Iximché Ruins & Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City

Ceremonial plazas and ancient ball courts at Iximché, then colonial churches and the Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua.

An 8-hour guided tour from Guatemala City to the Iximché archaeological site and the colonial city of Antigua, with hotel pickup and drop-off. You'll spend a couple of hours at the ruins exploring ceremonial plazas, temples and ball courts dating back to 1400 BC, then move to Antigua to see San Francisco Church, La Merced Church, the Santa Catalina Arch and Central Park. The guide speaks English or Spanish and leads the whole route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Iximché2h · entry included
2. Central Park Antigua15m
3. La Merced Church20m · entry included
4. Santa Catalina Arch15m
5. Church of San Francisco20m
6. Jade Maya20m · entry included

Explore Iximché ruins and Antigua city

• Visit Iximché ruins in Tecpan
• Explore Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales
• See Central Park Antigua
• Visit La Merced Church
• Walk to Santa Catalina Arch
• Visit Church of San Francisco
• Explore Jade Museum

The experience

The tour starts with a drive to Iximché in the town of Tecpan, where your guide walks you through the ceremonial plazas, towering temples and ancient ball courts of this Mayan site. Many structures date back as far as 1400 BC. You spend a couple of hours exploring the grounds before heading to Antigua, the Spanish colonial city that was once Guatemala's capital.

In Antigua, the guide takes you to La Merced Church, a baroque structure whose facade is among the most recognizable in Guatemala: the stone cross in its atrium and the rooms behind the main altar date from the seventeenth century. You'll see the Santa Catalina Arch, one of the city's most famous landmarks, and learn about the convent that once stood there. San Francisco el Grande is a working church and a shrine to a local saint. At Central Park you see the Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales and the Palacio Real del Ayuntamiento. The Jade Maya museum shows local craftsmen carving the green stone by hand.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Guatemala City are included. The guide is a live professional who speaks English or Spanish. The full day runs 8 hours, and the tour suits all fitness levels: infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Guatemala City.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to Iximché archaeological site and all landmarks in Antigua including La Merced Church, San Francisco Church, the Santa Catalina Arch and Central Park.
• visit to the Jade Maya museum to watch local craftsmen at work.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Guatemalan Adventure

Is this one for you?This tour works for families with children of all ages (infants can ride in a stroller or sit on a lap), and for anyone who wants to see both Mayan ruins and Spanish colonial architecture in a single day without arranging separate transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Iximché and how old are the ruins?

Iximché is a Mayan archaeological site in the town of Tecpan where you'll explore ceremonial plazas, temples and ball courts. Many of the structures date back as far as 1400 BC, making them among the oldest sites you'll visit on the tour.

Which churches and landmarks do you see in Antigua?

You visit La Merced Church, a baroque structure with one of Guatemala's most beautiful facades; San Francisco el Grande, a working church and shrine; the Santa Catalina Arch, one of Antigua's most recognizable landmarks; and Central Park, where you see two colonial palaces. The Jade Maya museum is also included.

How long do you spend at Iximché before moving to Antigua?

You spend a couple of hours exploring the Iximché ruins and the surrounding grounds before the guide leads you to Antigua for the rest of the day.

Does the tour include hotel pickup in Guatemala City?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Guatemala City are included. The guide will collect you from your hotel and return you at the end of the 8-hour tour.