Classic hostel with rooftop bar in the historic center of Quetzaltenango.

Shuttles from/to Xela

Pick up at the front door of Kasa Kiwi or any hostel in Xela

WhatsApp Tom if you have questions. +502 5510-0558

Book Online: https://shuttles.kasakiwi.com Payment in $USD

Days and Times subject to change. Afternoon shuttles often have 2 person minimum.

Antigua – 8:00am – $30.00/pp or Q225.00/pp
Panajachel – 8:00am – $23.00/pp or Q175.00/pp
San Pedro – 8:00am – $33.00/pp or Q250.00/pp
Guatemala city – 8:00am – $40.00/pp or Q300.00/pp
El Paredon via Antigua 8am $38.00 or Q290.00/pp
Coban/Lanquin – Daily Via Quiche 7:00am $60.00/pp or Q450/pp
San Cristobal, MX – Monday to Friday 6:00am $66.00/pp or Q500

Tours & Treks

Tour and Treks Must be booked 12 to 24 hours in advance. Please speak to me if you wish to book a trek or add me to your WhatsApp and message me with your trek requests/Questions. Tom +502 5510-0558 Most treks require a 2 person minimum.

Book your treks online.

Las Fuentes Georginas

Lovely natural hot spring in the middle of lush green mountains. Entrance fee is Q60:

Daily Shuttle + Entrance 200/pp 2 person minimum. There is a daily shuttle @ 8:00 to 8:30am, pickup at the front door of Kasa Kiwi, RT transportation, 3 hrs at the hot springs, Q60 entrance fee included. Reserve and pay at least 12hr in advance.

Book a shuttle: Whatsapp +502 5510-0558 (Tom)

Uber Q55-Q85 one way. If you take Uber talk to your driver and ask him to come back and get you at a set time. (Most will say yes but MANY will not come back) DO NOT pay in advance instead offer to pay a little more in cash when and if he returns. You can also ask if they will wait for you off the app, some of them will say yes for the right price. If your Uber will not come back you must get a ride back to the main road to catch the bus back to Xela.
Local Bus + Taxi: take the bus to Zunil from the Shell gas station 1 block to the right from Kasa Kiwi. The bus will drop you on the side of the road in Zunil. From here you can find taxis or tuk tuks or walk to the main plaza in front of the white church to find one. Negotiate price to Las Fuentes (Q50 and up).

RETURN: If you take the bus or if Uber does not come back you will need to find a ride from the hot springs back to Xela or back to the main road. From the main road you can catch a bus coming back into Xela. Tell the bus you want Parque Central. There are always families at the hot springs if you are nice many of them will offer you a ride back to Xela.

TIP: Hidden Pools. Once you pay your Q60 entrance fee you will be in the parking lot. On the right there is a restaurant, if you go to the restaurant and tell them you want to use the Anexo you can pay an additional Q25 and go to a set of hidden pools. These pools are located about 10 mins below the parking lot and are MUCH hotter and very beautiful. 100% worth the extra Q25. Don’t miss them.

Laguna Chicabal

Laguna Chicabal is a Guatemalan lake sacred to the local Indigenous people.

The lake is located in the middle of the sunken crater of the Chicabal volcano, in the town of San Martín “Chili Verde” Sacatepéquez about 1hr outside of Xela.

To book tour: Whatsapp +502 5510-0558 (Tom)

Transportation Options

Daily Tours Q275/person 2 person minimum: including RT private transport, Guide and Entrance fee 2 person minimum booked 12-24 hour prior to departure.
Uber Q65 to Q150. Point your uber to “Toritos para la laguna”, this is a parking area. From here you can walk approx. 90min to the entrance. To save time pay a pickup truck to take you to the entrance. From the entrance it is a 45min hike to the top. Once at the top there is a set of 600 steps you must descend to get to the lake. Please remember this is a sacred Lake No Swimming. Entrance Fee Q50/pp
Local Bus Q10-15/one way: Catch the bus/Van (Colectivo) on 6ta Calle and 15 Ave Zona 3, two block north of Parque Benito Juarez. The first bus is @ 6:30am. This bus will drop you off at the main road to the entrance of Laguna Chicabal. From there you can walk approx. 2 hours to the entrance. To save time pay pickup truck to take you to the entrance. From the entrance it is a 45min hike to the top. Once at the top there is a set of 600 steps you must descend to get to the lake. Please remember this is a sacred Lake No Swimming. Entrance fee: Q50.00
NO colectivo bus on Sunday, instead goto Terminal Xela ask for bus going to San Martin Chile Verde) Q15-20/one way.

Return: To get back to Xela you need to go to the town of San Martin and take the local bus to Xela.

Santa Maria/Santiaguito

One of the most popular hikes in Xela is the one to Santa Maria Volcano and the view of the Santiaguito active cone. The hike takes 3 to 5 hours up and 2 to 3 hours down. In order to have the best chance of seeing an eruption you need to summit before 10am. 2 person minimum to book treks.

To book tour: Whatsapp +502 5510-0558 (Tom)

1 Day Trek. Pickup 5am @ Kasa Kiwi PRIVATE transport to the trail head. We hike to the top were we stay for about 2 hours, then we descend and return to Kasa Kiwi by 2pm. Q250/pp Including private transportation, gear and guide.

Full Moon Trek. Pickup 12:00am midnight @ Kasa Kiwi PRIVATE transport to the trail head. We hike to the top were we stay for sunrise, then we descend and return to Kasa Kiwi by 11am. Q275/pp Including private transportation, gear and guide.

Overnight Trek. Pickup 9:00am @ Kasa Kiwi PRIVATE transport to the trail head. We hike to just below the top were we set up camp for the night, eat lunch and dinner and watch sunset. The next morning we get up before sunrise and hike to the top. Then we descend back to camp, eat breakfast and return to Kasa Kiwi by 11am. Q450/pp Including private transportation, 3 meals, gear and guide.

It is possible to do this trek without a guide. Uber is the best option for this early morning trip. Suggested departure time is 5:00am. Point Uber to “Parquedero Bienvenido”, Llanos de Pinal where the road ends the trail begins. Using an app like Maps.me is highly recommended. The trail is not well marked.

The first bus to Llanos de Pinal is at 6:00am-6:30am. This is not recommended as it takes too long to get to the starting point. Uber is available at 5:00am and is the best option.

This trek is difficult, take water, food and warm clothing in layers. We do not recommend you do this trek alone. It is always best to hike with 2 or more people.”

Tajamulco

Volcan Tajumulco, the highest point in Central America, is a moderate to difficult hike. You will be climbing from 3,000m at the trailhead to the peak at 4,220m (almost 14,000ft). From the top of Tajumulco there are panoramic views of the western highland, the Pacific coast and Mexico. It is an amazing hike and a bucket list item for many. Treks require a minimum of 2 ppl.

2 Day/1 night trek Pickup 6am @ Kasa Kiwi goto trekking office to pick up the gear, guide and food. Then we take you to the bus terminal, where you and your guide will take PUBLIC transportation to the trailhead. From there we hike for approximately 4 hours and set up camp in a sheltered bowl 45 minutes from the summit. We have dinner around a campfire and watch the sunset. In the morning we climb to the top before dawn to see an amazing sunrise. After breakfast we pack up and descend for the bus ride back to Xela. Q450/pp Includes transport from your accommodation in Xela, public round trip transportation to the trailhead, entrance fee, 3 meals (lunch and dinner the first day breakfast the 2nd vegetarian and other dietary restrictions available with advance notice), equipment and guide
1 Day Trek. Pickup 4am @ Kasa Kiwi PRIVATE transport to the trail head (approx 3 hr drive). We hike to the top were we stay for about 2 hours, then we descend and return to Xela by 5-6pm. Q450/pp Including Private transportation, gear, entrance fee and guide.
Full Moon Trek. Pickup at Kasa Kiwi at 10:30pm, PRIVATE transportation to trail head, we climb to the top, watch sunrise and then descend and return to Xela around 2pm. Q500/pp Including Private transportation, gear, entrance fee and guide.

What to bring…2 day/1 night trek 4 Liters of water, large backpack (55+liter), hiking boots or sneakers, flashlight, sunscreen, camera, warm layers of clothing, jacket and hat, raincoat during rainy season May-Oct.

What to bring 1 day or full moon trek. 2 Liters of water, hiking boots or sneakers, sunscreen, flashlight, camera, warm layers of clothing, jacket and hat raincoat during rainy season May-Oct.

Book Trek Online – https://treks.kasakiwi.com
Click MORE | ALL HIKES

Question? Whatsapp Tom +502 5510-0558

Cerro El Baul

1hr Hike
Uber is available

This wooded hill can be seen from the Kasa Kiwi Rooftop is a popular weekend destination for city dwellers. It has wonderful views across Xela’s broad plain and to the volcanos that fringe it. There are some surprisingly fast and scary kids’ slides and a giant obelisk with great Maya warrior Tecún Umán carved in relief – legend claims he may be buried on this spot.

The hike takes approx. 1 hour from the front door of Kasa Kiwi. There are 2 routes you can see on Google Map, the longer route follows the road up to the top. The shorter route goes thru the forest. You can also Uber to the top and walk back.

Warning: Be alert and aware of any stray dogs on either of these routes, they are not friendly. The shorter route seems to have more aggressive dogs and they do bite. It is best to avoid any dogs you see.

Cerro Quemado

Approx 90 minute hike one way.
Uber is possible part way
Use Maps.me or Google Map

Leave Kasa Kiwi go right head up hill toward Almolonga, at the large turn almost to the top of the highway, take the cobblestone road heading right toward the Cerros and also the thermal baths marked on the highway as “Baños Los Vahos” (a fairly well known spot). The baths are created from geothermal energy from the still active Volcano and are a good stop on the return from a long hike.

After heading up the road for about 30 minutes and you will arrive at a community called Chicuá. At the entrance of the community, take a right off the road onto an obvious trail paved with stones. 15 minutes up this trail will bring you to a soccer field, and from there several obvious paths lead up to the mulit-summit Volcán Cerro Quemado. Uber is an option to take you directly to the community instead of walking.

Xela to Lake Atitilan

3 day/2 night Q900.00/pp or $120/pp paid online by card or Paypal. 2 person minimum

Book Trek Online – https://treks.kasakiwi.com
Click MORE | ALL HIKES

Question? Whatsapp Tom +502 5510-0558

An amazing off the beaten path hike from Xela to beautiful Lake Atitlan.

You will be picked you up at Kasa Kiwi or your hostel/airbnb at 6am and taken to the trekking office. Here you will pack your bags and leave any items you do not want to carry. Sleeping bags and mats are at the homestay you do not carry those.
After a short drive from Xela you hike up through a forest slope to a grasslands plateau, passing through cornfields, and remote villages accessible only by foot, where you will spend the night with a local family (the homestays are very basic, you sleep on the floor with a pad and sleeping bag, which are located at the homestay).
Day 2 you pass through 2 remote river valleys, coffee farms, cloud forest and spend the night in a village overlooking Lake Atitlan. At this homestay you will have the chance to use a Mayan Temescal/Sauna for an additional cost.
Day 3 short hike to Indian Nose after watching an early morning sunrise over the lake you hike down to the lake passing through San Juan la Laguna and ending in San Pedro at approx. 10:30am.
Please separate the items you do not want to carry and put them in a separate bag. Your can buy a garbage bag at any tienda for Q1.00. Your bag with the items you did not want to carry will meet you in San Pedro. Included in the price.

Level: Difficult
Climb: Start 2300mt, high point 3100mt on 1st day.
Cost: Q900/pp or $120/pp

Included: Private transportation, 6 meals (lunch and dinner day 1, 3 meals day 2, breakfast day 3), entrance fees, 2 nights homestay, equipment, guide and luggage transport to San Pedro on day 3.

Bring: 2lts of water, you will be able to buy more water along the way, breakfast for 1st day, snacks, some money in small bills, medium backpack (30+liters) hiking boots or sneakers flashlight, sunscreen, camera, warm clothes in layers and jacket, raincoat during rainy season May-Oct.

Public Transportation “Chicken Bus”

Buses start and end at “Terminal Xela”. Search Google Map for location. It is about a 40min walk from Kasa Kiwi or a 15 min Uber ride (Q25-35).

Each bus has their destination posted on the front of the bus. Check this carefully before boarding to be sure you are on the correct bus.

Common Routes – Times and costs are estimates not exact.

Xela to Guatemala City – 4-5hrs – Cost: Q60 Buses leave the terminal every 15-30 min – 3:00am – 9:00pm
Xela to Antigua – 3-4 hrs – Cost: Q60 – No direct bus. Take any bus going to Guatemala City change buses in either Chimaltenango or San Lucas Sacatepequez to Antigua. San Lucas is a better transfer point in my opinion.
Xela to Panajachel – 3hrs – Cost Q35-50
- Option 1: 4-5 direct buses daily from Terminal 1 per hr 11am to 5pm. (NO direct buses on Sunday)
- Option 2: Take any bus going to Guatemala City get off at La Cuchila, Solola, take next bus, colectivo or pickup truck to Panajachel.
Xela to San Pedro/San Marcos/San Juan – 3hrs – Cost: Q35-50
- Option 1: 4-5 direct buses daily from Terminal to San Pedro 1 per hr 11-5pm. (NO direct buses on Sunday)
- Option 2: Take any bus going to Guatemala City get off at Kilometro 148, take next bus, colectivo or pickup truck to San Pedro/San Marcos/San Juan
Xela to San Cristobal de las Casas – 10 hrs
- Xela to Huehuetenango: Direct bus daily every 30-60 min
- Get off this bus at Las Vegas a gas station at the entrance of Huehue
- Take the next bus you see going to La Mesilla that is the border
- At the border check out of Guatemala change any money to Pesos here.
- Take a taxi or tuk tuk to the Mexican Immigration office 4km.
- Check into MX – Pay Tourist Card FMM – 700 Pesos cash or by card.
- When you finish take colectivo to Comitan
- Take colectivo from Comitan to San Cristobal
Xela to Tapachula – 6-7 hrs – Cost Q100-120
- Uber to Terminal Xela – Q25-35
- Take Bus Xela to San Marcos, San Marcos Q20-30
- Take Bus San Marcos to Malacatan Q30-40
- Take Bus or colectivo taxi Malacatan to El Carmen – Q10
- Check out of Guatemala – Blue building on the right
- Cross bridge/border
- Check into MX Pay Tourist card FMM – 700 pesos cash or card.
- Walk 2 blocks and you will find collectivo going to Tapachula 25-40pesos

Other things to do near Xela.