Western Highlands Mayan trail

What to Expect

DAY 1: Utatlan to Xebaj

Our group leaves from the Old Town Outfitters Shop at 5:00am, where you can fill up your water bottles and purchase any additional gear you might need. Our early morning departure takes us out to our starting-point, located off the Pan-American Highway above Lake Atitlan. Our group will enjoy a light breakfast en route, and after arriving at the trail head we’ll pack our gear and head out for a 3- day trek retracing centuries-old Mayan trade routes. We will hike through deep ravines and river canyons, past Mayan ceremonial sites, and up through remote Mayan communities of the Western Highlands. The group will take a brief rest and enjoy a freshly prepared picnic lunch around mid-day. We will finish the day at a quiet campsite nestled out on a narrow ridge in the abandoned village of Xeabaj. Xeabaj, translating to ‘under the rock’, will provide us with stellar views of the surrounding mountains and valleys in every direction. Guides will prepare a fresh camp dinner under the stars as a perfect finale to a hard days walk.

DAY 2: Xebaj to 7 Crosses

Breakfast and coffee are served to the group at sun up, after which we break down camp and set off for the day’s objective - the “Siete Cruces” (Seven Crosses) trail. These seven crosses traverse the top of the spectacular ridgeline leading out to “Pico Zunil”. Our hike starts with a tough climb up to a fertile shelf at about 2700m, where the landscape is surreal, highlighted by incredible views and lush flora. We’ll take a break at the top of the climb to catch our breath and refuel at our lunch-spot. Afterwards, we start a gentle climb up to our trail on the ridge positioned at 3000m. This ridge offers up some of Guatemala’s most impressive views of the “Ring of Fire” - 15 volcanoes stretching from the Salvadoran border
all the way across to Mexico. Our group camps tonight on the ridge overlooking the Almolonga Valley on one side, and the other, overlooking the volcanoes surrounding Guatemala’s 2nd largest city – Quetzaltenango (Xela).

DAY 3: 7 Crosses to Fuentes Georginas

Another sunrise breakfast and coffee prepares us for our last push across the ridge, summiting Pico Zunil after a 1½-hour hike. Our group will then move down the long and winding 1800-meter descent through thick tropical cloud forest, to the amazing therapeutic thermal waters of Fuentes Georginas. Here we drop our packs, don our swim trunks, and
soak our tired legs in the thermal pools while enjoying an ice cold drink and delicious lunch. After our soak, we’ll jump into our private transport and head back to Antigua, arriving just around sunset.

Trail Map