The Highlands

Guatemala's Altiplano

The western highlands stretch across Guatemala's volcanic spine, forming the cultural and geographical heart of the country. This region sits at elevations between 1,500-3,000 meters, creating a cool climate year-round. The highlands host the largest concentration of indigenous Mayan communities in Central America, where traditional languages, textiles, and customs remain integral to daily life. Colonial cities like Antigua preserve Spanish architecture, while rural villages maintain practices dating back centuries. The volcanic landscape produces some of Central America's finest coffee, and weekly markets bring communities together in displays of vibrant textiles and local commerce.

Things to see and do in the Altiplano

Visit Antigua's colonial architecture and cobblestone streets beneath three volcanoes
Explore Lake Atitlán and its traditional lakeside villages accessible by boat
Shop at Chichicastenango's Thursday and Sunday markets for textiles and handicrafts
Hike active volcanoes like Acatenango for views of erupting Volcán de Fuego
Tour coffee plantations around Quetzaltenango and learn about production methods

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Unique travel experiences

Indigenous homestay experience

Stay with a Mayan family in one of Lake Atitlán's traditional villages to experience daily life firsthand. Families welcome guests into their homes, sharing meals prepared on wood-fired stoves and teaching traditional skills like backstrap loom weaving or natural dye extraction from local plants. You'll participate in daily routines—fetching water, preparing tortillas, tending gardens—while learning about Tz'utujil or Kaqchikel Maya worldviews. Evenings often include storytelling about local legends and history. This immersion provides insight into how indigenous communities maintain their identity while adapting to modern pressures, and your payment directly supports family economies.

Lake Atitlan
Local experience

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Traditional Mayan Fire Ceremony

Attend a sacred fire ceremony led by a Mayan spiritual guide or aj'q'ij (daykeeper). These ceremonies take place at specific sites around the lake considered energetically significant, often at dawn or dusk. The guide performs rituals passed down through generations, burning copal incense, candles of different colors representing elements and directions, and offerings while reciting prayers in Mayan languages. Participants can present personal intentions or questions to be included in the ceremony. The experience provides genuine access to living Mayan spirituality, connecting ancient cosmology with contemporary practice. Some guides explain the Mayan calendar system and how it relates to the ceremony's timing and purpose.