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Major city · Guatemala

Salcajá

Half-day stop from Quetzaltenango for the oldest church in Central America and textile shopping; not a base.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Salcajá is a busy market town 10 minutes from Quetzaltenango. It holds the Ermita de Concepción La Conquistadora, the first church founded in Central America (early 1500s), and is a centre for Maya textiles. Most visitors come for a couple of hours on the way to or from Xela.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GTQ
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid May–Oct (rainy season, though still possible)
Airports
XAL · GUA
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Salcajá: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
  • Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
  • Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
  • Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
  • Guatemala ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Guatemala's Migration Institute or a Guatemalan consulate. Guatemala shares a Central America border agreement (CA-4) with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, so your permitted stay may count across all four.
  • Guatemala ↗Hike volcanoes (Acatenango, Pacaya) only with registered guides and check eruption alerts; Fuego is highly active.
  • Guatemala ↗Avoid public chicken buses between cities: they are frequent targets of robbery. Use tourist shuttles or private transport.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Salcajá110 ▾
  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance122
  • Tourist assistance1500

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Salcajá, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Ermita de Concepción La Conquistadora – oldest church in Central AmericaMaya textile markets and shopsLa Laguneta picnic spot
Airports
XAL Quetzaltenango Airport (About 15 min by taxi; limited domestic flights (check)) · GUA La Aurora International Airport (Guatemala City) (About 3.5 h by shuttle or bus via the Pan-American Highway)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    24°C (75°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    22°C (72°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    22°C (72°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    23°C (73°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    22°C (72°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

Best: Nov–Apr. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →

Warmest Apr (25°C (77°F)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F) low), wettest Jun (22 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Salcajá: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

22°C (72°F)

8°C (46°F)

2 rd

Feb

23°C (73°F)

8°C (46°F)

2 rd

Mar

24°C (75°F)

9°C (48°F)

4 rd

Apr

25°C (77°F)

11°C (52°F)

8 rd

May

24°C (75°F)

12°C (54°F)

16 rd

Jun

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

22 rd

Jul

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

20 rd

Aug

23°C (73°F)

12°C (54°F)

19 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

22 rd

Oct

22°C (72°F)

11°C (52°F)

18 rd

Nov

22°C (72°F)

10°C (50°F)

8 rd

Dec

22°C (72°F)

9°C (48°F)

3 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Salcajá is walkable: the church, market and La Laguneta are within 10–15 min of each other. Buses and tuk-tuks connect to Quetzaltenango and Cuatro Caminos.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Quetzaltenango

go

Door to door: 15–20 min

Bus or tuk-tuk, about 10–15 min

Xela's museums, markets and Spanish schools.

San Andrés Xecul

go

Door to door: 30 min

Bus or taxi, about 20 min

Famous yellow church with colourful facade.

Cantel

go

Door to door: 25 min

Bus or taxi, about 15 min

Blown-glass factory and volcanic baths.

Chichicastenango

go

Door to door: 2 h

Shuttle or bus via Pan-American Highway, about 1.5 h

Best on market days (Thu and Sun).

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Quetzaltenango (Xela)

Most visitors stay in Xela, 10 min away, with more accommodation and restaurants.

Salcajá town centre

A few basic hotels; convenient for the church and market but limited options.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
Q150–250 excl. bed
Mid
Q250–400 excl. bed
High
Q400+ excl. bed

Watch out

Safety

Salcajá is generally safe for day visits. Petty theft can occur in markets; keep valuables out of reach. Roads are busy – take care crossing.
  • The church may be closed outside mass times; check locally.
  • Textile prices are negotiable; haggle politely.
  • Rainy season (May–Oct) can make La Laguneta muddy.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Fire and ambulance
122
Tourist assistance
1500

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SalcajáSalcajá

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance122
  • Tourist assistance1500

Embassy

Most embassies are in Guatemala City; the US has an embassy there (check address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Quetzaltenango → Salcajá: about Q5–10, 15 min (check)
  • Tuk-tuk within town: Q5–15 depending on distance
  • Taxi Salcajá → Quetzaltenango: Q40–60 (check)

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (oh-lah)
  • Gracias — Thank you (grah-see-ahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (kwan-toh kwes-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está la iglesia? — Where is the church? (don-deh es-tah la ee-gleh-see-ah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (pweh-doh pah-gar kon tar-heh-tah)
  • La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (lah kwen-tah por fah-vor)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Salcajá. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid May–Oct (rainy season, though still possible) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Guatemala

Sources

Ask about Salcajá

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