Nebaj to Todos Santos Hut-to-Hotel Trek

What to Expect

DAY 1: Transfer to Nebaj & hike to Acul

Today is a long day as we start with an early morning 6-hour drive out to Nebaj. Nebaj, the main town of the Ixil Triangle is rich in culture and history. This region of the country was the hot seat of the rebellion during the country’s nearly 35-year civil war.

Our trek today is to the neighboring village of Acul, the first of Guatemala’s model villages. As a way to undermine the strength of the Mayan peasant farmers, the Guatemalan military rounded up various Mayan groups of different ethnic backgrounds and forced them to live together under the watchful eye of the Government. Settlements like this were thus called model villages. Although a relatively short hike distance-wise at roughly 3.7 miles (6 kilometers), it is still tough as we’ll have a big push up the ridge separating the two villages. Tonight’s lodging is at an active cheese farm, where we will enjoy rustic cabins and an old farm ambiance.

DAY 2: Acul to Pajuil Pais

We’ll start with a short pick-up truck ride to the next trailhead just 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) up the road from Acul in the village of Xexocom. Today’s hike will start with a long climb of 2 hrs covering 2,625 feet (800 meters) up to a high plateau in the Cuchumatanes. Once on the plateau, we will enjoy beautiful cross country walking through farm fields, forests, and local towns. We’ll trek through the remote Mayan settlement of Chortiz, a town completely isolated from the world with no connections by road or power. The town is a pure picture of life for the local Maya in these highlands and a very unique place to visit. Continuing across the altiplano at nearly 10,826 feet (3,300 meters), we’ll finally start our descent to the mountainside community of Pajuil Pais where we’ll overnight in a community hostel.

DAY 3: Pajuil Pais to Chancol

Today’s objective will be to cross the Aguacatan Ravine- we’ll hike across the plateau and down into the valley before climbing back out, beginning our 8-mile (13-kilometer) push. Our day’s objective is to reach one of the most unique lodgings in Guatemala, the Unicornio Azul. This lodge is a rustic horse farm in the middle of the highlands, with picturesque views and rolling hills on all sides.

DAY 4: Chabal to Tuicoyg

Today will again start with a short pick-up truck ride across the densely populated Paquix plateau to the community of Chabal where a stunning piece of the trail climbs up to the high ridge home to the highest two non-volcanic peaks of Guatemala: La Torre at ~12,467 feet (~3,800 meters) and Cerro Los Cuervos at ~12,631 feet (~3,850 meters). Once on the plateau the hike is mostly flat as we traverse the open expanse known as the Devil's Flats on our way to the village of Tuicoyg.

DAY 5: Tuicoyg Todos Santos

Our final walk in this range will drop us off the high plateau and down into the town of Todos Santos, a cowboy town and one of the few remaining villages where men wear the traditional village garb. This rocky trail is virtually all downhill, snaking its way out of the mountains down through the thick pine forests that characterize the region. We will explore this colorful and vibrant village in the afternoon and spend the night here before our transfer to Antigua the following morning.

*DAY 6: Transfer Todos Santos to Antigua

*For a more expedited trip, you could shuttle back from Todos Santos to Antigua on Day 5 upon arrival into town. This makes for a long day and does not allow for much time in Todos Santos, but does make the trip a bit less expensive.

Trail Map