Hiking Routes

We have routes last from one-morning to 3 days. Our over-night hikes are marked in red on this map.

Day Hikes

(Note- Estimated hike times do not include transport times. The difficulty of the hike is ranked from 1- 5, with 5 being the most difficult.)

Cataratas

This is a short easy, walk to a nearby waterfall. You will exit Nebaj northward and follow the Nebaj river down through green pastures and meadowlands until you reach the rapids. The largest of the falls is more than 60 ft tall. You should hear its thunderous roar long before you reach it.

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Difficulty : 1

Duration : 2 hours

Distance : 3 kms

Acul

We take the most direct path to Acul, up the mountain footpaths, avoiding the noise and bustle of the highway. As we climb out of the Nebaj valley ever more expansive mountaintop views will unfold themselves before your eyes. Just before reaching the village of Acul , we will pass by two large dairy farms on the right-hand side of the road. If you'd like you can stop for lunch at Hacienda San Antonio and sample what is said to be the finest cheese produced in all Guatemala . After touring the Hacienda we'll go Acul itself where you can appreciate mayan culture in its finest,most pristine form. After seeing he sight we will head back to Nebaj in bus.

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Difficulty : 2

Duration : 5 hours

Distance : 6 kms Cocop

Description

Weave along the Nebaj river through a narrow valley to the mountain-top hamlet of Cocop. This an incredibly peaceful hike that give you're a taste of authentic village life in the Northern Highlands. The trail offers some great bird's eye views of Nebaj. Don't forget to try the local “cuxa”(moonshine) fabricated right there in Cocop.

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Difficulty : 1

Duration : 3 -4 hr (1day)

Distance : 9km  

Sacred Sights

More of a tour than a hike, the sacred sights is a guided excursion to the various Mayan religion sight hidden around Nebaj. These locations are unknown to travelers. Only a local with inside connections can take you to them and explain the real meaning and significance of the ceremonies you will witness there. Join us, and experience a culture older than the hills.

Difficulty : 1

Duration : 2 hours

Distance : N/A

Multiple Day Hikes

Todos Santos

Description

This is our most challenging hike but also our most popular and rewarding. There are numerous ways to get to Todos Santos from Nebaj but our preferred route avoids major roads and highways, leading instead through hidden mountain passes and flowered highland plains where few travelers dare to stray. After you visit “la laguna”, a crystal clear mountain lake, and clear the steep trail above Palop, you will enter a vast extent of green pastureland surrounded by rocky hills. When you reach your second night's lodging in Capellania, it's worth your while to make the extra hour and a half trip to “El Mirador”. From there, you can get a bird's-eye view of Huehuetenango and, if you are lucky, see the active volcano of San Marcos erupting at night. The next day's hike, from Capellania to La Ventosa, is absolutely stunning. You will ramble along the banks of a small river as it winds its way through a broad highland valley covered with green grasses and wild-flowers. Once you reach La Ventosa you can take a bus directly to Todos Santos if you are tired. Otherwise, you can continuing hike down along the “ Río Limón ” or the “ Sierra de los Cuchumantanes ” . Since the majority of the highland plain you will be crossing is more than 3,000 meters above sea level, you should take warm heavy clothes, even in summertime. If you are an extremely hard-core hiker, we can offer the longer, more difficult, route to Todos Santo which passes through Xepium and Siete Pinos.

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Difficulty : 4 - 5

Duration : 10 – 18.5hours (3 days)

Distance : 35-55 km

The durations for each day don't include the transportion time.

Las Aventuras

Description

This is a hike for the true nature enthusiast. Leaving Nebaj going westward, the green canopy of the highland forest will surround and swallow you. The narrow trail through this thickly wooded area is quite complicated and tight, which can be annoying or exciting, depending on your point of view. Once you get out of the natural maze, however, the scenery will open out again into broad vistas of the surrounding mountains and you can exult in the feeling of triumphing over obstacles. This is why we call this hike “Las Aventuras” or “The Adventure” in English. Once you reach Las Majadas you can visit the three beautiful neighboring lagoons and relax in the modest but comfortable lodgings. If you reach Acul early enough on the second day, you might be able to catch a bus back to Nebaj. Another option tostay for the evening visit the cheese factories and keep trekking back to Nebaj the next day. There are no villages on the way from Nebaj to Las Majadas or from Las Majadas to Acul so you should take sufficient water and food.

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Difficulty : 4

Duration : hours (2 or 3 days)

Distance : 25-36km

Xeo-Cotzol

Description

This is one of Guías Ixiles' most popular hikes. Perhaps it is because this route, which passes through several of the most isolated villages in the Ixil region, offers the most direct hands-on contact with traditional mayan culture. You will spend most of your time climbing and descending steep mountain pathways. You can spend your first night in either Xeo or Cotzol depending on how rapidly you walk. Alternatively, you can stay a night in both of them if you want to hike at a slower pace and spend more time visiting each village. Be sure to visit “Finca la Vega” located below Xeo, where local people produce cheese, mushrooms, and cream. Don't forget to take your camera as this route offers numerous panoramic views of the Nebaj valley. On you way back to Nebaj you can take rest at our small cabin in Bitzibaq'bitz. You can also visit the nearby village of La Pista , where many of Guias Ixiles' employees reside.

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Difficulty : 3

Duration : 13 hours (2 or 3 days)

Distance : 37km

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