Iconic Yellow Church + Mayan Market + Small Town: Cultural Tour

5.0 (2 reviews) 6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

2 reviews

5.0

Yellow Church of San Andrés Xecul — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

During this tour, we will take you to know 3 different towns. You will explore the largest market in Guatemala, will go to the most colorful church, and end the tour by going to a small but lovely town.

Each location holds something special that we want to show you and hope you like it as much as we do or even more.

The first place to visit will be San Francisco El Alto and its market which is the largest one in Guatemala. Usually, it takes around 6 hours to go through all of it (that is not the case on this tour, we will be there just a fraction of all that time). Then, we will visit the famous church of San Andrés Xecul, an icon of Guatemala and a representation of religious syncretism. In the end, we will visit Salcajá, a small but very charming town with lots of history and beautiful places to visit.

This is a tour you don´t want to miss, so reserve your ticket, and we will take you to one of the greatest traveling experiences of them all.

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At a glance

Duration: 6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, Spanish
Operated by: Guat2do Travel Experiences

Ages: Adults (9–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Bottled water
Included: Certified tour guide
Included: Air conditioning in the vehicle
Included: Guided tour in San Francisco El Alto + The Yellow Church of San Andrés Xecul + Salcajá

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

Stop 1

40 min

This is a cultural tour where you will learn everything about the Mayan culture by visiting 3 different towns, each of them with something that makes them particular and lovely.

We will start by picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in the central area of Xela, and we will head to San Francisco El Alto. The ride to get there will only take us 40 minutes. This is the perfect chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery all the way and relax.
Mercado de San Francisco El Alto

one hour

Once we get to San Francisco El Alto you will be amazed by the variety of products sold at the central market. This is the biggest market in Guatemala, and it takes around 6 hours to go to all of it. Here you can find all types of fruits, vegetables, and even live animals such as sheep, chickens, calves, and more.

Don´t miss the chance to try some traditional street food or buy any souvenirs that you might like.
San Andres Xecul

2 hours

This is our second stop and in some way, the star of the show. San Andrés Xecul has one of the most beautiful churches in Guatemala. The intensity of its colors and the story behind each figure is amazing.

This iconic yellow church has a mix of two religions, Christianity and the Mayan. Each color represents something for the indigenous people, for example, yellow represents corn, the sacred food for the Mayans. Red represents the sun and the sacrifice of Mayan ancestors back in the Spanish conquer. All the figures tell a different story and have something to tell.

Something that is very curious for most travelers is that on the inside, you will see Christian figures dressed in traditional Mayan clothing made by women of the town.

Needless to say that this is a great spot for mind-blowing photos.
Salcaja

one hour

Salcajá is the closest town to Xela. It has a lot of color and life in it. Small and colorful streets are everywhere you put your eyes. This place also holds one of the oldest hermitages in the area. It is small and beautiful.

This is the perfect place to learn about a traditional locally produced liquor called Caldo de Frutas or Fruit Broth which ferments in 2 years and is fruit-based.
Stop 5

30 min

The tour will start just 15 minutes after we leave Salcajá as that town is very close to Xela. Here we say goodbye for now, but we hope you return soon. We hope that you enjoy every step of the tour as much as we do and that you can take great pictures back with you.