In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Guatemala
Sacapulas
Half-day stop on the Quiché–Uspantán bus route: see the unrestored Maya ruin Xutixtiox, then move on. Not a base.
Sacapulas is a small market town in the Río Negro valley, a transport junction between Santa Cruz del Quiché and the Cuchumatanes. Its main draw is Xutixtiox, an unrestored Maya site with stucco facades on a hill above the river. The town itself has basic services but no notable sights beyond the weekly market. Most travellers pass through on the way to Uspantán or Cobán.
- Country
- Guatemala
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rain; the river at Xutixtiox may be impassable)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GTQ
- Money
- Currency is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, Q). Cards work in Antigua hotels and restaurants; markets, lake villages and shuttles often need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget Q150–250 · Mid Q250–400 · High Q400+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Tigo and Claro sell SIMs at the airport and shops; bring your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 122 · Tourist assistance 1500
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; power cuts in storms.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% — check if 'propina' is already on the bill.; Guides (Tikal, volcanoes): Q50–100 per person per day.; Shuttle drivers: Q10–20.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations in Antigua and lake hotels.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin; public toilets charge Q1–5.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus Sacapulas → Santa Cruz del Quiché | Q20–30 |
| Tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos | Q15–25 |
| Simple meal (comida corriente) | Q25–40 |
| Bottle of water | Q5–8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GUA · La Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City
- No airport at Sacapulas; long-distance buses from Guatemala City pass Los Encuentros on the Pan-American Highway, then connect to Santa Cruz del Quiché and Sacapulas — check times.
- AAZ · Quetzaltenango (Los Altos) airport
- Closest airfield to the western highlands; domestic service is limited — check before planning around it.
Typical fares
- Bus Sacapulas → Santa Cruz del Quiché
- Q20–30, about 1.5 h
- Bus Sacapulas → Uspantán
- Q15–25, about 1 h
- Tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos
- Q15–25
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable centre. For Xutixtiox, take a taxi or tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos (about 5 km (3.1 mi) west on the highway), then wade the river and climb. Ask locally for the best crossing point — it changes after rains.Walkable centre. For Xutixtiox, take a taxi or tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos (about 3.1 mi (5 km) west on the highway), then wade the river and climb. Ask locally for the best crossing point — it changes after rains.
See and do
Known for
- Xutixtiox (Chutixtiox) Maya ruins
- Río Negro valley
- Market town on the Quiché–Uspantán bus route
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Xutixtiox ruins | Taxi or tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos (5 km (3.1 mi) west), then wade the river and climbTaxi or tuk-tuk to Los Trapichitos (3.1 mi (5 km) west), then wade the river and climb | About 1 h round trip from town, plus 1–2 h at the site |
| Uspantán | Bus from Sacapulas, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Santa Cruz del Quiché | Bus from Sacapulas, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few basic hotels and guesthouses near the main square; limited options, book ahead in high season.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the river crossing? | ¿Dónde está el cruce del río?DON-deh es-TAH el KROO-seh del REE-oh |
| How much to Los Trapichitos? | ¿Cuánto cuesta a Los Trapichitos?KWAN-toh KWES-tah ah los trah-pee-CHEE-tos |
| Is the river passable? | ¿Se puede cruzar el río?seh PWEH-deh kroo-ZAR el REE-oh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; in villages a softer handshake; avoid: Rushing straight to business
- Photography: Ask first and accept a no; avoid: Photographing children
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Flash during ceremonies
- Bargaining: Smile, make an offer, walk away politely; avoid: Haggling over a few quetzales with weavers
Scams and watch-outs
- Xutixtiox river crossing may be impassable in the rainy season (May–Oct). Check locally before setting out.
- No official tourist information office in town.
- Last buses to Santa Cruz del Quiché and Uspantán leave by late afternoon; confirm the schedule at the bus stop.
Sacapulas is generally safe during the day. Take standard precautions: avoid walking alone after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and ask locals about the river before attempting the Xutixtiox crossing.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sacapulas yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Xutixtiox (Chutixtiox) Maya ruins
- Río Negro valley
- Market town on the Quiché–Uspantán bus route
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sacapulas, revision 4903142 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4903142
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sacapulas). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.