San Antonio & Santa Catarina Palopó tour from Guatemala City

Houses painted with Mayan symbols turn these villages into open-air galleries.

A full-day guided tour from Guatemala City to San Antonio Palopó and Santa Catarina Palopó, two K'akch'ikel villages on Lake Atitlán where murals cover the buildings and steep streets descend to the shore. The tour includes transport from the city, a live guide in English or Spanish, stops at ceramic and fabric workshops where artisans work with ancestral techniques, a visit to the colonial Church of San Antonio de Padua, and viewpoints overlooking the lake and surrounding volcanoes. Pickup is included. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit San Antonio and Santa Catarina Palopó

• Depart Guatemala City at 6:30 a.m.
• Depart Antigua Guatemala at 7:30 a.m.
• Visit Church of San Antonio de Padua
• Explore artisan ceramic workshops
• Visit fabric workshops and see costume making
• Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Atitlan
• Walk through painted streets of Santa Catarina Palopó
• Visit Mirador de Santa Catarina for lake and volcano views

The experience

You leave Guatemala City at 6:30 a.m., or 7:30 a.m. from Antigua if that's where you're staying, and drive toward Lake Atitlán. The route takes you to San Antonio Palopó first, a village built on steep streets that drop to the water's edge, framed by mountains and volcanoes. Your guide leads you to the Church of San Antonio de Padua, a colonial temple at the spiritual center of the community, then into the ceramic workshops where artisans craft pieces that blend creativity with tradition. The fabric studios come next: women here weave the community's typical costumes in shades of blue, the color that symbolizes San Antonio, and you can watch the process and buy directly from the makers.

From both villages you get panoramic views of Lake Atitlán. In Santa Catarina Palopó, the painted streets themselves are the main attraction: nearly every house displays murals inspired by the Mayan worldview, turning the whole place into an outdoor gallery. The Mirador de Santa Catarina viewpoint gives you the clearest sight lines across the lake to the volcanoes, a moment built in for photographs and rest. The natural hot springs on the lakeshore offer a chance to soak, though they're not a scheduled stop. Your guide can direct you if you want to add one.

What’s included

• Transport from Guatemala City or Antigua Guatemala.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• stops at ceramic and fabric workshops where you can buy handmade pieces.
• entry to the Church of San Antonio de Padua.
• viewpoints at the Mirador de Santa Catarina overlooking Lake Atitlán and the volcanoes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Friday and SaturdayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (20 to 45 years) · Senior (59 to 80 years) · Youth (15 to 19 years) · Child (6 to 13 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 15

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by JAGUAR TRAVELS

Is this one for you?The 12-hour day leaves room for an early breakfast before pickup and a late dinner after you return, but little else. Plan the rest of your itinerary around this full commitment. If you're based in Antigua, the 7:30 a.m. departure keeps more of the afternoon free than the Guatemala City start.

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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 (15 to 19 years); Child (6 to 13 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

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 time does the tour leave Guatemala City and how long does the whole day take?

Departure is 6:30 a.m. from Guatemala City or 7:30 a.m. from Antigua Guatemala. The full tour runs 12 hours, so you return to the city in the late afternoon.

Can I see the artisans actually working in the ceramic and fabric workshops?

Yes. The ceramic workshops and fabric studios are active stops where you watch the craftspeople at work and can buy pieces directly. The women weaving the blue textiles are part of the community and work with ancestral techniques.

What is the Church of San Antonio de Padua and why is it part of the tour?

The Church of San Antonio de Padua is a colonial temple in San Antonio Palopó that has stood for centuries and serves as the spiritual heart of the K'akch'ikel community. It's the starting point for the village tour and reflects the cultural identity of the town.

Are there viewpoints where I can photograph Lake Atitlán and the volcanoes?

Yes. The Mirador de Santa Catarina in Santa Catarina Palopó offers spectacular views of Lake Atitlán and the surrounding volcanoes, and time is built in for photographs and contemplation.