Hike Lake Chicabal & Mayan Village from Quetzaltenango

600 steps down into a crater lake sacred to the Mam-Maya people

A full-day tour from Quetzaltenango combines a hike into Lake Chicabal crater with a cultural visit to a local Mayan village. You descend 600 steps to reach the lake's perimeter, learn about the 20 Mayan naguals along the way, and return to explore village life, visit a family home, and watch traditional backstrap weaving. Breakfast, box lunch and lake entry are included.

The experience

The day starts at 8am at the Xela AID Welcome Center in Quetzaltenango, where you'll meet your guide over breakfast before a vehicle takes you up scenic trails to the Chicabal crater rim. From there, you descend 600 steps into the caldera to reach the lake itself: formed inside an inactive volcano and considered sacred by the Mam-Maya people. The hike around the lake's perimeter introduces the 20 Mayan naguals, the energies and lessons tied to each day in the traditional calendar. You'll move through cloud forest where butterflies and birds are common, and locals watch for the phenomenon of clouds gathering water that feeds the region's crops.

After hiking back up to the rim, you'll eat a box lunch before returning to the Welcome Center for the afternoon's cultural activities. A narrated village walk takes you past fields of corn and potatoes to see how the Mam-Maya live day to day, followed by a visit inside a family home. You'll finish with refreshments and a demonstration of traditional backstrap weaving: the technique weavers still use to make textiles by hand. Eighty percent of your activity fee supports Local Hope/Xela AID's health and education programs in the region.

What’s included

• Breakfast at the Welcome Center.
• box lunch after the hike on the crater rim.
• bottled water.
• a sweet treat upon return.
• entrance fee to Lake Chicabal.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup included when you choose the option with Quetzaltenango pickup.

Options for this experience

2 options

Hike Sacred Lake Chicabal, then Tour a Mayan Village - Full DayGuide in English or Spanish · 08:00Enjoy a traditional Guatemalan breakfast at the Eco-Guest House, a box lunch during the hike, and a snack at the end of the day. Start your day at 8 a.m. at the Eco-Guest House in San Martin Sacatepequez with a traditional Guatemalan breakfast, and finish at 4:30 p.m.

Pickup in Quetzaltenango includedGuide in English or Spanish · 07:00Enjoy a traditional Guatemalan breakfast at the Eco-Guest House, a box lunch during the hike, and a snack at the end of the day. Pickup in Quetzaltenango at 7 a.m. from Central Park, about an hour from the village, and return to you at the end of the day. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 95 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (under 6): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Local Hope Trips and Activity Packages

Is this one for you?Choose the pickup option if you're staying in Quetzaltenango and want to skip arranging your own transport to the Welcome Center. The full day runs 8.5 hours from start to finish, so plan accordingly if you have evening plans. The hike involves 600 steps down and back up, so moderate fitness helps you enjoy the pace without strain.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Lake Chicabal and why is it considered sacred?

Lake Chicabal is a crater lake formed inside an inactive volcano in the Guatemalan Highlands, surrounded by cloud forest. The Mam-Maya people of the region hold it as a sacred site of cultural and spiritual significance, and it is the most popular visitor destination in the Quetzaltenango area.

How steep is the hike down to the lake, and what's the walk like once you reach it?

You descend 600 steps into the caldera to reach the lake. Once there, you hike the scenic perimeter and learn about the 20 Mayan naguals (the energies and lessons associated with each day in the traditional calendar), while moving through the surrounding cloud forest.

What happens during the village tour and the visit to a Mayan home?

The village tour is a narrated walk through local streets lined with fields of corn, potatoes and other crops, showing daily life of the Mam-Maya people. You then visit a family in their home to see how they live, followed by a weaving demonstration at the Welcome Center where you can watch traditional backstrap weaving techniques.

What meals and water are provided during the day?

Breakfast is served at the Welcome Center at 8am, a box lunch is provided after the hike at the crater rim, and bottled water is available throughout. A sweet treat is offered when you return to the Welcome Center in the afternoon.