Santa Cruz to Tz'ununa Mayan trail walk with lake views

Walk an ancient Kakchiquel trade route with views of three volcanoes and the lake

This is a guided walk along the ancestral Mayan trail that connects Santa Cruz, Jaibalito and Tz'ununa on the shores of Lake Atitlán. You walk for 3 hours and 30 minutes, passing through three villages and learning the history of the lake and the Kakchiquel people who used this path for centuries to trade goods between towns. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the walk. Bottled water is included, and you can stop for coffee, lunch or a swim at Casa del Mundo hotel along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walk the ancestral Mayan trail

• Begin walk in Santa Cruz La Laguna
• Walk along lake shores for 3.5 hours
• Pass by hotel, enjoy cocktail option
• Pass Casa del Mundo hotel, enjoy coffee or swim
• Walk from Jaibalito to Tz'ununa
• Learn history of Lake Atitlán
• Pass through and end walk in Tz'ununa

The experience

Santa Cruz La Laguna sits on the lakeshore where the walk begins. You follow the water's edge for the full 3 hours and 30 minutes, moving through Jaibalito, a small mountain village, and ending in Tz'ununa. The trail itself is the draw: it was the route Kakchiquel traders used to move goods between settlements, and it still connects these villages today. The volcanoes Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro rise across the water the whole way.

Two stops break the walk. You'll pass a hotel where you can order a cocktail if you want one, then reach Casa del Mundo, where you can sit down for coffee, lunch or a swim in the lake and take photographs. Neither is mandatory. The guide will let you know what's available. After Jaibalito, the trail continues to Tz'ununa, where the walk ends.

The guide speaks English or Spanish and carries the history of the lake and the region. Pickup is included in the booking, and you get bottled water for the walk. The terrain is walkable for anyone with moderate fitness. The pace is steady but not strenuous, and the 3.5-hour span is split across three villages and two optional stops, so the day has natural rhythm.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• live guide in English or Spanish.
• pickup to the starting point in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

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.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 7

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours With Vick

Is this one for you?You walk the trail yourself at a moderate pace with a guide who shares the history and points out the volcanoes: suited to anyone who wants to move under their own power and learn the story of the Kakchiquel trade route without a vehicle or a large group.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 5).

What is the ancestral Mayan trail between Santa Cruz and Tz'ununa?

The trail is an ancient trade route used by Kakchiquel people to move goods between Lake Atitlán villages. It still connects Santa Cruz, Jaibalito and Tz'ununa today and is now walked by visitors for the lake and volcano views.

Can I stop for food or a swim during the walk?

Yes. You'll pass Casa del Mundo hotel along the route, where you can order coffee, lunch or take a swim in the lake and rest before continuing to Tz'ununa.

How long does the walk take?

The walk is 3 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish, moving at a steady pace along the lakeshore through three villages.

What volcanoes will I see?

You'll see three volcanoes across Lake Atitlán: Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro. They're visible throughout the walk from the trail.