Iximche

About

Iximche was founded by the Mayan Kaqchikel tribe in the 12th century. In the 14th century, after a falling out with their allies, it was made the capital of their kingdom. 100 years later, after the arrival of the conquistadors, Kaqchikel allied with the Spanish and Iximche briefly served as the first capital of Guatemala. However, after this alliance was broken, the Kaqchikel abandoned the city, and the Spanish set it ablaze. Today, the ruins are a well-preserved nugget of local Mayan culture. Visitors can enjoy pyramid-temples, palaces, a ceremonial area, and and even two Mesoamerican ball-courts in a more easy-to-manage package. There’s even a tree at the back of the site where the locals still perform Mayan rituals. As this this site was so important to the local tribe, most of the visitors here are actually indigenous Maya. The signs are only in Spanish or Kaqchike, so it’s recommended you hire an English speaking guide if you’d like a more in-depth explanation of the site. Of course, you can soak in the historic atmosphere and peer at the artefacts exhibited in the small museum.