City, completing the arc from Mayan kingdom to Spanish conquest to modern capital.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Guatemala City.
• bottled water.
• entrance fee to Iximché.
• guided tour at all four capitals with a certified guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Guat2do Travel Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this full-day tour if you want to see four distinct periods of Guatemala's history (Mayan site, two colonial capitals, and modern Guatemala City) in a single trip. The 10-hour itinerary requires an early morning start and late afternoon return.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What exactly will I see at Iximché?

Iximché holds the ruins of palaces, plazas and ball courts built by the Kaqchikel Maya. Much of the original stone was taken by Spanish conquerors and used to build their own settlements, so what remains are the architectural foundations and some intact structures. The site is still used by Mayan priests for religious ceremonies.

How did Ciudad Vieja get destroyed?

In 1541, after prolonged heavy rain, the crater of the nearby Agua Volcano filled with water. Part of the crater collapsed, sending an avalanche down the mountainside that buried the city and killed most of its inhabitants. Only people who took shelter in the church survived.

Will I have time to walk around Antigua Guatemala?

Yes. After lunch, you spend the afternoon in Antigua, visiting the Arch of Santa Catalina, Central Park, and several convents and churches. The guide leads you through the colonial streets and explains the history of each stop before returning you to your hotel in Guatemala City.

Is the tour physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You spend most of the day in a vehicle between sites, and walking at each stop is at a normal pace. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Guatemala City; private transportation for the full day; bottled water; entrance fee to the Iximché archaeological site; and a guided tour at all four capitals. Lunch and gratuities are not included.