Chicabal Volcano and Lagoon Trek: Explore Mam Mayan Culture and Nature, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Embark on a half-day trek to Chicabal Volcano and Lagoon in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Immerse yourself in Mam Mayan culture, witness ancient ceremonies, and enjoy the stunning natural beauty.

Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Chicabal Lake - Visit a mystical lake in the crater of a volcano which up to day is used by Mayan people to perform their sacred rituals. The majority of them are inhabitants on San Martín Sacatepéquez and belong to one of the 23 Mam groups in Guatemala. The Mam are modern Mayan people who live in southwestern Guatemala and parts of southern Mexico. At least 500 Mil live in Guatemala. For them, Laguna Chicabal is a sacred and miraculous place – the mystic perception becoming even more convincing because of its shape and the fog that shrouds the volcano. Maya priests perform traditional ceremonies on the shore using candles, flowers and holy crosses. The guide joining you at this unique tour will be a local from Quetzaltenango, or even a local guide from the Chicabal lagoon, and will explain all there is to know about Mayan religion, Mayan culture, and the local plants and animals. IMPORTANT DATES FOR MAM PEOPLE: May 3rd and 40 days after holy week of Easter. You can also camp at the lake between October and May; after and before the rain season INCLUDED IN CASE OF CAMPING: All equipment: tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, food.
What's Included
  • Driver/guide
  • Round-trip shared transfer
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Entrance Fees
Additional Information

Dedicate a significant part of your day to discovering the ceremonial heart of the Mam Mayan civilization at the Volcano and Laguna de Chicabal. Observe the Mayan altars where important calendar events were commemorated. You’ll also encounter a variety of birds and witness local farming practices. The experience is enjoyable and manageable for kids and seniors, especially with the assistance of the local 4x4 known as ‘el torito’.

  • Minimum number of 2 persons applies. If you book for yourself, there is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(9 Ratings)
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546mihaelar
Jan 4, 2024
Go to Guatemala with Adrenalina! - Went to Guatemala with a friend in November 2023. We did a big tour, from Guatemala City, to Antigua, Sumpango, Pacaya volcano, then to Copan Ruinas in Honduras, Rio Dulce, Livingston, Tikal, Yaxha, Xela, Chichicastenango, Logo Atitlan... A beautiful colorful country, beautiful landscapes, nice people, beautiful traditions. Highly recommended. We had a great experience with Adrenalina Tours who provided us with lots of practical tips even before departure. The transfers booked through Adrenalina (from/to the airport, to the various destinations) were on time and safe. Communication along the way went perfectly, Patrick and his team were always there, well into the night, available for additional information and advice and very helpful. Thank you for the professional approach and guidance! Partly thanks to your valuable advice, we still enjoy this wonderful experience in our minds. I would like to recommend Patrick and Adrenalina tours to anyone planning to go to Guatemala. Doing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cristinadd8380ge
Aug 31, 2023
WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE ✨ - I had a great experience with Adrenalina Tours. • Transfers always on time and safe • Professional people always available and helpful My experience: I did the hiking to Acatenango and was so amazing!!! 2 guides always kind and available to help the people of the group. Another great experience I recommend is the opportunity to stay in a local family in San Juan La Laguna for aknots 2 days, everything coordinated by Adrenalina. The experience has been one of the best of my life. Coming into contact with the family, the local culture and traditions have been ones of the wonderful souvenirs I’ll bring at home with me. A special thanks goes to Elias of Adrenalina Tours, the contact who coordinated everything for me. Thank you for everything
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Edobrez
Apr 11, 2023
2 weeks private Guatemala tour - We contacted Patrick of Adrenalina in 2020 after a friend’s referral. The pandemic forced us to cancel a trip already well planned. Come 2023 and we did it. Adrenalina organised drivers and guides and booked a good number of hotels. I booked other stays myself with their excellent recommendations (I was looking for traditional locally owned places). We visited Antigua, Chichi, Xela, Nabaj, Semuc and Tikal. Adrenalina also organised our transfer to the Belize border and with their partners up to Caye Caulker. Excellent staff and communication via whatsapp. Recommended - though you should do your own research and know what you want to do and see to get the best out of a tour like ours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Douglas
Apr 10, 2018
An amazing trip. My guide Eddie was... - <p>An amazing trip. My guide Eddie was a fantastic guide. The walk up to the top of the volcano was not as difficult as I had imagined. The trip down to me was more difficult. </p> <p>Chicabal Volcano and Lagoon are incredibly beautiful. I definitely recommend this trip.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Culture49725715101
Jul 15, 2024
Lagoona Chicabal was gorgeous! - This hike was incredible. The road to get to the parking lot was led astray by Waze trying to send us up a washed up dirt road where we had to do a thousand-point turn to get back to the main road. If you see the sign in the town for Lagoona Chicobal, follow the road to the left, not the right! We took the trucks up from the parking lot which were 25Q/person. Once we are at base camp, we loaded up on some chips (all of which have gluten so be careful if traveling with someone with celiac). We purchased tickets for the hike which was 50Q/person, since we were tourists. The hike is about 1.25 miles straight up. There was an option to take a truck all the way up the mountain and forego the hike altogether, but we walked. Wear sunscreen if you burn easily! Once you get to the top, there’s a place to take photos overlooking the lake and the Santa Maria Volcano. Then you trek down 466 steps to the lake itself. There is another option without the steps, but we took that back up. The lake is sacred so cannot be touched, but is beautiful to sit beside and just take in the magic of the lake. We were able to walk back down and catch a ride back to the lot for the same 25Q/person. Absolutely worth the trek!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nina
Jul 15, 2018
Not moderate - I signed up for this our because it said it was a moderate hike. It was not. The hike was four hours of diffulcult uphill and downhill on rocks, a very difficult down staircase. It also said we would be guided around the lagoon with the guide to see the Mayan sacrifice areas. When we got to the lagoon the guide said we had thirty minutes to walk around the lagoon and see the Mayan areas but he was not accompanying us. Not as advertised. Very beautiful area but i was exhausted and was unprepared for the level of difficulty. Maybe for more experienced hikers this is moderate but not for me.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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