Top Western Highlands Unique Experiences

Take a journey through the traditions of Mayan spirituality as you experience a 2-hour traditional fire-cleansing ceremony with a guide in the Sacred Caves of Lake Atitlan. Step inside these mystical caves, used by local Mayans for many centuries, to observe the performance of this holy and powerful ritual by a local shaman. Listen as your guide explains the history and traditions behind the ritual and provides insight into the Mayan calendar system. Before you leave, you’ll have time to admire the gorgeous views of the lake down below.

Find out what’s bubbling in the typical Guatemalan kitchen during this 4-hour cooking class near Lake Atitlan. Spend your session gaining a hands-on understanding of three Guatemalan dishes, discovering the blend of Mayan and Spanish colonial flavors that give this Central American cuisine its unique taste. You’ll finish class by enjoying a tasty lunch of the dishes you prepared, and recipe book to recreate the dishes in the future. Optional upgrades featuring private lessons and visits to the market are also available.

Sit alongside local women and learn the art of Maya beading with this hands-on workshop in Santa Cruz la Laguna. Not only is this socially responsible tour a great way to learn about the Maya cultures found on Lake Atitlan, but it also directly benefits local communities. Upgrade to include lunch at Lake Atitlan’s top restaurant—also run by a social enterprise—or a community-led tour of the village.

This immersive experience is perfect for those looking to connect with nature and culture in the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands. DAY ONE: Explore life in a Mayan village - engage with local culture during a guided tour, visit a Mayan home, and learn from a weaving demonstration. After happy hour and a three-course dinner, enjoy all the comforts of home in our top-rated Eco-Guest House. DAY TWO: After breakfast, discover the mysteries of Lake Chicabál, formed within the inactive Chicabal Volcano. Descend 600 steps into the caldera, explore the lake's perimeter, learn about the 20 Mayan 'naguals'. Surrounded by cloud forests, this crater lake is considered sacred by the Mam-Mayan people, making it a site of cultural and spiritual significance. It is the most popular visitor destination in the Quetzaltenango area. 78% of your activity fee supports the programs and clinics of Local Hope/Xela AID that empower local families and communities to be healthy, educated and self-reliant

This isn’t simply a tour of Guatemala. It’s an opportunity to step into a community, serve alongside local families, and experience what can happen when ordinary people choose to show up. We believe that when ordinary people show up, extraordinary things happen. We’ve been working alongside this community for years, building relationships, listening, and supporting community first, sustainable solutions. Our garden towers are one example of what’s possible when local knowledge, long term relationships, and people willing to serve come together. And YOU are part of what makes it possible. By showing up, you help provide families with garden towers they can grow, maintain, and use to create a more sustainable source of fresh food for their families. You’re not just visiting Guatemala. You’re becoming part of the community and part of the story.

Step inside the Maya community of Santa Cruz with this NGO visit. Check out a successful non-profit vocational training center with classes in cooking, beading, sewing, and carpentry. Visit a classroom, café, and store run by the organization. Explore the village of Santa Cruz, home to one of the oldest churches in Guatemala, and end your tour with lunch at the NGO-run rooftop café overlooking the waters of Lake Atitlan.

Here's your chance to volunteer and make a difference in a Mayan village if you have just one day. Before your hands-on community service, start your day with a traditional Guatemalan breakfast. Then go behind the scenes to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Mam-speaking Maya via a walking tour of the village and a visit to the home of a local family. After lunch and a demonstration of traditional backstrap weaving, share your skills and interests by engaging in meaningful volunteer work that will impact the lives of so many villagers. Opportunities include assembling clean water filters or emergency food bags and delivering them to people's homes; assisting in the health clinic; engaging with children on art projects and soccer play; and practicing English with the staff. 78% OF YOUR ACTIVITY FEE DIRECTLY SUPPORTS THE PROGRAMS and CLINICS of LOCAL HOPE/XELA AID THAT EMPOWER LOCAL FAMILIES and COMMUNITIES TO BE HEALTHY, EDUCATED AND SELF-RELIANT.