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Voykit pocket guide · Guatemala
Todos Santos Cuchumatán
Go for a day or overnight if you want to see traditional Maya dress still worn daily; skip if you have only 3–4 days in the Western Highlands.
Todos Santos Cuchumatán is a small Mam-speaking town in the Cuchumatán mountains where men and women still wear traditional dress daily. It is one of the last places in Guatemala where this is common. The town is walkable, has a raised Parque Central with views, and offers hikes in the surrounding hills. Most visitors come on a day trip from Huehuetenango or stay one night.
- Country
- Guatemala
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, landslides possible)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 excl. bed · Mid Q250–400 excl. bed · High Q400+ excl. bed (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 |
|---|---|
| Direct bus Huehuetenango–Todos Santos | Q25 |
| Local meal (comida típica) | Q35–50 |
| Internet café (per hour) | Q5 |
| Photography permission (if asked) | up to Q100 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HUG · Huehuetenango Airport
- No scheduled passenger flights as of 2026; use Guatemala City (GUA) and drive or bus north.
Typical fares
- Direct bus Huehuetenango–Todos Santos
- about Q25, 1.5–2 h (check)
- Bus Huehuetenango–Tres Cayos
- about Q10, then change for Todos Santos
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
The town is small and walkable. Most sights, shops and hotels are within a 10-minute walk of the Parque Central.
See and do
Known for
- Traditional Maya dress worn daily by men and women
- Raised Parque Central with views
- Mam language and culture
- Hikes in the Cuchumatán mountains
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Huehuetenango | Direct bus from near Parque Central, about 1.5–2 h | About 2 h |
| Quetzaltenango | Bus to Huehuetenango, then onward bus to Quetzaltenango, about 3–4 h total | About 4 h |
| Chichicastenango | Bus to Huehuetenango, then bus to Chichicastenango, about 4–5 h total | About 5 h |
Sleep
- East of Parque Central
- Several hotels within a 5-minute walk; the main area for accommodation.
- South of Parque Central
- Quieter, a few hotels and the post office.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buenos días / Buenas tardesBWEH-nos DEE-ahs / BWEH-nas TAR-des |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-to KWES-ta |
| Can I take a photo? | ¿Puedo tomar una foto?PWEH-do to-MAR OO-na FO-to |
| Where is the bus to Huehuetenango? | ¿Dónde está el bus para Huehuetenango?DON-de es-TA el BOOS PA-ra Way-way-te-NAN-go |
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
- Locals may ask for money (up to Q100) if you photograph them; ask permission first.
- Direct buses from Huehuetenango leave very early (4–5 am) and around midday; plan your connection.
- Rainy season (May–Oct) can cause landslides on mountain roads; check conditions before travelling.
Todos Santos is generally safe for tourists, but use common sense: avoid walking alone after dark, keep valuables out of sight, and ask permission before photographing people.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Todos Santos Cuchumatán yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Traditional Maya dress worn daily by men and women
- Raised Parque Central with views
- Mam language and culture
- Hikes in the Cuchumatán mountains
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Municipalidad de Todos Santos Cuchumatán: www.munitodossantos.gob.gt/
- Wikivoyage: Todos Santos Cuchumatán, revision 4948437 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4948437
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/todos-santos-cuchumatan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.