Hello, I am a tourist guide certified by the Ministry of Tourism in Guatemala with card No. 2581. Through tourism I want to make known the Mayan culture of the native peoples and the nature of my beautiful Guatemala. The tours I develop aim to create transformative tourist experiences that activate deep connections between visitors and the host community.
Santiago Atitlán (Aj Tz'ikin Jaay) is the historical capital of the Tz'utujil people that has a valuable living Mayan culture, an artistic and artisanal cultural heritage that provides a unique experience to its visitors, reminding them of the ancestral times of the territory.
Places to visit:
Expression of local painting combined with religious syncretism, where different painting techniques such as bird's eye view, ant view, perspectives and pointillism are displayed.
It is the main street of Santiago Atitlán, which connects the lake entrance to the municipality from the Chi'nim Ya' Public Beach to the center of the town. Along this street there are countless craft stores, mainly selling traditional paintings, wooden sculptures, costume jewelry, traditional textiles, and a variety of items made by local artisans.
This brotherhood is very important to understand the religious syncretism that combines Mayan spirituality with the Catholic Christian faith. It is visited mainly to see the image of Rilaj Maam or Maximón which is venerated since according to Mayan tradition he performs favors for his believers.
Place where you will see how they sell and buy local Mayan clothing products, fruits, vegetables, flowers, local crafts and among others, expression of the work of the artisans
In the center of the park you can see the relief map of Lake Atitlán in the shape of a tocoyal, around there are some murals painted by local artists that reveal characteristic aspects of the town such as the quetzal and the cacho turkey, as birds that live in its forests, as well as the Mayan clothing of the Tz'utujiles.
The Catholic temple was built on top of a Mayan altar of the Tz'utujiles, currently the temple has ancient altarpieces carved in wood, which together with the colors of the clothing of the images of the colonial era and the practice of religious syncretism that are carried out inside the temple highlight its greatest attraction. The main altar is known as the “mountain tree”, it embodies the culture of the town combined with the Catholic Christian faith.
Come and let's explore Santiago Atitlán with its Mayan culture and vision!
I will be in front of the large letters that say Yo Amo Atitlán which is located on the Chim Yaa' public beach (near the main pier) and I will be identified with my tourist guide card.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
